Bilic wants a strong start
WHUFC.com
Slaven Bilic is hoping the Club's European adventure can give them a major
advantage when they start the Premier League campaign in August. The Hammers
continue their Europa League campaign when they face Maltese side Birkirkara
in the second qualifying round at the Boleyn Ground on Thursday night. Bilic
is no stranger to European football and knows the advantages it can bring to
a team when they are preparing to start a new season. The West Ham United
manager still has fond memories of how his Besiktas side almost caused a
major upset against Arsenal in the Champions League qualifier last summer as
they had played a number of competitive games heading into the fixture.
Despite the number of games that the Club could face in the next few weeks,
Bilic is hopeful it will work in their favour and give them a head-start as
they prepare for the big kick-off with a London derby against Arsenal on
August 9. Bilic said: "It's good for the start, definitely. The best
examples are from your own history, not from the books. "I only have to look
at last year when we played Arsenal in the Champions League play-off. We
were fitter than them. "We had already played Feyenoord in the previous
round and we were fitter. Arsenal had only played the Community Shield and
Crystal Palace and we were already in the season. It gives you a definite
advantage in the beginning of the season. "What about November, December or
Christmas time which is already so tough here. We are going to be aware of
all the situations."
Bilic has already received a warm reception from the West Ham United
supporters following his appointment as the Club's new manager and would
love to become a hero with the fans like he achieved at Besiktas last
season. The Croatian coach received a pop star's farewell when he was lifted
into the air by supporters at the airport when he left Turkey earlier this
summer and hopes he achieve even more success in east London. Bilic added:
"You have seen Robin van Persie's welcome and it's amazing. It's not very
common here! "In Turkey they say it doesn't matter how many people are there
when you are coming to the club, what matters is how you leave and if you
can leave feeling proud of what you have achieved. "I'm glad that I left
Besiktas in a good situation and a good atmosphere. I can only wish that I
can have the same kind of daily basis of work that I had in Turkey."
Bilic is set to name a stronger team for the game against Birkirkara on
Thursday night and says this is where the pre-season really gets going for
his team. "It will be a different team. The first round was great for the
young players to show themselves, especially at Upton Park, a full stadium.
It was a great for them, a night to remember and I'm sure they're going to
remember it. "This game is different and a different build-up. They beat a
team from Armenia quite easily (in the first round) and I know many of their
players who play in the Russian league. They are good team. "We are
expecting a tough game, we are clear favourites but we cannot afford any
surprises."
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Birkirkara? They're no mugs, says Nolan
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 16th July 2015
By: Staff Writer
Club captain Kevin Nolan returns for his first competitive appearance of the
season tonight when West Ham face Birkirkara at the Boleyn. The 31-year-old,
who is entering the final year of his five-year contract with West Ham will
lead the team out when they face the Maltese side in the first leg of the
Europa League second qualifying round clash. And despite the vast disparity
between the quality of the two sides, Nolan insists that West Ham will full
respect their opponents. "I'm thoroughly looking forward to playing against
what is going to be a very good Maltese side who have done really well in
the first qualifying round to get through," he told whufc.com. "It's a great
honour to be playing in European qualification for this club and to be
leading them out. It's a fantastic honour for me and I'm hoping to
thoroughly enjoy it. "They [Birkirkara] did really well in the first round
to get through. They aren't going to be mugs or a turnover. Hopefully we'll
get a couple of goals to take over there next week, but we know it's not
going to be easy. They'll not roll over so we've got to be very respectful
of the opposition. "We're going to be in front a packed crowd which is where
you want to play. Fair play to the fans for turning out in numbers again .
We thank them for that and hopefully we can give them a good spectacle."
And in terms of his own immediate future - and physical condition, for which
he was oft-criticised by some supporters last season - Nolan added:
"Contrary to what everyone else says, I'm feeling good and looking forward
to what will hopefully be a good season! "We'll see if I can get that 100th
league goal sooner rather than later but I'm looking to get my eye in in the
next three or four weeks before the season starts. It's a testing time for
us all but we've got to do our best to try and make sure we're in the
manager's plans for the rest of the season.
"The manager probably doesn't know his best eleven yet. He's brought in a
few players to try and add to his squad and he'll probably want to move a
couple on - we don't know as nobody's really spoken to him on that. "I'm
sure in the next three weeks things will start to unfold and he'll start to
look for a team that is going to be the one he'll start with in the Premier
League and one he'll build around for the season."
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West Ham's striker search continues
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 14th July 2015
By: Staff Writer
West Ham's interest in Roma striker Mattia Destro has cooled - with the
Irons turning their attention to targets rather closer to home. KUMB
revealed last week how the Hammers had investigated the possbility of
bringing the £10million-rated Italian international to England. However
West Ham are now understood to have turned their attention elsewhere - with
Queens Park Rangers' Charlie Austin once again in the picture. The
25-year-old striker, who was first linked with a move to West Ham here on
KUMB at the beginning of June is almost certain to leave Loftus Road this
summer, with a string of potential suitors lining up. Having scored 18 goals
in 36 appearances for the Rs last term, the £15million-rated Austin has been
the subject of enquiries from several Premier League clubs including
Chelsea, Newcastle, Leicester and Tottenham. And West Ham remain keen to
bring the Hungerford-born forward to the Boleyn Ground, although they are
keeping their options open with other irons in the fire. That includes
continued interest in Chelsea's Loic Remy - although Crystal Palace are the
current favourites to sign the French international - and Manchester United
outcast Javier Hernandez, who Liverpool have also been linked with in recent
days.
* Elsewhere today (London24) it has been claimed that 21-year-old Rubin
Kazan striker Marko Livaja is set to join West Ham on loan.
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Payet banned for Europa League clash
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 16, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
New Hammers signing Dimitri Payet will play no part in tonight's Europa
League second round qualifier against Maltese opposition Birkirkara at the
Boleyn Ground. Despite being added to the confirmed UEFA 25 man squad for
the second qualfying round, the 28 year old play maker is serving a
suspension related to his time with French Ligue 1 side Olympique de
Marseille.
Payet picked up three yellow cards in the domestic league from 35 starts
last season. He also received a two-game ban after aiming expletives at the
closed door of the match officials' dressing room following a goalless draw
with Lyon, in which Lucas Ocampos' late strike was deemed not to have
crossed the goal-line. This was later reduced to a one match ban on appeal.
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CANDH EXCLUSIVE: Hammers OS rent revealed!
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 16, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H EXCLUSIVE
West Ham's will pay £2.5 million in rent for the use of the Olympic Stadium
on just 25 match days a year. And should they need it on more occasions they
will have to fork out another £100,000 PER DAY! The terms of the deal
between West Ham and the LLDC/Newham Council for the use of the Olympic
Stadium has finally been revealed in an official press release. It confirms
the £2.5m per year in rent is to be the anchor concessionaire from 2016 on
top of the club's £15 million investment. The Irons appears to be paying
more than a fair rent given the spin-offs which will be received from the
stadium operator as a result of their tenancy. An insider at the LLDC told
ClaretandHugh exclusively: "West Ham get 25 days for their £2.5 million rent
with extra days – and they can have as many as they want – at £100k a time.
"It's also fair to say that having West Ham in the stadium there
dramatically increases the naming rights value of the stadium. "The
operators get between 85 per cent to 90 per cent of the profit of catering
rights at their games which is huge to be honest." The rent is index linked
over 99 years with a rent reduction should West Ham be relegated from the
Premier League The real value of the West Ham deal to the tax payer will be
the auctioning of the naming rights of the stadium after the Rugby World
Cup. Sponsors will want to be involved with the world brands of the Premier
League and West Ham United and this will help push up the price to give
London taxpayers a good deal over time to repay the £700m plus investment.
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OS retractible seating to be used for rugby
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 16, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
The Olympic Stadium's brand new retractable seating will be used in the
Rugby World Cup this September it was confirmed yesterday.
London Legacy Chief executive David Goldstone told the Newham Recorder:
"We'll pull forward the retractable seats at the end of August for the
stadium's first ever rugby match, when the legendary Barbarians play Samoa.
The stadium then hosts five Rugby World Cup matches followed by
international Rugby League when England take on New Zealand. Finally, the
world's greatest motor-sports drivers will assemble for the Race of
Champions. After all this, the stadium will close as we finish our
transformation works, reopening fully in 2016, when West Ham move into their
new home"
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Hernandez to rejoin Manchester Utd
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 16, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Javier Hernandez will be given a chance to resurrect his Manchester United
career after Louis van Gaal said there is a place in the squad for the
striker this season.The Mexican has only made two competitive appearances
under the Dutchman, and was loaned out to Real Madrid last season before
entering the final year of his contract at Old Trafford. LVG told a news
conference in Seattle: "At the time, we have to decide which strikers we
could have at Manchester United. Then I have to make a decision that I let
go Chicharito and Welbeck because I have bought also Falcao. When you play a
system with two strikers or one striker then you [have to] make decisions
and I let Chicharito go but now he is coming back."
Van Gaal also revealed Wednesday that Hernandez will be joining United's
U.S. tour on July 25th. Robin van Persie completed a move to Fenerbahce this
week, Radamel Falcao was not signed after an unsuccessful loan spell and
Danny Welbeck was sold to Arsenal last summer, leaving Van Gaal without an
experienced striker as an alternative to Wayne Rooney. The news means
reduces the chances for West Ham to be successful in their £9m bid for the
experienced striker.
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No LIVE TV coverage this evening
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 16, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
West Ham will NOT provide any LIVE TV coverage this evening as the Hammers
face Birkirkara in the Europa League second round qualifier at the Boleyn
Ground in front of 31,000 fans.
The club have confirmed that club Media Partner BBC London will be providing
live audio commentary from Phil Parry, who will be joined by former Hammer
John Moncur. West Ham TV will provide highlights after the match. Claret and
Hugh will be providing text updates later this evening during the match to
get Hammers fans who can't make the match up to date.
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Bilic Lifts Lid On Song
Posted by whufc_news@hotmail.com on July 16, 2015 in News, Transfer Rumours
C AND H
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has confirmed that the club are hopeful of
concluding a deal for Barcelona midfielder Alex Song. The 27 year-old is
currently injured, and may be sidelined for a total of FOUR months – amid
suggestions that the Hammers are trying to alter his deal to a loan until
January – and then attempt to make it permanent in the Winter transfer
window.
Speaking on the matter, Bilic said: 'Although I said I'm not going to
discuss players from other teams, he is somewhere in between. 'He played
here on loan last year and he's a little bit injured. I don't deny that he
was a great player who did really well last year and I would like him to
stay with us.'
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Reports: Two Medicals Due
Posted by whufc_news@hotmail.com on July 16, 2015 in News, Transfer Rumours
C AND H
According to the Daily Mail, Argentine playmaker Manuel Lanzini will undergo
a medical ahead of a move to West Ham later today. The 22 year-old, who
currently plays at UAE Pro League side Al Jazira is expected to join the
Hammers on a season-long loan deal.
Meanwhile, winger Stewart Downing is expected to leave the club by Friday –
and is due to undergo a medical ahead of a £6m move to Middlesbrough.
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LVG is suddenly talking up Hernandez!
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 16, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Irons target Javier Hernandez is apparently being handed a chance to
resurrect his Manchester United career…or maybe get a shop window which
allows the Reds to seek the best possible transfer fee! Amusingly, given the
Hammers interest, Louis van Gaal made a point of devoting more time to the
player's position than he has done since arriving at Old Trafford That
suggests that there's much going on and that LVG may be trying to push up
the asking price as talks go on between the clubs. A Hammers source close to
the talks explained again to ClaretandHugh: "United are expected to come
back with a price by weekend and with only a year left on his deal it can't
be too inflated. He is one of several targets on the club's list."
The player is now in his final Old Trafford season and was even offered to
Real at £7 million whilst serving his Real loan spell so it seems that smoke
and mirrors may now be very much in place as the United manager attempts to
wheel and deal. LVG told a Seattle news conference:: "At the time, we have
to decide which strikers we could have at Manchester United. Then I have to
make a decision that I let go Chicharito and Welbeck because I have bought
also Falcao. "When you play a system with two strikers or one striker then
you [have to] make decisions and I let Chicharito go but now he is coming
back."
Van Gaal also revealed that Hernandez will be joining United's U.S. tour on
July 25th but is known to be chasing Edinson Cavani and Robert Lewandowski.
However, it would be an amazing turn of events were the club not to buy one
or at least two front men before the season starts play They have allowed
Robin van Persie to join Fenerbahce this week, Radamel Falcao was not signed
after an unsuccessful loan spell and Danny Welbeck w whilst serving his loan
spell was sold to Arsenal last summer, leaving Van Gaal without an
experienced striker as an alternative to Wayne Rooney and he knows the
pressure is on to find replacements fast.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Report: Lanzini taking Irons medical
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 16, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
West Ham are this afternoon being reported as having secured the loan
signing of Manuel Lanzini hom it is claimed is set to be arriving at Upton
Park to complete his medical. Lanzini, who has scored eight goals in 24
appearances for United Arab Emirates outfit Al Jazira and has been tracked
by the Irons for around a year. The 22-year-ol almost moved to the East End
last summer but instead joined the UAE club for around £5m. But now the
Daily Mail says West Ham have finally secured his services on a loan deal,
with the former Argentina U20 expected to arrive in London today to finalise
the details. Lanzini is seen as a possible replacement for Stewart Downing,
who is close to rejoining Middlesborough for £5m.
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Jack Sullivan explains main benefit Cresswell and Jenkinson create for West
Ham
HITC
Lewis Doe
@doelewis
The son of West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has suggested the club
have a real strength in their full-back options. Jack Sullivan, son of West
Ham co-owner David Sullivan, has explained on the club's official website,
what he feels is the main benefit of the club possessing two high quality
full-backs. Slaven Bilic didn't hesitate when the opportunity to re-sign
Carl Jenkinson on loan came up, after the Arsenal owned player impressed
under Sam Allardyce last season. It leaves the Hammers with settled players
in two key positions across their back four, which should give the defence a
solid platform, which they can look to use to their advantage over the
coming weeks and months. "He had a very good season last year and I know
from speaking to dad that Slaven said he was a player that we had to keep
and felt he would be a great signing," he told whufc.com. "We now have two
fantastic full-backs and like Aaron Cresswell, he is very attacking and
gives us even more options going forward."
What happens when the full-backs get forward and stay forward?
Any club that has full-backs who are as skilled in the opponent's final
third as they are in their own, are worth their weight in gold. When
Jenkinson and Cresswell are able to press forward and maintain pressure over
the opposition, it gives the West Ham midfielder and attack more options. It
allows the midfield to narrow, which gives West Ham a greater chance of
controlling possession and allows Bilic to use more than one striker at the
very top of his team. The danger is that West Ham could be attacked in the
space that both players leave behind, but they are quick enough and fit
enough to be able to drop back into their defensive positions quickly.
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Karren Brady's minor miracle at West Ham has earned her a place alongside
Mother Teresa on inspirational list
HITC
Damien Lucas
West Ham United's vice chairman Karren Brady has been named as one of the 50
most inspirational people in the history of the world in a new poll.
Raconteur Media's poll of 2,000 readers to find the World's 50 most
inspirational people of all time saw some famous names from throughout
history feature. The likes of Mother Teresa, Nelson Mandela, Oscar Wilde,
Anne Frank, Alan Turing, Jesus Christ, Martin Luther King and Gandhi made it
into the top 50 ... alongside none other than Baroness Brady of
Knightsbridge. While many have scoffed at her somewhat surprise inclusion,
the work Brady has done in turning West Ham's fortunes around from their
perilous financial state when she was brought in by co-owners David Gold and
David Sullivan after their takeover in 2010. West Ham were staring into the
footballing abyss . Back then the Hammers were staring into the footballing
abyss. And they should forever be grateful to the Irons Lady.
Left in more than £110 million of debt following the disastrous Icelandic
regime of Eggert Magnusson and Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson in the wake of the
recession-causing banking collapse, administration was calling - as reported
by The Telegraph at the time. But Brady, known as 'the first lady of
football' after Sullivan and Gold appointed her as managing director of
former club Birmingham City aged just 23, had other ideas. Her ruthless,
pragmatic approach and expertise were just what West Ham needed. On being
appointed she vowed: "To West Ham fans I'll make a single pledge – while we
are on the board, we will hang in the Tower of London before your club again
goes through the financial turmoil which so nearly brought it down."
Brady's diligent work in the ensuing five years has not only driven down
debts to manageable levels but she has also improved the Hammers as a
business in virtually every aspect.
From how the club's media and retail arms operate to streamlining and
cutting costs where necessary. If there was a tough decision to be made at
West Ham over the last five years, she did not hesitate to make it in the
best interests of the club.
Irons Lady delivers an Olympic legacy
Sorting out the finances has not been her only achievement, though. She led
the club's successful bid to be anchor tenants at the London Olympic
Stadium, which will be converted to a 54,000 seater arena at very little
cost to the club ahead of their big move next summer. It also didn't hurt
that she saw off competition from the club's fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur
in the process. While some fans may be sad to say goodbye to their Boleyn
Ground home of 112 years this season, it is Brady's drive, determination and
efforts to make West Ham better than their rivals and compete with the
Premier League's elite that has seen them outgrow it. Brady's shock
inclusion on such a prestigious list is very much open for debate and her
work at an English football club are not going to qualify her to live in
such illustrious company. But it must not be forgotten the extent of the
trail the 46-year-old has blazed for women, football, business and more
recently politics in her career. Yes she is handsomely paid for the job she
does - although her six-figure salary is a drop in the ocean against the
backdrop of the Premier League gravy train. But if West Ham continue their
rise on and off the pitch thanks to the sound footings she has helped put
them over what promises to be an exciting few years, it will prove to be
money very well spent.
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West Ham have a good deal on stadium - so does taxpayer
10:03, 16 JULY 2015
BY GILES BROADBENT
London Legacy boss says he's confident transformation costs won't rise – and
doesn't think club have got away with underpaying
wharf.co.uk
The man in charge of the Olympic Park says he's confident that the bill for
transforming the stadium will not rise any further – but he's making no
guarantees. Chief executive of the London Legacy Development Corporation
David Goldstone said that there was still a year of work to go by
contractors Balfour Beatty but it was likely the total £701million bill
would stick.
Mostly there was just fitting out work to be completed and not the kind of
major engineering challenges that lifted transformation costs to £272million
from the original estimate of £154million. The cost including building the
largest cantilevered roof in the world. He was pressed on the bill by
members of the London Assembly in light of the rising costs – and the
undisclosed "peppercorn" rent to be paid by anchor tenant West Ham. Mr
Goldstone said: "There still a year's work to do and I'm not going to give
you a guarantee that absolutely nothing would happen that would cost more
but I am saying we are confident about the figures we've announced."
Mr Goldstone refused to give details of West Ham's 99-year lease for reasons
of commercial confidentiality and refused to confirm media reports that the
rent amounts to just £2.5million a year. Assembly member Andrew Boff said:
"Don't you think it's an enormously good deal for West Ham and not a
particularly good deal for us?" Mr Goldstone responded: "West Ham do have a
good deal but I think we have too. Having the stadium at the heart of that
park is a really big part of the legacy story. The stadium is absolutely
fundamental to all the activity and if it can do that and pay for itself
that's the a good deal for the taxpayer."
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Manuel Lanzini 'arrives in London to complete West Ham transfer deal'
Louis Sealey for Metro.co.uk
Thursday 16 Jul 2015 9:42 am
West Ham are reportedly set to secure the signing of Manuel Lanzini with the
Argentine arriving at Upton Park to complete his medical. The Hammers have
already agreed a loan deal for Lanzini, who has scored eight goals in 24
appearances for United Arab Emirates outfit Al Jazira. The 22-year-old has
been on the London club's radar for over a year, and almost moved to the
East End last summer but instead joined the UAE club for around £5m. But
now, according to the Daily Mail, West Ham have finally secured his services
on a loan deal, with the former Argentina U20 expected to arrive in London
today to finalise the details. Lanzini is seen as a possible replacement for
Stewart Downing, who is close to rejoining Middlesborough for £5m.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slaven Bilic has message for Sam Allardyce and hints at tactical tweaks to
Hammers side
07:00 16 July 2015 Brad Pinard
London 24
Slaven Bilic the new West Ham manager West Ham manager Slaven Bilic has
thanked former boss Sam Allardyce for the state he left the club in this
summer. Bilic spoke to the written press for the first time yesterday and
wanted to make his feelings clear about Allardyce. "I would like to thank
Sam Allardyce," Bilic said at his press conference. "He left me with a
really good team and good atmosphere. "He didn't leave me a mess, it is a
great base for me to try and improve on Bilic will be in the Upton Park
dugout for the first time tonight in the Europa League clash with Maltese
side Birkirkara after sitting in the stands two weeks ago against Lusitanos
of Andorra. Allardyce was known for his physical, long ball style, some
criticism extremely harsh, but Bilic wants the ball on the ground and to
make the team better as individuals and a unit. "What I want to achieve, I
want stability," he said. "I want to make us better in the long term, but we
will have ups and downs especially results-wise. "I want the individuals to
play better and where it will take us? I don't know. "We want to be better
in ball possession; we want to be killers in front of goal. "We want to
create more chances, we will lift up the table and I don't know where we
could go. "We have a good team, a good atmosphere. The atmosphere has not
changed since I was here in 1996 as a player, it is smiling and working
together."
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'I want him to stay with us' West Ham boss admits to Alex Song hope
London 24
06:30 16 July 2015 Brad Pinard
West Ham manager Slaven Bilic admits he wants to sign Alex Song this summer,
but doesn't know on what sort of deal. The Barcelona boy is injured and
could require surgery on a knee problem that will rule him out until at
least the start of the season. West Ham were hoping to sign the midfielder
permanently, after an impressive loan spell last term, but a loan may now be
the best bet for player and club. Bilic was coy on transfer talk on the
whole but admitted Song was different. "I am not going to discuss players
who are not part of our team, but he is sort of in between at the moment,"
Bilic said. "He is a little bit injured and I don't deny that he is a great
player who was really good last year and like Carl Jenkinson. "I want him to
stay with us." A number of first team players are set to start tonight in
the Europa League as the Hammers play their first of nine games in the next
21 days.
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Thursday, July 16
Daily WHUFC News - Squad News
FOUR PLAYERS ADDED, THREE DROPPED FROM THE REGISTERED SQUAD FOR BIRKIRKARA
The Irons Circle
West Ham have added three players to their Europa League squad to face
Birkirkara FC this evening. Stephen Hendrie, Dimitri Payet and Modibo Maiga
have been added.
Michael Oliver
West Ham have registered their squad for the upcoming UEFA Europa League
second qualifying round fixtures against Birkirkara FC. The first leg will
be played at Upton Park tonight, 7:30PM kick-off, with the second leg to
played a week later in Malta.
Sourced from UEFA, West Ham have made several changes to their Europa League
squad, including the additions of summer arrivals Stephen Hendrie from
Hamilton and Dimitri Payet from Marseille. Young forward Martin Samuelsen is
also added to the squad, along with striker Modibo Maiga is also recalled to
the squad as he was unavailable in the last round as his loan from FC Metz
was not yet technically expired.
Notable absentees include latest signings Angelo Ogbonna and Carl Jenkinson
have both been left out due to not being available in time to be officially
registered.
To accommodate for the new additions, young defender Sam Westley has been
dropped from the squad, as well as midfielder Stewart Downing, who is
understood to be set for a move to Middlesbrough.
Goalkeepers:
1. Darren Randolph
13. Adrian
34. Raphael Spiegel
58. Sam Howes*
Defenders:
2. Winston Reid
3. Aaron Cresswell
5. James Tomkins
17. Joey O'Brien
19. James Collins
25. Doneil Henry
32. Reece Burke*
33. Stephen Hendrie
35. Reece Oxford*
37. Lewis Page*
40. Emmanuel Onariase*
54. Leo Chambers*
59. Kyle Knoyle*
63. Vashon Neufville*
65. Josh Pask*
66. Alex Pike*
Midfielders:
4. Kevin Nolan
5. Cheikhou Kouyate
7. Matt Jarvis
14. Pedro Obiang
16. Mark Noble
21. Morgan Amalfitano
23. Diego Poyet
27. Dimitri Payet
39. Josh Cullen*
50. Oscar Borg*
52. Marcus Browne*
53. Matthew Carter*
55. Grady Diangana*
56. Ross Elsom*
60. Moses Makasi*
62. Amos Nasha*
68. Declan Rice*
69. Anthony Scully*
Forwards:
10. Mauro Zarate
15. Diafra Sakho
20. Modibo Maiga
31. Enner Valencia
36. Elliot Lee*
42. Martin Samuelsen
51. Jordan Brown*
57. Jahmal Hector-Ingram*
61. Nathan Mavila*
64. Djair Parfitt-Williams*
67. Joe Powell*
* Player B List (Players under the age of 21 that have completed at least
two years at the club - do not need to be registered in the A List)
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The Irons Circle
West Ham have added three players to their Europa League squad to face
Birkirkara FC this evening. Stephen Hendrie, Dimitri Payet and Modibo Maiga
have been added.
Michael Oliver
West Ham have registered their squad for the upcoming UEFA Europa League
second qualifying round fixtures against Birkirkara FC. The first leg will
be played at Upton Park tonight, 7:30PM kick-off, with the second leg to
played a week later in Malta.
Sourced from UEFA, West Ham have made several changes to their Europa League
squad, including the additions of summer arrivals Stephen Hendrie from
Hamilton and Dimitri Payet from Marseille. Young forward Martin Samuelsen is
also added to the squad, along with striker Modibo Maiga is also recalled to
the squad as he was unavailable in the last round as his loan from FC Metz
was not yet technically expired.
Notable absentees include latest signings Angelo Ogbonna and Carl Jenkinson
have both been left out due to not being available in time to be officially
registered.
To accommodate for the new additions, young defender Sam Westley has been
dropped from the squad, as well as midfielder Stewart Downing, who is
understood to be set for a move to Middlesbrough.
Goalkeepers:
1. Darren Randolph
13. Adrian
34. Raphael Spiegel
58. Sam Howes*
Defenders:
2. Winston Reid
3. Aaron Cresswell
5. James Tomkins
17. Joey O'Brien
19. James Collins
25. Doneil Henry
32. Reece Burke*
33. Stephen Hendrie
35. Reece Oxford*
37. Lewis Page*
40. Emmanuel Onariase*
54. Leo Chambers*
59. Kyle Knoyle*
63. Vashon Neufville*
65. Josh Pask*
66. Alex Pike*
Midfielders:
4. Kevin Nolan
5. Cheikhou Kouyate
7. Matt Jarvis
14. Pedro Obiang
16. Mark Noble
21. Morgan Amalfitano
23. Diego Poyet
27. Dimitri Payet
39. Josh Cullen*
50. Oscar Borg*
52. Marcus Browne*
53. Matthew Carter*
55. Grady Diangana*
56. Ross Elsom*
60. Moses Makasi*
62. Amos Nasha*
68. Declan Rice*
69. Anthony Scully*
Forwards:
10. Mauro Zarate
15. Diafra Sakho
20. Modibo Maiga
31. Enner Valencia
36. Elliot Lee*
42. Martin Samuelsen
51. Jordan Brown*
57. Jahmal Hector-Ingram*
61. Nathan Mavila*
64. Djair Parfitt-Williams*
67. Joe Powell*
* Player B List (Players under the age of 21 that have completed at least
two years at the club - do not need to be registered in the A List)
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Daily WHUFC News - West Ham United v Birkirkara
Preview - Birkirkara
WHUFC.com
The background
West Ham United's UEFA Europa League qualifying campaign continues on Thursday when Slaven Bilic's men welcome Birkirkara of Malta to the Boleyn Ground.
Having seen off FC Lusitans in the opening qualifying round by a 4-0 aggregate scoreline, West Ham will hope to take a step closer to the group stage in front of another huge Bolyen Ground crowd.
Birkirkara qualified for the competition by winning the Maltese Cup last season and booked their place at this stage with an impressive victory over Armenian side Ulisses.
Thursday's visitors had to make progress the hard way, having drawn 0-0 at home, but a 3-1 second leg win on their travels completed the job.
The history
Birkirkara were formed in 1950 and have enjoyed great success domestically in the last 20 years, winning four Maltese championships, five FA Trophies and seven Maltese Super Cups in that period.
Regulars in European competition, this is their 17th campaign in Europe, and they have won three of their 19 ties.
Before this year's triumph against Ulisses, their other victories came in a UEFA Champions League first qualifying round match against Santa Coloma of Andorra in 2010/11 and a UEFA Cup qualifying round tie against Georgia's Locomotive Tbilisi 14 years ago.
The Stripes were third place finishers in the Maltese Premier League in 2014/15, with Hibernians and Valletta beating them to the top two slots.
Team news
West Ham United
Slaven Bilic is back in the dugout for this match and is set to name a strong team as the Hammers try to make a statement of intent in the early part of pre-season.
Several players who featured at Peterborough United on Saturday could be involved on Thursday, so the likes of Mark Noble, Aaron Cresswell, Kevin Nolan and Winston Reid might be given their first competitive work-outs of the summer.
New signing Pedro Obiang is also eligible, but Diafra Sakho and Dimitri Payet will both serve suspensions
Birkirkara
Birkirkara's main man is former Italy international Fabrizio Miccoli, who signed from Lecce in the summer. The 36-year-old is best known for his spells with Fiorentina, Juventus and Palermo, where he scored goals regularly and reached two Coppa Italia finals.
He scored in the first qualifying round win over Ulisses and is set to start again. Other notable players in their squad include Brazilian midfielder Rafael Ladesma, Maltese international goalkeeper Justin Haber and midfielder Gareth Sciberras, who has 34 caps for Malta. Left back Joseph Zerafa spent last season at Grays Athletic and Welling United.
Match facts
West Ham will play their 51st match in European competition when they welcome Birkirkara to the Boleyn Ground. They have won 26, drawn nine and lost 15 of the previous 50.
Thursday's match officials all hail from Austria. Referee Markus Hameter is 35-year-old and has taken the whistle in the Austrian Bundesliga and Swiss Super League and in internationals involving Georgia, Ukraine, Slovakia, Finland and Iran. The assistant referee are Roland Braunschmidt and Andreas Heidenreich. The fourth official is Julian Weinberger.
33 ties will be played in this round of the competition, with the winners joining 25 teams who enter at the next stage.
The Stripes have notched 27 goals in their 19 European ties, conceding 79 in the process.
Their best European runs are to the first round of the UEFA Cup in 2000/01, the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League in 2010/11 and the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League this season.
Betting
The Club's Principal Partner Betway have over 100 markets on the game. Check out their betting preview here.
Tickets, Travel, Weather & TV Coverage
Tickets purchased on matchday are priced at £20 Adults and £10 Under-16s. Supporters can purchase at whufcboxoffice.com or at the Betway Stand Ticket Office from 9am.
whufc.com will carry live updates throughout the night, with live text commentary, photos and stats.
No closures are planned on the Underground lines serving Upton Park. At present, a good service is also anticipated on Greater Anglia and c2c services.
Sunny intervals are expected around time of kick-off, with temperatures of 22C/72F
Please be aware that alcohol will not be sold at the concourse concessions in accordance with UEFA regulations.
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Birkirkara boss to draw on old memories
WHUFC.com
Birkirkara head coach Giovanni Tedesco will draw upon a memory of old when he brings his team to the Boleyn Ground on Thursday night.
The 43-year-old Italian, who has taken the reins at Birkirkara this summer, was part of the Palermo squad which triumphed at the Boleyn Ground and ended West Ham United's last foray into Europe nine years ago. He did not get onto the pitch in either leg of that UEFA Cup first round tie, but has fond memories of his previous trip to the East End and knows a special atmosphere will be generated by the 30,000-plus crowd. He explained: "In 2006 I was on the bench when Palermo played West Ham here in east London. It was the West Ham side with Mascherano, Tevez and Sheringham and we won 1-0 with a goal by Caracciolo. "Then we won 3-0 in Palermo so that's a very positive memory for me. We know tomorrow will be different but I hope the outcome is the same and I remember the atmosphere was fantastic. "Everything about the match, the build-up was very positive and it's a very nice memory."
Fast forward to the present and former Fiorentina and Perugia player Tedesco knows his team faces a very different task this time around.
However, he is certain that the Maltese Cup winners will give a good showing against their Barclays Premier League hosts. He explained: "We know we're up against a top team, but we're not here on holiday or to give any presents away. We deserve it and and we will play our own football to make it difficult for West Ham. "We're not here to be passive opponents, we want to play our part and we have huge desire to win. "What's important is we play here with courage, we have desire to attack and don't just come here to defend. We will do our best, we will play with heart and in these type of matches the mental side and being courageous is the most important thing."
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From the Newsroom
WHUFC.com
The Times of Malta sports reporter Kevin Azzopardi says Maltese Premier League club Birkirkara cannot wait to test themselves against West Ham United in the UEFA Europa League…
Kevin, can you please start by telling us about football in Malta?
"You might already know that English football is very popular on the island of Malta. It has a wide following and there are many supporters' clubs who follow the big Premier League clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. West Ham also have a supporters' club in Malta.
"Football is the No1 sport by far. People here follow the sport closely and most have an interest in and support clubs in the English, German and Italian leagues.
"This game has created quite a good deal of excitement, as it is the first time in many years that an English team has visited the island."
We understand the tie has caught the imagination of Maltese football supporters, who do not get to see English Premier League clubs very often on the island?
"Maltese clubs have played Europa League matches at their own grounds, but this game has been moved to the National Stadium at Ta'Qali, which says everything you need to know about how big a game this is for Maltese football.
"Birkirkara and the authorities are expecting quite a big crowd. The stadium holds about 17 thousand, and I have seen a lot in the press about interest in tickets.
"The West Ham fans will be situated in the Millennium Stand, which holds just under five thousand, and they have an allocation of 3,000 tickets. I believe they are expecting around five thousand Maltese supporters to attend, so that would mean a total attendance of between eight to ten thousand."
Birkirkara finished third in the Maltese Premier League last season, but they won the FA Cup. They have been one of the best teams in Malta in the last decade, but they lacked consistency last season
Kevin Azzopardi
What can you tell us about our opponents Birkirkara FC?
"Birkirkara are one of the biggest teams on the island and they are playing a big league match or cup final against Valletta or Floriana then you can expect a crowd of seven thousand to be there to watch.
"Birkirkara finished third in the Maltese Premier League last season, but they won the FA Cup. They have been one of the best teams in Malta in the last decade, but they lacked consistency last season.
"They have a strong squad with seven or eight internationals and their Maltese players certainly have a lot of experience. The new manager has added Fabrizio Miccoli, who played for Italy, the Slovenian forward Vito Plut from Floriana and a Bosnian winger Edin Murga.
"As for the manager, Tedesco is a typical Italian coach and appears to be very tactically astute and has attention to detail in his planning."
How do you expect the tie to pan out?
"Obviously West Ham is the favourite to advance but I think Birkirkara could give a good account of themselves.
"Another Maltese club, Valetta, played Lusitans of Andorra, who West Ham beat in the first qualifying round, and beat them 5-0 at home. The standard of Maltese football is much higher than they play in Andorra.
"If Birkirkara are still in contention after the first leg, then that will be a successful result for them in London. However, they go into the tie with a lot of expectation after winning against Ulisses in the first qualifying round.
"Usually, Maltese teams get through the qualifying round, but coming up against West Ham, who qualified through Fair Play, will make that more difficult this year."
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West Ham v Birkirkara FC
KO 19:45
15 July 2015
Last updated at 16:58
EUROPA LEAGUE SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND FIRST LEG
Venue: Upton Park Date: Thursday, 16 July 2015 Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Coverage: Live updates on BBC Sport website, live commentary on BBC Radio London 94.9 FM
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic admits combining domestic and European games this season will be a "difficult balance" as his team take on Birkirkara in the Europa League on Thursday. The second qualifying round tie against the Maltese side comes as other Premier League teams ease their way back into their pre-season preparations. "The Europa League, if we qualify, is good for the club," Bilic said. "It's good for the spectators and the players. But it takes from you too."
Former West Ham defender Bilic, who took over from previous boss Sam Allardyce on 9 June, led Turkish side Besiktas to the Europa League round of 16 last season. And he used some of West Ham's youth team players in the first qualifying round, which saw the Hammers beat Andorran minnows Lusitanos 4-0 on aggregate, only 39 days after the final day of last season. In order to reach the group stages of the competition, West Ham will need to play eight games. "Last year I was at Besiktas and the Europa League cost us because it was something like playing 20 games Saturday to Thursday," the Croatian added in his first news conference as Hammers boss. "[For West Ham's first round] we didn't want to call up the senior players because we're going to need them until May. In England, there is no winter break.
"But we wanted to respect the Europa League because it's a big opportunity and privilege to any club. So we wanted to find a balance."
West Ham are competing in Europe for the first time since the 2006-07 season, when they were knocked out in the first round of the Uefa Cup.
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West Ham United v Birkirkara
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 14th July 2015
By: Preview Percy
We'll admit that we don't know a lot about Maltese football here at Kumb Towers. And, having read the fruits of Preview Percy's labours on the subject we're none the wiser to be honest....
And next on our 429-match trip to European glory (all figures approximate) we have a tie in the Thursday Night Lague against Maltese outfit Birkirkara. The home leg is this Thursday at 7.45pm whilst the away leg takes place out in Malta 7 days later.
Sometimes, Ladies & Gentlemen, a small gamble on forward planning pays off. You see here at the Avram Grant Olympic Rest Home for the Bewildered we have friends all over the world. (Except Liverpool of course. we do have standards). One of the places in which there is an outpost of comradeship is Malta, where the inmates of the Dom Mintoff Retirement Complex and Workhouse have been inviting us over for years. Now when the draw for this competition was first announced we got in touch with Professor Stephen Hawking to work out what our next round could be in the event that the Andorrans stopped rolling around on the floor for long enough for us to beat them. It took him a few hours of calculations before he came up with Ulissees of Armenia or Birkirkara, pointing out that there was a possibility of fixture reversal depending on Valetta's result. He also pointed out that, in an infinite universe, there was the possibility that there was a duplicate of planet Earth somewhere identical to ours in every way except that the Piers Morgan on that planet was a nice chap. Of course we didn't believe him on that point and we immediately had him towed away to a place of safety.
So, armed with the draw details off I went to see the rest home bursar suggesting that, if he were to use some of those funds on deposit in a Swiss bank account in his name on funding a trip to the George Cross island, I wouldn't let on as to how so much of the home's funds ended up on deposit in a Swiss bank account in his name in the first place. This left us sweating a little on the Valetta v Newtown match which, had it gone the wrong way, could have seen us stranded in Malta trying to find somewhere showing our home leg.
However, the gamble paid off which is why we now have a week in Malta paid for before all the flight prices went up in anticipation of possibly 3,000 Hammers making the trip, at the end of which we will get to see a game of football.
So what of our opponents then? Well Birkirkara FC are a relatively young club having been formed by the merger of Birkirkara Celtic and Birkirkara United in 1950. They are sponsored by McDonalds – which I am informed is a chain of restaurants specialising in minced beef products. I think I went into one once – I got slung out after the most frightful row when the waiter refused to come over to take our order for a pot of tea for two. Birkirkara play in the same colours as Melchester Rovers - though they're not nearly as successful as Ben Galloway, Roy Race, Blackie Gray and co. were over the years.
The most familiar name associated with the club in the past was that of Alan Sunderland, who has a conviction somewhere for causing death by dangerous driving or something similar. He also played for Arsenal, eventually retiring to Malta where – and I swear I didn't make this quote up – he enjoys the fact that "there's no traffic". Sunderland had a season as Birkirkara coach in the 1990's.
As a club they're on a bit of a run of European qualification having qualified pretty much every year since 1997/98, the one exception being 2007/08 when they took part only in the Intertoto. However, including the Intertoto, they've only won three of the 19 ties played so far. Their best result on paper was their 7-3 aggregate victory over FC Santa Coloma of Andorra (it's that country again) in the 2010/11 so-called Champions league qualifying stages. On closer inspection that score isn't quite as impressive as it looks though, as the 7-3 total includes a 3-0 win awarded to them by UEFA when the Andorran pitch wasn't fit to play on in time. All that rolling around by Lusitans must have damaged it. The 4-3 victory in the Maltese leg of the tie suggests that the overall result might have been a tad closer had they been able to play both legs.
They qualified for the Europa League by finishing third in the Maltese Premier League, a competition that is so complicated that, when we called Professor Stephen Hawking back he pretended to be out rather than risk ridicule by having to explain how it works. I'll give it a go though: They have two phases in the league. In phase one they play each other home and away meaning that, in a 12-team league, they play 22 matches up to this point. That takes them through to February, Then they halve the points. Yes you read that correctly, they halve the points won so far. They then play each other again – just the once mind not home and away – and after all that they call it a day and whoever is top wins the league. So last season, after their first 22 games Birkirkara were in third place with 43 points from 22 matches, which was 17 points behind league leaders Hibernians who had 60 points. In the second phase Birkirkara won 6 and drew 3 of the closing 11 matches which saw them finish on, er, 43 points which meant they had closed the gap on the Champions, Hibernians, who finished on, er, 57 points. I think there was something in there about playing your jokeras well but I can't be sure. Possibly the best thing about last season's competition was the fact that a team by the name of Pieta Hotspurs got relegated.
As mentioned earlier Birkirkara's first qualifying round match saw them prevail against Ulisses of Armenia, drawing the first leg in Malta 0-0 before coming away with a creditable 3-1 win out in , er, Ulisses. Actually Ulisses are based in Yerevan and are neighbours of Ararat Yerevan who we met in the 1975/76 Cup Winners' Cup but, since Birkirkara beat them, that's not really relevant and I apologise for wasting the last two seconds of your life. Birkirkara also won the Maltese equivalent of the FA Cup (called the FA Trophy) last season, denying Hibernians the double with a 2-0 win in the final.
Their most experienced player is probably Italian forward Fabrizio Miccoli who arrived this summer. The 36 year old striker is winding his time down in Malta after a career that saw him spend time at (amongst others) Perugia, Juventus, Benfica, Palermo, Fiorentina and Lecce. He also netted twice in ten internationals for Italy in his time. There are strong resemblances to Steven Gerrard, not in looks or in playing style, but in the fact that, like the reprehensible scouser, he has close links with some very dodgy people and was once investigated for using Mafia chums to prise money out of a nightclub owner who was said to owe him money. He also is said to have referred to a murdered investigating judge as "filth". Nice guy.
He once paid €25,000 (I think that's about £2.50) for an earring that had belonged to Diego Maradonna. Maradonna, no stranger to dodgy Mafiosi (or "legitimate businessmen" as they prefer to be called) from his time at Napoli, had had the diamond bit of tom confiscated by the Italian tax authorities to whom he owed several million Euros (probably nearly as much as £10) in taxes that he'd forgotten to pay whilst playing out there. Miccoli's not the tallest of chaps at 5ft 6 or so and recent photographs suggest that he's carrying a bit of timber in his veteran years. However, he's experienced and a bit wily though so will need watching.
Oddly, for what even their most fervent of patriots would admit is something of a backwater in world football terms, they also have a Brazilian striker. Ellinton Antonio Costa Morais who in, the Brazilian tradition, goes by the mercifully shorter nickname of Liliu. arrived after a short and apparently none too sweet spell with Israeli outfit Hapoel Ra'anana for whom he's listed as having scored zero times in as many appearances. He's not exactly settled much in his career, something that suggests that he's one of those journeymen whose agent does a decent job of marketing. Since 2009 he's been on the books of no fewer than seven clubs, encompassing spells in Belgium, Kuwait, his native Brazil, Cyprus, Israel and now Malta. His three year spell with Belgians Westerlo is the longest he seems to have stuck in one place. However his 13 goals in 21 games for Birkirkara suggests that he may have finally found a level he's comfortable with.
The skipper is Gareth Sciberras who is a Maltese international with over 30 caps to his name. Sciberras started his life out at the aforementioned Pieta Hotspurs and it;s all gone downhill for then since he left. Hmmmm. A player called Gareth leaves a team called Hotspurs and things go wrong? That sounds vaguely familiar. After a few years with the as difficult to type as it is to pronounce Marsaxlokk, Sciberras found himself relegated down a division after Marsaxlokk were implicated in a bribery scandal. Sciberras stuck around for a while though, moving to Birkika in 2011 where he's been ever since.
There may be an injury doubt over usual first choice 'keeper Justin Haber. Haber missed the second leg of the Ulisses tie after doing a hamstring in the first leg and Thursday may be a tad too soon for a return. Haber is an alumnus of Sheffield United so his injury is of course all our fault and, should Birkirkara not go on to win the so-called Champions League, we can expect a long drawn out course of arbitration until Haber can find someone gullible to believe him. If he's fit I am assured by our local correspondent, that fine fellow Maltese Hammer, that Haber's twin sister Pearl attends most matches but I have a slight suspicion that he may be pulling my leg. In the meantime should Haber be too busy suing us to play his place by Nigerian shot-stopper Iri Atkpan. He's rom Nigeria and keeps goal for a living, from which you'll gather that, thanks to the New Horizons space probe, I probably know more about Pluto than I do about him.
And so to us. The trip to Andorra ended up ok in the end despite Sakho's dismissal. Whether or not Sakho actually did anything untoward is unclear from the footage that seems to have been filmed by someone with a Chinese knock-off iPhone who was filming a particularly interesting patch o grass at the time. However, in some respects the red card didn't come as a surprise – Lusitans spent much of the first leg trying to get him sent off and he was naïve enough to put in a couple of challenges that could easily have gained him a second yellow I the first match. He'll have to wise up in later rounds lest a similar indiscretion against someone who is actually any good costs us dearly.
Sakho's red means that he'll miss both legs of this one plus the first leg of the next round should we get through. Team wise we can probably expect a similar XI to start with – though expect one or two of the more seasoned pros to be introduced. Modibo Maiga (remember him?) and new boys Payet and Hendrie have all been added to the official UEFA roster so perhaps the odd glimpse of those over the two legs might be granted.
This one is another one that we should win – Maltese Hammer for one expects the match to be over by the end of the first leg. They should, however, provide a slightly sterner test than the Andorrans – Maltese football is a bit better than that provided by our last opponents but even so we will have far too much from them over the two legs. Especially with a couple more first-teamers coming in. As with the last match I'll shy away from a specific score - Winstone's The Turf Accountants are still offering somewhat unforgiving odds on any score you care to mention. As ever let's just get through the two legs without injury and hope that we can see our name go into those wonderfully- sized brandy glasses come Friday.
Enjoy the game!
When last we met: You ask me this every week. Think about it. How likely is it that we'd have played this lot before? Stop wasting my time.
How did they get here?:That's better – a far more sensible question.
QR1: Ulisses (Armenia) h 0-0 a 3-1 agg 3-1.
Danger Man: Fabrizio Miccoli – veteran striker whose marker will find a horse's head in his bed if they upset him.
Referee: 1st Leg: Markus Hameter (Austria) 2nd leg TBA
Daft Fact Of The Week: Malta is officially the 48th happiest country in the world according to UN statistics. (We're 22nd if you're that interested). The country was awarded the George Cross as a result of the population' efforts in World War 2 and the islanders are rightly proud of the award. They also came second in the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Angel" sung by Chiara, but they don't like to mention that much.
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West Ham take on Birkirkara in Europa League second qualifying round
Last Updated: 15/07/15 9:51pm
SSN
West Ham take on Maltese FA Cup winners Birkirkara in the first leg of the second qualifying round of the Europa League at Upton Park on Thursday night. The Hammers will be hoping to do enough on home soil to put them within sight of the third qualifying round with the second leg to come next week. The Premier League outfit cruised past Andorran side Lusitans 4-0 on aggregate in the previous round and head into their latest clash on the back of a 3-3 draw with Peterborough United in a pre-season friendly last weekend. Diafra Sakho was on target again in that game having scored twice in the first leg with Lusitans, although he will be suspended after being sent off in the second leg. Adrian, James Tomkins, Winston Reid, Mark Noble and skipper Kevin Nolan are all expected to be named in a strong-looking side, whilst only Pedro Obiang of the new signings is in contention with Dimitri Payet banned. Andy Carroll (knee) is still sidelined following an injury last season whilst manager Slaven Bilic is again likely to give game-time to a number of academy products. Elliot Lee netted the only goal of the game in Andorra and the 20-year-old could be handed another run out while teenage forward Martin Samuelsen, who was on target in the draw with Peterborough, is in line for a starting berth.
The likes of Reece Oxford, Reece Burke and Lee could also continue to play an important role throughout the season if West Ham progress in Europe. "The Europa League, if we qualify of course, it's good for the club," said Bilic at his first press conference since replacing Sam Allardyce. "It is good for the spectators and individually the players. To play against clubs that play different styles. It boosts your confidence and your quality as a man and a player. But it takes from you too. Last year I was at Besiktas and the Europa League cost us because it was something like playing 20 games Saturday, Thursday. At the beginning it's great for you if you're winning."
Birkirkara head into the game having secured a 3-1 win at Ulisses in the second leg of their first-round tie. And with former Italy and Juventus striker Fabrizio Miccoli in their ranks, the Maltese side travel to east London in bouyant mood. Midfielder Rowen Muscat said: "We have written another chapter in the club's history by setting up a tie against top English side West Ham. "Getting through to the next round of the Europa League after playing only two competitive matches (this season) is quite an achievement in itself. "Progressing - and scoring three goals away from home - is a big thing. We are delighted with the performance and the way we approached this match. "Now we must remain focused for next week and (the trip to) West Ham."
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West Ham will have 'definite advantage' over Arsenal thanks to Europa League says boss Bilic
22:30, 15 JULY 2015
BY JOHN CROSS
The Hammers could have played SIX competitive games by the time they visit the Emirates for Prem season opener PLUS: Alex Song move latest
The Mirror
Slaven Bilic has warned West Ham are ready to hit the ground running - and has already got Arsenal in his sights. Bilic, appointed as manager over a month ago, takes 'proper' charge of his first game at Upton Park on Thursday against Maltese outfit Birkirkara — which is already the Hammers' third game of the season. West Ham reported back early for pre-season, will need to play eight games just to reach the Europa League's group stage and have been warned the extra demands could blow their season off course. But Hammers boss Bilic, who sat in the Upton Park stands for the previous round's home leg, says their extra games can give them a head start and a "definite advantage" over the Gunners - who they face at the Emirates on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. If they see off Birkirkara to reach the third qualifying round, West Ham will already have played six competitive matches by the time that August 9 fixture arrives. Arsenal will have played just one - the Community Shield against Chelsea.
Bilic said: "It's good for the start, definitely. The best examples are from your own history - not from the books, the experience you have. "I only have to look at last year when we played with Besiktas. "We played Arsenal in the Champions League play-off. We were fitter than them. We had already played Feyenoord in the previous round and we were fitter. Arsenal had only played the Community Shield and Crystal Palace and we were already in the season. "It gives you a definite advantage in the beginning of the season. What about November, December or Christmas time which is already so tough here. So we're going to try be aware of all the situations."
Arsenal managed to get through to the Champions League's group stage, but beat Bilic's Turkish side just 1-0 on aggregate over the two legs. Bilic's West Ham predecessor Sam Allardyce has already claimed the Irons do not have enough players to cope with the extra demands of a European campaign they only earned via the Fair Play League. Allardyce told talkSPORT: "If West Ham have a very good run in Europe it could have a detrimental effect on their Premier League results. I'm not sure the squad is strong and deep enough if they have a long run in Europe."
Bilic made a point of paying tribute to Big Sam for leaving the club in good shape and he also agreed that getting the balance right is the key to West Ham's season. "That's a big issue," said Bilic. "In every league, in the Premier League you have so many intense games, a lot of competitions, you have two domestic cups, some clubs like us last year or like Arsenal or like many clubs who have many injuries. "That is the biggest impact. On the other hand, you have to train, if you are training you are competitive then of course of it's going to take some casualties. "That is a major issue. That can basically be one unlucky accident in training not to mention the games can damage your plans. Two or three you are finished."
Bilic will field a stronger line-up than in the previous round and he called it a "big privilege" to be taking charge of his first home game since leaving Besiktas where he was given a hero's send-off at the airport. "It's not very common here," he laughed. "I mean, you have seen Robin van Persie's welcome , it's amazing - although they are Fenerbahce fans, not Besiktas, my club, but it was great.
"I'm glad that I left Besiktas in a good situation and a good atmosphere. I can only wish that I can have the same kind of daily basis of work that I had in Turkey."
West Ham midfielder Mark Noble says their final year at Upton Park makes it the biggest season in the club's history and they are determined to start well. Noble said: "We're going into one of the biggest in the club's history. "The new stadium is a Premier League stadium. The money we're spending is a sign we want to go into the new stadium as a solid Premier League team that wants to move up.
"We get 35,000 a week and we want to get in 20,000 more. I'm confident we can do it."
* BILIC has confirmed West Ham are still hoping to sign Alex Song, despite his injury problems. Barcelona midfielder Song could face surgery on an ankle problem and his potential transfer to West Ham has been held up. But the Hammers are trying to reach a compromise with another one year loan deal on the table with a view to a permanent transfer for the ex-Arsenal star. Bilic said: "Although I said I'm not going to discuss players from other teams, he is somewhere in between. He played here on loan last year and he's a little bit injured.
"I don't deny that he was a great player who did really well last year and I would like him to stay with us."
PROBABLE TEAMS
West Ham (4-2-3-1) Adrian; O'Brien, Tomkins, Reid, Cresswell; Poyet, Noble;Amalfitano, Nolan, Jarvis; Zarate.
Birkirkara (4-3-3) Haber, Mazzetti, Vukanac, Z Muscat, Camenzuli, Zerafa, Fenech, R Muscat, Agius, Miccoli, Plut.
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Europa League Draw this Friday
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 15, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
The draw for the third qualifying round for the Europa League will take place in France this Friday. The first leg will be played on Thursday 30th July with the second leg on Thursday 6th August just two before the official start of the Premier League season.
Borussia Dortmund, Athletic Club, Sampdoria, Bordeaux and Southampton will be involved when the third qualifying round draw is streamed live from Nyon at 12pm. Twenty-five clubs received a bye to this stage and will be joined by the winners of the 33 second qualifying ties. The teams are ranked by their coefficient or, in the case of clubs emerging from the second qualifying round ties, by the higher of the two coefficients involved – with 29 sides classified as seeded. The teams are further split into five groups containing an equal number of seeded and unseeded contenders. Every seeded club will meet an unseeded opponent from within the same group.
The draw will be televised LIVE on UEFA.com
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WHUFC.com
The background
West Ham United's UEFA Europa League qualifying campaign continues on Thursday when Slaven Bilic's men welcome Birkirkara of Malta to the Boleyn Ground.
Having seen off FC Lusitans in the opening qualifying round by a 4-0 aggregate scoreline, West Ham will hope to take a step closer to the group stage in front of another huge Bolyen Ground crowd.
Birkirkara qualified for the competition by winning the Maltese Cup last season and booked their place at this stage with an impressive victory over Armenian side Ulisses.
Thursday's visitors had to make progress the hard way, having drawn 0-0 at home, but a 3-1 second leg win on their travels completed the job.
The history
Birkirkara were formed in 1950 and have enjoyed great success domestically in the last 20 years, winning four Maltese championships, five FA Trophies and seven Maltese Super Cups in that period.
Regulars in European competition, this is their 17th campaign in Europe, and they have won three of their 19 ties.
Before this year's triumph against Ulisses, their other victories came in a UEFA Champions League first qualifying round match against Santa Coloma of Andorra in 2010/11 and a UEFA Cup qualifying round tie against Georgia's Locomotive Tbilisi 14 years ago.
The Stripes were third place finishers in the Maltese Premier League in 2014/15, with Hibernians and Valletta beating them to the top two slots.
Team news
West Ham United
Slaven Bilic is back in the dugout for this match and is set to name a strong team as the Hammers try to make a statement of intent in the early part of pre-season.
Several players who featured at Peterborough United on Saturday could be involved on Thursday, so the likes of Mark Noble, Aaron Cresswell, Kevin Nolan and Winston Reid might be given their first competitive work-outs of the summer.
New signing Pedro Obiang is also eligible, but Diafra Sakho and Dimitri Payet will both serve suspensions
Birkirkara
Birkirkara's main man is former Italy international Fabrizio Miccoli, who signed from Lecce in the summer. The 36-year-old is best known for his spells with Fiorentina, Juventus and Palermo, where he scored goals regularly and reached two Coppa Italia finals.
He scored in the first qualifying round win over Ulisses and is set to start again. Other notable players in their squad include Brazilian midfielder Rafael Ladesma, Maltese international goalkeeper Justin Haber and midfielder Gareth Sciberras, who has 34 caps for Malta. Left back Joseph Zerafa spent last season at Grays Athletic and Welling United.
Match facts
West Ham will play their 51st match in European competition when they welcome Birkirkara to the Boleyn Ground. They have won 26, drawn nine and lost 15 of the previous 50.
Thursday's match officials all hail from Austria. Referee Markus Hameter is 35-year-old and has taken the whistle in the Austrian Bundesliga and Swiss Super League and in internationals involving Georgia, Ukraine, Slovakia, Finland and Iran. The assistant referee are Roland Braunschmidt and Andreas Heidenreich. The fourth official is Julian Weinberger.
33 ties will be played in this round of the competition, with the winners joining 25 teams who enter at the next stage.
The Stripes have notched 27 goals in their 19 European ties, conceding 79 in the process.
Their best European runs are to the first round of the UEFA Cup in 2000/01, the second qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League in 2010/11 and the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League this season.
Betting
The Club's Principal Partner Betway have over 100 markets on the game. Check out their betting preview here.
Tickets, Travel, Weather & TV Coverage
Tickets purchased on matchday are priced at £20 Adults and £10 Under-16s. Supporters can purchase at whufcboxoffice.com or at the Betway Stand Ticket Office from 9am.
whufc.com will carry live updates throughout the night, with live text commentary, photos and stats.
No closures are planned on the Underground lines serving Upton Park. At present, a good service is also anticipated on Greater Anglia and c2c services.
Sunny intervals are expected around time of kick-off, with temperatures of 22C/72F
Please be aware that alcohol will not be sold at the concourse concessions in accordance with UEFA regulations.
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Birkirkara boss to draw on old memories
WHUFC.com
Birkirkara head coach Giovanni Tedesco will draw upon a memory of old when he brings his team to the Boleyn Ground on Thursday night.
The 43-year-old Italian, who has taken the reins at Birkirkara this summer, was part of the Palermo squad which triumphed at the Boleyn Ground and ended West Ham United's last foray into Europe nine years ago. He did not get onto the pitch in either leg of that UEFA Cup first round tie, but has fond memories of his previous trip to the East End and knows a special atmosphere will be generated by the 30,000-plus crowd. He explained: "In 2006 I was on the bench when Palermo played West Ham here in east London. It was the West Ham side with Mascherano, Tevez and Sheringham and we won 1-0 with a goal by Caracciolo. "Then we won 3-0 in Palermo so that's a very positive memory for me. We know tomorrow will be different but I hope the outcome is the same and I remember the atmosphere was fantastic. "Everything about the match, the build-up was very positive and it's a very nice memory."
Fast forward to the present and former Fiorentina and Perugia player Tedesco knows his team faces a very different task this time around.
However, he is certain that the Maltese Cup winners will give a good showing against their Barclays Premier League hosts. He explained: "We know we're up against a top team, but we're not here on holiday or to give any presents away. We deserve it and and we will play our own football to make it difficult for West Ham. "We're not here to be passive opponents, we want to play our part and we have huge desire to win. "What's important is we play here with courage, we have desire to attack and don't just come here to defend. We will do our best, we will play with heart and in these type of matches the mental side and being courageous is the most important thing."
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From the Newsroom
WHUFC.com
The Times of Malta sports reporter Kevin Azzopardi says Maltese Premier League club Birkirkara cannot wait to test themselves against West Ham United in the UEFA Europa League…
Kevin, can you please start by telling us about football in Malta?
"You might already know that English football is very popular on the island of Malta. It has a wide following and there are many supporters' clubs who follow the big Premier League clubs like Manchester United, Liverpool and Arsenal. West Ham also have a supporters' club in Malta.
"Football is the No1 sport by far. People here follow the sport closely and most have an interest in and support clubs in the English, German and Italian leagues.
"This game has created quite a good deal of excitement, as it is the first time in many years that an English team has visited the island."
We understand the tie has caught the imagination of Maltese football supporters, who do not get to see English Premier League clubs very often on the island?
"Maltese clubs have played Europa League matches at their own grounds, but this game has been moved to the National Stadium at Ta'Qali, which says everything you need to know about how big a game this is for Maltese football.
"Birkirkara and the authorities are expecting quite a big crowd. The stadium holds about 17 thousand, and I have seen a lot in the press about interest in tickets.
"The West Ham fans will be situated in the Millennium Stand, which holds just under five thousand, and they have an allocation of 3,000 tickets. I believe they are expecting around five thousand Maltese supporters to attend, so that would mean a total attendance of between eight to ten thousand."
Birkirkara finished third in the Maltese Premier League last season, but they won the FA Cup. They have been one of the best teams in Malta in the last decade, but they lacked consistency last season
Kevin Azzopardi
What can you tell us about our opponents Birkirkara FC?
"Birkirkara are one of the biggest teams on the island and they are playing a big league match or cup final against Valletta or Floriana then you can expect a crowd of seven thousand to be there to watch.
"Birkirkara finished third in the Maltese Premier League last season, but they won the FA Cup. They have been one of the best teams in Malta in the last decade, but they lacked consistency last season.
"They have a strong squad with seven or eight internationals and their Maltese players certainly have a lot of experience. The new manager has added Fabrizio Miccoli, who played for Italy, the Slovenian forward Vito Plut from Floriana and a Bosnian winger Edin Murga.
"As for the manager, Tedesco is a typical Italian coach and appears to be very tactically astute and has attention to detail in his planning."
How do you expect the tie to pan out?
"Obviously West Ham is the favourite to advance but I think Birkirkara could give a good account of themselves.
"Another Maltese club, Valetta, played Lusitans of Andorra, who West Ham beat in the first qualifying round, and beat them 5-0 at home. The standard of Maltese football is much higher than they play in Andorra.
"If Birkirkara are still in contention after the first leg, then that will be a successful result for them in London. However, they go into the tie with a lot of expectation after winning against Ulisses in the first qualifying round.
"Usually, Maltese teams get through the qualifying round, but coming up against West Ham, who qualified through Fair Play, will make that more difficult this year."
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West Ham v Birkirkara FC
KO 19:45
15 July 2015
Last updated at 16:58
EUROPA LEAGUE SECOND QUALIFYING ROUND FIRST LEG
Venue: Upton Park Date: Thursday, 16 July 2015 Kick-off: 19:45 BST
Coverage: Live updates on BBC Sport website, live commentary on BBC Radio London 94.9 FM
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic admits combining domestic and European games this season will be a "difficult balance" as his team take on Birkirkara in the Europa League on Thursday. The second qualifying round tie against the Maltese side comes as other Premier League teams ease their way back into their pre-season preparations. "The Europa League, if we qualify, is good for the club," Bilic said. "It's good for the spectators and the players. But it takes from you too."
Former West Ham defender Bilic, who took over from previous boss Sam Allardyce on 9 June, led Turkish side Besiktas to the Europa League round of 16 last season. And he used some of West Ham's youth team players in the first qualifying round, which saw the Hammers beat Andorran minnows Lusitanos 4-0 on aggregate, only 39 days after the final day of last season. In order to reach the group stages of the competition, West Ham will need to play eight games. "Last year I was at Besiktas and the Europa League cost us because it was something like playing 20 games Saturday to Thursday," the Croatian added in his first news conference as Hammers boss. "[For West Ham's first round] we didn't want to call up the senior players because we're going to need them until May. In England, there is no winter break.
"But we wanted to respect the Europa League because it's a big opportunity and privilege to any club. So we wanted to find a balance."
West Ham are competing in Europe for the first time since the 2006-07 season, when they were knocked out in the first round of the Uefa Cup.
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West Ham United v Birkirkara
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 14th July 2015
By: Preview Percy
We'll admit that we don't know a lot about Maltese football here at Kumb Towers. And, having read the fruits of Preview Percy's labours on the subject we're none the wiser to be honest....
And next on our 429-match trip to European glory (all figures approximate) we have a tie in the Thursday Night Lague against Maltese outfit Birkirkara. The home leg is this Thursday at 7.45pm whilst the away leg takes place out in Malta 7 days later.
Sometimes, Ladies & Gentlemen, a small gamble on forward planning pays off. You see here at the Avram Grant Olympic Rest Home for the Bewildered we have friends all over the world. (Except Liverpool of course. we do have standards). One of the places in which there is an outpost of comradeship is Malta, where the inmates of the Dom Mintoff Retirement Complex and Workhouse have been inviting us over for years. Now when the draw for this competition was first announced we got in touch with Professor Stephen Hawking to work out what our next round could be in the event that the Andorrans stopped rolling around on the floor for long enough for us to beat them. It took him a few hours of calculations before he came up with Ulissees of Armenia or Birkirkara, pointing out that there was a possibility of fixture reversal depending on Valetta's result. He also pointed out that, in an infinite universe, there was the possibility that there was a duplicate of planet Earth somewhere identical to ours in every way except that the Piers Morgan on that planet was a nice chap. Of course we didn't believe him on that point and we immediately had him towed away to a place of safety.
So, armed with the draw details off I went to see the rest home bursar suggesting that, if he were to use some of those funds on deposit in a Swiss bank account in his name on funding a trip to the George Cross island, I wouldn't let on as to how so much of the home's funds ended up on deposit in a Swiss bank account in his name in the first place. This left us sweating a little on the Valetta v Newtown match which, had it gone the wrong way, could have seen us stranded in Malta trying to find somewhere showing our home leg.
However, the gamble paid off which is why we now have a week in Malta paid for before all the flight prices went up in anticipation of possibly 3,000 Hammers making the trip, at the end of which we will get to see a game of football.
So what of our opponents then? Well Birkirkara FC are a relatively young club having been formed by the merger of Birkirkara Celtic and Birkirkara United in 1950. They are sponsored by McDonalds – which I am informed is a chain of restaurants specialising in minced beef products. I think I went into one once – I got slung out after the most frightful row when the waiter refused to come over to take our order for a pot of tea for two. Birkirkara play in the same colours as Melchester Rovers - though they're not nearly as successful as Ben Galloway, Roy Race, Blackie Gray and co. were over the years.
The most familiar name associated with the club in the past was that of Alan Sunderland, who has a conviction somewhere for causing death by dangerous driving or something similar. He also played for Arsenal, eventually retiring to Malta where – and I swear I didn't make this quote up – he enjoys the fact that "there's no traffic". Sunderland had a season as Birkirkara coach in the 1990's.
As a club they're on a bit of a run of European qualification having qualified pretty much every year since 1997/98, the one exception being 2007/08 when they took part only in the Intertoto. However, including the Intertoto, they've only won three of the 19 ties played so far. Their best result on paper was their 7-3 aggregate victory over FC Santa Coloma of Andorra (it's that country again) in the 2010/11 so-called Champions league qualifying stages. On closer inspection that score isn't quite as impressive as it looks though, as the 7-3 total includes a 3-0 win awarded to them by UEFA when the Andorran pitch wasn't fit to play on in time. All that rolling around by Lusitans must have damaged it. The 4-3 victory in the Maltese leg of the tie suggests that the overall result might have been a tad closer had they been able to play both legs.
They qualified for the Europa League by finishing third in the Maltese Premier League, a competition that is so complicated that, when we called Professor Stephen Hawking back he pretended to be out rather than risk ridicule by having to explain how it works. I'll give it a go though: They have two phases in the league. In phase one they play each other home and away meaning that, in a 12-team league, they play 22 matches up to this point. That takes them through to February, Then they halve the points. Yes you read that correctly, they halve the points won so far. They then play each other again – just the once mind not home and away – and after all that they call it a day and whoever is top wins the league. So last season, after their first 22 games Birkirkara were in third place with 43 points from 22 matches, which was 17 points behind league leaders Hibernians who had 60 points. In the second phase Birkirkara won 6 and drew 3 of the closing 11 matches which saw them finish on, er, 43 points which meant they had closed the gap on the Champions, Hibernians, who finished on, er, 57 points. I think there was something in there about playing your jokeras well but I can't be sure. Possibly the best thing about last season's competition was the fact that a team by the name of Pieta Hotspurs got relegated.
As mentioned earlier Birkirkara's first qualifying round match saw them prevail against Ulisses of Armenia, drawing the first leg in Malta 0-0 before coming away with a creditable 3-1 win out in , er, Ulisses. Actually Ulisses are based in Yerevan and are neighbours of Ararat Yerevan who we met in the 1975/76 Cup Winners' Cup but, since Birkirkara beat them, that's not really relevant and I apologise for wasting the last two seconds of your life. Birkirkara also won the Maltese equivalent of the FA Cup (called the FA Trophy) last season, denying Hibernians the double with a 2-0 win in the final.
Their most experienced player is probably Italian forward Fabrizio Miccoli who arrived this summer. The 36 year old striker is winding his time down in Malta after a career that saw him spend time at (amongst others) Perugia, Juventus, Benfica, Palermo, Fiorentina and Lecce. He also netted twice in ten internationals for Italy in his time. There are strong resemblances to Steven Gerrard, not in looks or in playing style, but in the fact that, like the reprehensible scouser, he has close links with some very dodgy people and was once investigated for using Mafia chums to prise money out of a nightclub owner who was said to owe him money. He also is said to have referred to a murdered investigating judge as "filth". Nice guy.
He once paid €25,000 (I think that's about £2.50) for an earring that had belonged to Diego Maradonna. Maradonna, no stranger to dodgy Mafiosi (or "legitimate businessmen" as they prefer to be called) from his time at Napoli, had had the diamond bit of tom confiscated by the Italian tax authorities to whom he owed several million Euros (probably nearly as much as £10) in taxes that he'd forgotten to pay whilst playing out there. Miccoli's not the tallest of chaps at 5ft 6 or so and recent photographs suggest that he's carrying a bit of timber in his veteran years. However, he's experienced and a bit wily though so will need watching.
Oddly, for what even their most fervent of patriots would admit is something of a backwater in world football terms, they also have a Brazilian striker. Ellinton Antonio Costa Morais who in, the Brazilian tradition, goes by the mercifully shorter nickname of Liliu. arrived after a short and apparently none too sweet spell with Israeli outfit Hapoel Ra'anana for whom he's listed as having scored zero times in as many appearances. He's not exactly settled much in his career, something that suggests that he's one of those journeymen whose agent does a decent job of marketing. Since 2009 he's been on the books of no fewer than seven clubs, encompassing spells in Belgium, Kuwait, his native Brazil, Cyprus, Israel and now Malta. His three year spell with Belgians Westerlo is the longest he seems to have stuck in one place. However his 13 goals in 21 games for Birkirkara suggests that he may have finally found a level he's comfortable with.
The skipper is Gareth Sciberras who is a Maltese international with over 30 caps to his name. Sciberras started his life out at the aforementioned Pieta Hotspurs and it;s all gone downhill for then since he left. Hmmmm. A player called Gareth leaves a team called Hotspurs and things go wrong? That sounds vaguely familiar. After a few years with the as difficult to type as it is to pronounce Marsaxlokk, Sciberras found himself relegated down a division after Marsaxlokk were implicated in a bribery scandal. Sciberras stuck around for a while though, moving to Birkika in 2011 where he's been ever since.
There may be an injury doubt over usual first choice 'keeper Justin Haber. Haber missed the second leg of the Ulisses tie after doing a hamstring in the first leg and Thursday may be a tad too soon for a return. Haber is an alumnus of Sheffield United so his injury is of course all our fault and, should Birkirkara not go on to win the so-called Champions League, we can expect a long drawn out course of arbitration until Haber can find someone gullible to believe him. If he's fit I am assured by our local correspondent, that fine fellow Maltese Hammer, that Haber's twin sister Pearl attends most matches but I have a slight suspicion that he may be pulling my leg. In the meantime should Haber be too busy suing us to play his place by Nigerian shot-stopper Iri Atkpan. He's rom Nigeria and keeps goal for a living, from which you'll gather that, thanks to the New Horizons space probe, I probably know more about Pluto than I do about him.
And so to us. The trip to Andorra ended up ok in the end despite Sakho's dismissal. Whether or not Sakho actually did anything untoward is unclear from the footage that seems to have been filmed by someone with a Chinese knock-off iPhone who was filming a particularly interesting patch o grass at the time. However, in some respects the red card didn't come as a surprise – Lusitans spent much of the first leg trying to get him sent off and he was naïve enough to put in a couple of challenges that could easily have gained him a second yellow I the first match. He'll have to wise up in later rounds lest a similar indiscretion against someone who is actually any good costs us dearly.
Sakho's red means that he'll miss both legs of this one plus the first leg of the next round should we get through. Team wise we can probably expect a similar XI to start with – though expect one or two of the more seasoned pros to be introduced. Modibo Maiga (remember him?) and new boys Payet and Hendrie have all been added to the official UEFA roster so perhaps the odd glimpse of those over the two legs might be granted.
This one is another one that we should win – Maltese Hammer for one expects the match to be over by the end of the first leg. They should, however, provide a slightly sterner test than the Andorrans – Maltese football is a bit better than that provided by our last opponents but even so we will have far too much from them over the two legs. Especially with a couple more first-teamers coming in. As with the last match I'll shy away from a specific score - Winstone's The Turf Accountants are still offering somewhat unforgiving odds on any score you care to mention. As ever let's just get through the two legs without injury and hope that we can see our name go into those wonderfully- sized brandy glasses come Friday.
Enjoy the game!
When last we met: You ask me this every week. Think about it. How likely is it that we'd have played this lot before? Stop wasting my time.
How did they get here?:That's better – a far more sensible question.
QR1: Ulisses (Armenia) h 0-0 a 3-1 agg 3-1.
Danger Man: Fabrizio Miccoli – veteran striker whose marker will find a horse's head in his bed if they upset him.
Referee: 1st Leg: Markus Hameter (Austria) 2nd leg TBA
Daft Fact Of The Week: Malta is officially the 48th happiest country in the world according to UN statistics. (We're 22nd if you're that interested). The country was awarded the George Cross as a result of the population' efforts in World War 2 and the islanders are rightly proud of the award. They also came second in the 2005 Eurovision Song Contest with the song "Angel" sung by Chiara, but they don't like to mention that much.
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West Ham take on Birkirkara in Europa League second qualifying round
Last Updated: 15/07/15 9:51pm
SSN
West Ham take on Maltese FA Cup winners Birkirkara in the first leg of the second qualifying round of the Europa League at Upton Park on Thursday night. The Hammers will be hoping to do enough on home soil to put them within sight of the third qualifying round with the second leg to come next week. The Premier League outfit cruised past Andorran side Lusitans 4-0 on aggregate in the previous round and head into their latest clash on the back of a 3-3 draw with Peterborough United in a pre-season friendly last weekend. Diafra Sakho was on target again in that game having scored twice in the first leg with Lusitans, although he will be suspended after being sent off in the second leg. Adrian, James Tomkins, Winston Reid, Mark Noble and skipper Kevin Nolan are all expected to be named in a strong-looking side, whilst only Pedro Obiang of the new signings is in contention with Dimitri Payet banned. Andy Carroll (knee) is still sidelined following an injury last season whilst manager Slaven Bilic is again likely to give game-time to a number of academy products. Elliot Lee netted the only goal of the game in Andorra and the 20-year-old could be handed another run out while teenage forward Martin Samuelsen, who was on target in the draw with Peterborough, is in line for a starting berth.
The likes of Reece Oxford, Reece Burke and Lee could also continue to play an important role throughout the season if West Ham progress in Europe. "The Europa League, if we qualify of course, it's good for the club," said Bilic at his first press conference since replacing Sam Allardyce. "It is good for the spectators and individually the players. To play against clubs that play different styles. It boosts your confidence and your quality as a man and a player. But it takes from you too. Last year I was at Besiktas and the Europa League cost us because it was something like playing 20 games Saturday, Thursday. At the beginning it's great for you if you're winning."
Birkirkara head into the game having secured a 3-1 win at Ulisses in the second leg of their first-round tie. And with former Italy and Juventus striker Fabrizio Miccoli in their ranks, the Maltese side travel to east London in bouyant mood. Midfielder Rowen Muscat said: "We have written another chapter in the club's history by setting up a tie against top English side West Ham. "Getting through to the next round of the Europa League after playing only two competitive matches (this season) is quite an achievement in itself. "Progressing - and scoring three goals away from home - is a big thing. We are delighted with the performance and the way we approached this match. "Now we must remain focused for next week and (the trip to) West Ham."
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West Ham will have 'definite advantage' over Arsenal thanks to Europa League says boss Bilic
22:30, 15 JULY 2015
BY JOHN CROSS
The Hammers could have played SIX competitive games by the time they visit the Emirates for Prem season opener PLUS: Alex Song move latest
The Mirror
Slaven Bilic has warned West Ham are ready to hit the ground running - and has already got Arsenal in his sights. Bilic, appointed as manager over a month ago, takes 'proper' charge of his first game at Upton Park on Thursday against Maltese outfit Birkirkara — which is already the Hammers' third game of the season. West Ham reported back early for pre-season, will need to play eight games just to reach the Europa League's group stage and have been warned the extra demands could blow their season off course. But Hammers boss Bilic, who sat in the Upton Park stands for the previous round's home leg, says their extra games can give them a head start and a "definite advantage" over the Gunners - who they face at the Emirates on the opening weekend of the Premier League season. If they see off Birkirkara to reach the third qualifying round, West Ham will already have played six competitive matches by the time that August 9 fixture arrives. Arsenal will have played just one - the Community Shield against Chelsea.
Bilic said: "It's good for the start, definitely. The best examples are from your own history - not from the books, the experience you have. "I only have to look at last year when we played with Besiktas. "We played Arsenal in the Champions League play-off. We were fitter than them. We had already played Feyenoord in the previous round and we were fitter. Arsenal had only played the Community Shield and Crystal Palace and we were already in the season. "It gives you a definite advantage in the beginning of the season. What about November, December or Christmas time which is already so tough here. So we're going to try be aware of all the situations."
Arsenal managed to get through to the Champions League's group stage, but beat Bilic's Turkish side just 1-0 on aggregate over the two legs. Bilic's West Ham predecessor Sam Allardyce has already claimed the Irons do not have enough players to cope with the extra demands of a European campaign they only earned via the Fair Play League. Allardyce told talkSPORT: "If West Ham have a very good run in Europe it could have a detrimental effect on their Premier League results. I'm not sure the squad is strong and deep enough if they have a long run in Europe."
Bilic made a point of paying tribute to Big Sam for leaving the club in good shape and he also agreed that getting the balance right is the key to West Ham's season. "That's a big issue," said Bilic. "In every league, in the Premier League you have so many intense games, a lot of competitions, you have two domestic cups, some clubs like us last year or like Arsenal or like many clubs who have many injuries. "That is the biggest impact. On the other hand, you have to train, if you are training you are competitive then of course of it's going to take some casualties. "That is a major issue. That can basically be one unlucky accident in training not to mention the games can damage your plans. Two or three you are finished."
Bilic will field a stronger line-up than in the previous round and he called it a "big privilege" to be taking charge of his first home game since leaving Besiktas where he was given a hero's send-off at the airport. "It's not very common here," he laughed. "I mean, you have seen Robin van Persie's welcome , it's amazing - although they are Fenerbahce fans, not Besiktas, my club, but it was great.
"I'm glad that I left Besiktas in a good situation and a good atmosphere. I can only wish that I can have the same kind of daily basis of work that I had in Turkey."
West Ham midfielder Mark Noble says their final year at Upton Park makes it the biggest season in the club's history and they are determined to start well. Noble said: "We're going into one of the biggest in the club's history. "The new stadium is a Premier League stadium. The money we're spending is a sign we want to go into the new stadium as a solid Premier League team that wants to move up.
"We get 35,000 a week and we want to get in 20,000 more. I'm confident we can do it."
* BILIC has confirmed West Ham are still hoping to sign Alex Song, despite his injury problems. Barcelona midfielder Song could face surgery on an ankle problem and his potential transfer to West Ham has been held up. But the Hammers are trying to reach a compromise with another one year loan deal on the table with a view to a permanent transfer for the ex-Arsenal star. Bilic said: "Although I said I'm not going to discuss players from other teams, he is somewhere in between. He played here on loan last year and he's a little bit injured.
"I don't deny that he was a great player who did really well last year and I would like him to stay with us."
PROBABLE TEAMS
West Ham (4-2-3-1) Adrian; O'Brien, Tomkins, Reid, Cresswell; Poyet, Noble;Amalfitano, Nolan, Jarvis; Zarate.
Birkirkara (4-3-3) Haber, Mazzetti, Vukanac, Z Muscat, Camenzuli, Zerafa, Fenech, R Muscat, Agius, Miccoli, Plut.
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Europa League Draw this Friday
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 15, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
The draw for the third qualifying round for the Europa League will take place in France this Friday. The first leg will be played on Thursday 30th July with the second leg on Thursday 6th August just two before the official start of the Premier League season.
Borussia Dortmund, Athletic Club, Sampdoria, Bordeaux and Southampton will be involved when the third qualifying round draw is streamed live from Nyon at 12pm. Twenty-five clubs received a bye to this stage and will be joined by the winners of the 33 second qualifying ties. The teams are ranked by their coefficient or, in the case of clubs emerging from the second qualifying round ties, by the higher of the two coefficients involved – with 29 sides classified as seeded. The teams are further split into five groups containing an equal number of seeded and unseeded contenders. Every seeded club will meet an unseeded opponent from within the same group.
The draw will be televised LIVE on UEFA.com
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Daily WHUFC News - 16th July 2015
The Big Interview - Carl Jenkinson
Wednesday 15 Jul Updated Wednesday 15 Jul 07:00
WHUFC.com
Carl Jenkinson joined West Ham United for a second loan spell this week and immediately laid out his plans to build on the first. Having experienced a full season of first team football for the first time in his career last term, the England international is thrilled to have the chance to show what he can do again in a claret and blue shirt.
Carl, how happy are you to be back?
CJ: "I'm really happy to be back after last year," he said. "It was a good season for the Club and a good season for myself.
"To be honest I just wanted to come back here and I'm happy everything's been sorted out. I've got another season here and I can't wait.
Having been here for a year already, you know exactly what you're coming back into…
CJ: "I'm a young player and I haven't had too many experiences of different clubs, but I loved every minute of it here. Everything about it is fantastic - it's a real family Club, the lads are great and the fans are great, so it ticks all the boxes you want when you join a football Club."
We've got a new manager in place now. How much do you know about him?
CJ: "I've seen what the manager has done in the past and he's done great things with the Croatia national team and the other clubs he's been, so he's a proven manager.
"I've got to come in, show what I can do and prove myself to a new manager. That keeps you on your toes and I've got to go and do that in pre-season. I'm looking forward to it.
"I know from speaking to the boss on the phone about the style of football, how he wants to play and his philosophy. That was an attractive thing for me and that's one of the reasons I signed here as well - he sounds like a guy who's going to be a great manager and I'm glad to be a part of that."
You started over 30 games last season. Presumably the aim is to nail down that right back slot again?
CJ: "I just want to play as much football as I can. To be honest, last season was the first I played every week and I'm a different person on and off the pitch. I found my love for the game again and you forget how much that means to you.
"I want to do that again - I want to play as much football as I can and develop as much as I can as a player.
"Confidence, everything grows when you're playing and you find out more about yourself as a player and a person. I really enjoyed it and of course it's something I want to continue to do."
You talked about feeling at home here from day one. How important is that for a player?
CJ: "There's a lot of English lads here, so it's very easy to settle in and the lads are a good laugh here. I look forward to coming into training every day - of course everyone works hard and wants to do the right things on the football pitch, but it's nice to come into environment where you can enjoy yourself and are amongst friends. That's important in any job, you want to look forward to coming into work and I certainly do that at West Ham."
The Club have been busy in the transfer market this summer. How impressed have you been by the signings?
CJ: "I know this club is going in the right direction, I think everyone can see that from within the club and outside. The Board signed a lot of good players last year and have obviously done the same this summer, making a few real statements of intent.
West Ham are back in Europe this year. Having experienced Champions League football yourself, what will European football do for West Ham?
CJ: "It's a Club going in the right direction, I can really see West Ham becoming a big force in the next two or three years. We're in that process now and I'm looking forward to being a part of it.
"It takes the Club to the next level being in Europe. Everyone wants to play a part in European football - the fans and players love European nights. I know the fans are excited about being in the Europa League and I certainly am as well. It will be a good thing for West Ham."
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Slaven Bilic: The first press conference
WHUFC.com
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic faced the media for the first time at the Boleyn Ground on Wednesday and looks forward to his first season in charge of the Club.
Hi Slaven, from your point of view, how pleasing is it to be in charge of West Ham United at such an important time?
"I am very glad to be here and have said it from day one. I am very excited and I am looking forward to the job. It's a big privilege, it's a big club in a big league. I've played here and I enjoyed it here. "I've played everywhere but this is where I probably played the best football of my life. So I like it, it's a family club. I am not the only one who is saying that.
"This league is, if not the best, the hardest league to compete in. The expectations are huge. The club want to improve but the competition is unbelievable. This is the last season at the stadium before we move to the new stadium, so it is very exciting and I can't wait to get started.
What is the key to having a successful European campaign and then playing well in the League? You could potentially play eight games before the group stages so how will you cope with all these games?
"It is a very difficult balancing act and has been unusual until this week because we had two groups of players. We didn't want to bring the first team back too early because we are going to need them until May without having a proper break. "The Europa League has to be respected, it's a big opportunity and a privilege for any club so we have to make a balance. So it was a bit strange to use two different teams, one for Andorra and the players started early. "But Bingo, it was like a jackpot and was great for the younger players and some First Team Players who didn't play much last year for whatever reasons. But it was a good experience for them. "The other first-team players then started on time and we went to Cork. We had two squads and I was in Ireland, flying to London, then flying to Andorra and back so it wasn't ideal but from the game on Thursday we are starting to have a normal preparation for the Premier League.
"To be fair we would have played on Thursday anyway, so to have a competitive game against a decent side is good. It's not ideal that we have to fly to Malta next week and we basically lose Wednesday, Thursday and half of the Friday for one game. "But we want to qualify and play in the Europa League. It's good for the Club and good for the spectators. It is good to play against teams with different styles of play. It can boost your confidence."
Can you tell us anything about a move for Javier Hernandez?
"The fact is so far in my career, I have never talked about other players who are not past of West Ham United. "We are trying to be active in the transfer window and so far the board have been very active in the transfer window. We are still trying to improve our squad and bring players who in my opinion and the Club's opinion can lift us up. We already have a good team but I will discuss it inside the Club."
What have you made of the new signings and how have they settled in?
"They are really good players and we wanted the.. The first one, Pedro Obiang, he's been a regular at Sampdoria for a few years, he is a really good player. Box-to-box, he can play in several different systems and positions. "Dimitri Payet is a player who I really wanted. I feel the Club needed someone who is a good link between midfield and the attackers. "He is a very creative player, a No10 as they used to call them with quality. He can do everything, goals, assists, I have been his admirer for a long time. "I have tried to get him at a few of my previous clubs but it was impossible. Not only the strikers but the players behind him, midfielders like Mark Noble will benefit from him. "We wanted to buy an additional centre-back and my first target was Angelo Ogbonna and we signed him. He is a player I've known for a long time because Italy were in the same group as Croatia in Euro 2012. "I followed every player that we could have faced in the Italy squad and at that time Ogbonna was just emerging at Torino. After the Euros, Juventus who were already champions signed him. "He played there in one of the best defences in Europe. He is still close to the Italian squad. "He wanted to come here, he has great determination and quality and is going to be really good for us. "We then signed Carl Jenkinson on loan. He did very well here last season, he had great determination to stay here for at least another year and he is a West Ham fan which is always good. "Stephen Hendrie and Darren Randolph have also both impressed me in training. We lost some players and we need to find a balance. Don't forget last season the team was really good, but we are trying to make it better."
What do you feel you are capable of achieving this season?
"That is a question that is so easy to answer one month before the season starts because you can say whatever you want. I want to try and bring stability and make us better. "I want the guys to improve individually and as a team. If we are going to play week after week and be better in ball possession and have more killer instinct, that should put us in a position where we are going to have more chances than our opponent. "We should score more goals and that should lift us in the table. Where that is going to be I don't know. "I am quite confident and have a good team. There is a good atmosphere and it was the same back in 1996 when I was a player here. "Every day we worked hard but also we were smiling. It is the same now. I would like it to continue like that and I am going to give everything."
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Boleyn Insider
WHUFC.com
Our man on the inside lifts the lid on the latest transfer speculation...
All the attention has now switched towards the Club's Europa League second qualifying round tie against Birkirkara on Thursday night.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic faced the national media for the first time in the pre-match press conference and was immediately asked about transfer targets. The Boleyn Insider revealed the other day that following the arrival of Carl Jenkinson from Arsenal, the Club would now switch their attentions to bringing in a forward and that remains the case. My understanding is that the Club are looking to make a move for one of the top strikers at a big club in England and hope a move can be finalised in the near future. There have also been stories suggesting the Club could be considering other options as they look to land another target. I have been told that the Club would be open to a possible player-exchange deal if they could get the striker they wanted. With six new arrivals already this summer, I believe the fans can look forward to more new signings before the new Premier League season gets underway against Arsenal on August 9.
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Stewart Downing: Middlesbrough set to sign West Ham winger
BBC.co.uk
Winger Stewart Downing is close to completing a return to Middlesbrough after West Ham gave him permission to speak to his hometown club. The 30-year-old will have a medical examination on Thursday before meeting with chairman Steve Gibson, BBC Tees Sport has learned. He will then join the Boro squad at their Marbella training camp. Downing, capped 35 times by England, left the Riverside for Aston Villa in July 2009, before moving to Liverpool. He has been with West Ham since 2013 and made 37 Premier League appearances for the Hammers in 2014-15, with his early-season performances earning him an England recall in November. Since making his professional debut for the Teessiders in May 2002, he has made 493 appearances in all competitions, scoring 50 goals. Middlesbrough were beaten by Norwich City in the Championship play-off final at Wembley in May.
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Jesus, Nelson Mandela and Karren Brady cited amongst 'world's most inspirational people'
Kumb.COM
Filed: Wednesday, 15th July 2015
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United's vice-chairman Karren Brady has been named as one of the World's 50 most inspirational people in a poll by a publishing house. Raconteur Media's poll of 2,000 of its readers threw up one or two surprises in its survey to find the World's 50 most inspirational people - of all time, no less. Although all the usual candidates - such as Jesus, Anne Frank, Oscar Wilde and Nelson Mandela - are present, Hammers fans may be surprised to learn that the club's current vice chair - aka Baroness Brady of Knightsbridge in the City of Westminster - is also listed.
Talking about the poll, the website states: "We all know what it feels like to have a 'lightbulb' moment – that lightning-quick strike of momentary inspiration that plants the seed of genius and sends us racing to the whiteboard. "But the feeling of sustained inspiration is something much deeper, and much greater. It was the unpacking of this kind of inspiration that we aimed to achieve. Canvassing our readers, we asked who is the most inspirational person of all time?"
The Top 50: Some Credentials
Nelson Mandela: Former leader of the ANC and President of South Africa. Jailed for 27 years. Helped prevent civil war and end apartheid.
Mother Teresa: Macedonian-born missionary who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and was beatified as "Blessed Teresa of Calcutta" in 2003.
Oscar Wilde: Author, playwright and poet of distinction. Jailed for his homosexuality, he died a pauper in Paris at the age of 46.
Anne Frank: Teenage Jewish victim of the Nazi holocaust during the Second World War. Her wartime diary - 'The Diary of a Young Girl' - is one of the most celebrated works of literature from the war.
Alan Turing: Computer scientist whose Turing machine is the daddy of modern day computers. Killed at 41 by cyanide poisoning (officially suicide).
Jesus Christ: Turned water into wine. Helped kick-start a religion that today boasts around two billion followers.
Mohamed: Slightly more recent fellow prophet whose religion also commands a following of around two billion.
Martin Luther King Jnr: Civil Rights Movement leader who had a dream that he never lived to see. Peaceful protester who was murdered in 1968.
Gandhi: Leader of the Indian Independence Movement who shaped his nation's history during the first half of the 20th century.
Karren Brady: Prep school-educated businesswoman and TV personality known as 'the first lady of football'. Made a Tory life peer in 2014.
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Bilic refuses to acknowledge Hernandez interest
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 15th July 2015
By: Staff Writer
Slaven Bilic refused to be drawn on West Ham's purported interest in Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez when questioned by a reporter this morning. Bilic, speaking in his first general press conference since being appointed as the latest West Ham manager insisted that he would only talk about players currently at the club, whilst failing to either confirm or deny United's interest. "The fact is, I will not discuss players who are not part of West Ham," he replied to a question regarding Hernandez. "We are trying to be active in the transfer window - and so far, the Board have been. "We're still trying to improve our squad and bring in players who - in my and the club's opinion - can lift us up. We already have a good team but I will discuss it inside the club."
Bilic also spoke at length on several of his summer signings:
Pedro Obiang: "He's been a regular at Sampdoria for a few years, he is a really good player. Box-to-box, he can play in several different systems and positions."
Dimitri Payet: "A player who I really wanted. I feel the club needed someone who is a good link between midfield and the attackers. I have tried to get him at a few of my previous clubs, but it wasn't possible."
Carl Jenkinson: "He did very well here last season. I spoke to him a few times and and he had great determination to stay here for another year - at least."
Angelo Ogbonna: "He is a player I've known for a long time. He played in one of the best defences in Europe. He is still close to the Italian squad. He has great determination and quality and is going to be really good for us."
Stephen Hendrie: "He's a left-back who played some really good football in Scotland."
Darren Randolph: "Did I miss anyone out? Oh Randy! We needed a new goalkeeper. They all look really good."
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Stewart Downing closing on move back to Middlesbrough
Last Updated: 15/07/15 3:54pm
SSN
Middlesbrough have agreed a fee with West Ham for winger Stewart Downing, Sky sources understand. Downing is poised to return to his home town club for a fee of around £5m with talks over a deal having been going on between the clubs for some time. The 30-year-old graduated from the Middlesbrough academy and made 234 appearances for the club before leaving for Aston Villa at the end of the 2008-9 season.
He spent two years at Villa Park before joining Liverpool and then moved on to West Ham at the start of the 2013-14 campaign, where he played a regular role over the last two seasons. Downing is expected to undergo a medical on Thursday and he could join up with the rest of the Boro squad at their training camp in Marbella by the end of the week if the deal is completed in time.
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Hammers meet players mum
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 15, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Reports in France claim West Ham have met PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot's mother who acts as his agent in Charles Du Gaulle airport in Paris. The highly-rated 20-year-old has attracted the attention a number of clubs after an impressive run in Ligue 1 under manager Laurent Blanc. Spurs were said to be tracking Rabiot but, according to French paper Le Parisen, the Hammers now lead the race to sign the Frenchman and have met him and his mother to discuss a deal. The France Under-21 international made 21 Ligue One appearances, 10 from the start, and scored four goals last season. Rabiot spent a short time at Manchester City in 2008 was previously linked with Arsenal.
Rabiot slapped in a transfer request – via his mum in June. 'Adrien loves PSG, he's attached and would love to make a career for himself there, but it's not possible,' his mother and agent told Le Parisien. 'He needs 35 games per season to continue his progression, and this won't happen at PSG next season. 'I've asked for a transfer.'
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Tinkerman could make Carlton his first signing
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 15, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri could make former Hammer Carlton Cole his first signing. According to the Daily Mirror, The Tinkerman is weighing up a move for Cole who is a free agent as he knows him from his time as Chelsea manager. Ranieri gave Cole his debut as a teenager in 2002 and described him as the best young player he had ever worked with at the time. He has always kept a good relationship with Cole after once labelling him "Tyson" for his size and strength. It is claimed Cole has also attracted interest from West Brom, Aston Villa and Norwich.
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Stewart Downing Out, Manuel Lanzini in
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 15, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Hammer Stewart Downing appears close to completing a return to Middlesbrough after West Ham gave him permission to speak to his hometown club in the town where he was born.
Reports this afternoon suggestDowning two clubs are said to have agreed a fee of around £5m. The 30-year-old will have a medical examination as early as Thursday before meeting with chairman Steve Gibson. Assuming he passes a medical it is claimed he will then join the Middlesbrough squad at their Marbella training camp.
Downing joined West Ham in 2013 and made 37 Premier League appearances for the Hammers last season. Downing is said to have agreed a five year deal worth as much as £70,000 per week together with a £1 million bonus if Middlesbrough achieve promotion to the Premier League.
West Ham will remove one of their highest earners off their payroll as the £50,000 week man leaves freeing £2.6m off the annual wage bill.
manuel-lanzini-pictures-1Downing's exit is also likely to pave the way for a loan deal for Argentine midfielder Manuel Lanzini from UAE-based club Al Jazira.
Reports have suggested that Lanzini has agreed to join the Hammers on a season long loan deal. Lanzini was previously linked with West Ham in the past but the former River Plate star opted for a move to Al Jazira for a fee of around £5.25million.
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Slav tight-lipped on Hernandez
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 15, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Slaven Bilic has refused to comment on the news that the Hammers are in talks with Manchester United over a possible Javier Hernandez switch to Upton Park.
And that in itself is a significant indicator that the club is pressing ahead with negotiations as revealed by ClaretandHugh this week.
Addressing his first press conference since taking over as manager, Slav – when asked directly about the striker – said: " "The fact is so far in my career, I have never talked about other players who are not part of West Ham United.
"We are trying to be active in the transfer window and so far the board have been very active in the transfer window.
"We are still trying to improve our squad and bring players who in my opinion and the club's opinion can lift us up. We already have a good team but I will discuss it inside the club."
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Malta Europa league clash to be broadcast on UK TV
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 15, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Matese team Birkirkara appear to have sold their TV broadcast rights for the 2nd away leg to UK TV company Premier Sports. The 2nd round Europa League match played on Thursday 23rd at the 18,000 capacity Maltese national stadium will be broadcast LIVE on Premier Sports TV channel. The channel is currently only available in the UK. They broadcast on SKY channel 428,Virgin channel 551 and TalkTalk channel 526. They also offer you the channel online in HD through the Premier Player. Viewers in Northern Ireland can view Premier Sports via Setanta Sports 1.
SKY
Premier Sports HD channel launches in 4 days time and the channel is offering a discount for Sky customers of £9.99 for two months subscription by using code ABERDEENFC.
VIRGIN MEDIA
Premier Sports is sold directly by Virgin Media priced at £7.99 per month. Virgin also operate streaming on behalf of Premier Sports via their Virgin Anywhere service.
TalkTalk Customers
You can add Premier Sports to your TalkTalk package for £10 a month.
PREMIER PLAYER Online Customers
The Premier Player is available in HD priced at £9.99 per month and includes a 7 day catch-up service.
Virgin Media and Premier Player customers are on auto renewing 1 month contract.
More details can be found on their website premiersports.tv
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Hammers Away kit revealed
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 15, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
West Ham have unveiled their new 2015-16 season away kit this morning. The new-look strip is understood to be heavily influenced by the historic 'Union Jack' design, which was worn between 1901-03 – when Queen Victoria and King Edward VII were on the throne! It features a light blue shirt with single claret chest hoop, light blue shorts and light blue socks with claret hoops.
Pre-orders will be delivered on 29th July and the kit will be available to buy on the same date for men, women, juniors, infants and babies The Hammers are set to wear the away kit for the first time against Birkirkara in Malta on 23 July.
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EXCLUSIVE: Hammers get tough with Barca on Song
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 15, 2015 in News
C AND H EXCLUSIVE
West Ham are exploring a complex plan which would hopefully seal an eventual long term deal for Alex Song to join the club permanently. But whilst he is carrying a surgery-threatening ankle injury, the Irons are trying to do a' pay as you play' loan deal with Barca paying his wages outside of those appearances. The Hammers have suggested that they are then given the option to take the player on a permanent deal in the January window when, hopefully, his injury worried are sorted The Catalan giants want to do a permanent deal NOW with the Irons taking on the full wage burden but ClaretandHugh sources said: "That's not going to happen. we need to sort out a safeguarded deal. "Barcelona are maybe hoping some other club will come in. Understandable, but we aren't going pushed into such a wage deal in these circumstances."
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United to give Irons Hernandez price
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 15, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has identified Javier Hernandez as his preferred striking option and the board are working hard to make it happen. ClaretandHugh exclusively broke the news earlier this week that the club were in for the Mexican front man and we have learned that talks will re-start by the weekend. Whilst United are understood to have put a £10-£12 million price tag on the player's head, the Reds have yet to make that official to the Irons negotiators but have said they will let us know by Saturday and Sunday. A source revealed: "United have indicated that they will name their price at the weekend and as far as the manager is concerned, Javier is the preferred option. "We understand the player wants a move to Upton Park. No doubt there will be other interest but hopefully the club can make this one happen. However, there's a way to go."
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Third 'Oxford Blue' kit to be unveiled
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 15, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Following the announcement of the away kit this morning West Ham are expected to unveil a third kit soon. Built of the theme of historic kits in the club's 120 year history, the third kit is rumoured to be inspired by our origins in 1895 when the team played in Oxford Blue as the Thames Ironworks.
The original team colours were Oxford Blue due to founder Arnold Hills being a former student of Oxford University. The Ironworks played their first ever fixture in these colours against Royal Ordnance reserves on 7th September 1895, the game ending 0-0.
Hills was said to be a talented footballer and represented Oxford against Cambridge in the varsity match.
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Transfer news: Stewart Downing heads home to Middlesbrough in £5m deal
England winger cleared for north-east return after West Ham and Middlesbrough agree transfer fee
By Telegraph Sport
11:06PM BST 15 Jul 2015
Stewart Downing is closing in on a return to home-town side Middlesbrough after the Championship club agreed a deal of around £5 million with West Ham for the winger. West Ham have given Downing, 31 next week, permission to speak to Middlesbrough and the player is now set to have a medical examination on Thursday before meeting Steve Gibson, the Boro chairman, to sign a reported five-year contract. It is expected he will then fly to Spain to join the Middlesbrough squad at their Marbella training camp. He could make his first Middlesbrough appearance in six years in Saturday's friendly in Marbella. Downing, capped 35 times by England, left the Riverside for Aston Villa in July 2009, before moving on to Liverpool. He has been with West Ham since 2013 and made 37 Premier League appearances for the Londoners last season, with his early-season performances earning him an England recall in November. Since making his professional debut for the Teessiders in May 2002, he has made 493 appearances in all competitions, scoring 50 goals. Middlesbrough missed out on promotion to the top flight when they were beaten by Norwich City in the Championship play-off final at Wembley in May.
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Andy Carroll pencilled in for September return by West Ham chief David Gold
By RICHARD ARROWSMITH FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 23:07, 15 July 2015 | UPDATED: 23:07, 15 July 2015
West Ham co-chairman David Gold has suggested that record signing Andy Carroll could make his long-awaited return from injury in September. The 26-year-old has struggled for fitness since completing a £15million move from Liverpool to Upton Park in 2013 and has has been ruled out since the start of this year with a serious knee injury that required surgery. Gold revealed on Twitter that the England international is nearing a comeback, saying: 'Andy Carroll is training hard and getting stronger. We are hopeful that he will be available early September. dg.'
Carroll is back in training and could join up with the first team squad to work on his match fitness ahead of their opening Premier League fixture against Arsenal on August 9. Should Carroll return to action after the international break in September, he could find himself appearing against his former club with West Ham playing Newcastle on September 14.
Meanwhile, the Hammers have been linked to an £8million bid for Manchester United outcast Javier Hernandez. The Mexico international has been on the Upton Park club's wishlist since last summer but they made contact in January and have kept in touch. West Ham know though they have a lot of competition with Roma, Galatasaray, Besiktas and Wolfsburg among the admirers. They have discussed Matteo Destro on loan from Roma and Charlie Austin at QPR and Loic Remy of Chelsea but each are expensive or, in Destro's case, without proven Premier League ability. Enner Valencia is due back from injury but co-chairmen Gold and David Sullivan want to give Slaven Bilic plenty of options.
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Manuel Lanzini set for West Ham medical on Thursday ahead of loan from Al Jazira after selling Stewart Downing to Middlesbrough
By SIMON JONES FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 22:45, 15 July 2015 | UPDATED: 22:45, 15 July 2015
Manuel Lanzini is expected to arrive in London on Thursday to complete a medical ahead of his move to West Ham from United Arab Emirates side Al Jazira. The 22-year-old is joining on loan after West Ham agreed to sell Stewart Downing to Middlesbrough. The Hammers agreed a deal in principle to sign Argentine midfielder Lanzini from the UAE-based club earlier this month. Likened to former Argentina star Pablo Aimar, Lanzini, who has an Italian passport, was considered by West Ham while at River Plate last summer but he moved to the Middle East instead for £5.25million. Known as 'La Joya' or 'The Jewel', Lanzini also has interest from Sharjah of the UAE Pro League. He scored eight goals in 24 appearances to help Jazira to a second-place finish in the Arabian Gulf League last season. New manager Slaven Bilic has already made six signings this summer with the arrivals of Darren Randolph, Pedro Obiang, Stephen Hendrie, Dimitri Payet, Angelo Ogbonna and Carl Jenkinson. The Croatian boss leads his new team at Upton Park for the first time on Thursday night as they take on Birkirkara of Malta in the second qualifying round of the Europa League.
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West Ham are no longer the 'circus act' of yesteryear, says Mark Noble
Midfielder believes Bilic is ready to build on the foundations laid down by previous manager Sam Allardyce
By Jon West
Telegraph.co.uk
10:33PM BST 15 Jul 2015
Mark Noble has praised the way Slaven Bilic has transformed West Ham United, with the midfielder insisting that the club were no longer the "circus act" of yesteryear. Noble is one of a number of first‑team players poised to play on Thursday night in the Europa League second qualifying round first leg against Maltese side Birkirkara after missing the first-round double-header with Andorran side Lusitans.
Playing on the European stage is a far cry from the relegation season under Avram Grant in 2010-11 – a point acknowledged by Noble, who believes Bilic is ready to build on the foundations laid down by Sam Allardyce, the previous manager.
"In the last four years under Sam, from the Championship we have a strong base, the chairman and the gaffer are together and the club feels like a proper club now – not a circus act," Noble, 28, said. Bilic, who had a single season at West Ham as a player in 1996-97, admits that he will have to be a luckier manager than Allardyce if he is to be a success at Upton Park. Allardyce has warned that the squad Bilic has inherited, despite six additions from last season, is unlikely to be able to prosper in the Premier League if it is also playing in the Europa League proper on Thursdays. The Hammers enjoyed an impressive start under Allardyce last season but results soon tapered off once key men began to be ruled out through injury. "I'm not sure the squad is strong and deep enough if they have a long run in Europe. Staying clear of injuries is the most important thing in any manager's season," he said. "If not, Slaven Bilic could run into the same problems I did over the last four years."
Allardyce's claims will be sure to have annoyed a significant section of the West Ham support, who became implacably opposed to him because they could not tolerate his preferred direct style of play. But Bilic made it clear he agreed with his predecessor. "It has a lot to do with being lucky or unlucky. Last year the club was very unlucky in that department. One unlucky accident in training not to mention the games can damage your plans. Two or three you are finished."
Bilic even went out of his way to praise Allardyce. "I would like to thank the ex-manager, Sam," he said. "He left me a really good team and god atmosphere and he didn't leave me a mess. It is solid and it is a great great base, or whatever you call, it for me to try and improve."
West Ham United (4-2-3-1) Adrian; O'Brien, Tomkins, Reid, Cresswell; Poyet, Noble; Amalfitano, Nolan, Jarvis; Zarate.
Birkirkara (4-3-3) Haber; Mazzetti, Vukanac, Muscat, Camenzuli, Zerafa, Fenech, Muscat, Agius, Miccoli, Plut.
Referee M Hameter (Austria).
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Ravel Morrison makes it four goals in two games for Lazio, will West Ham regret letting him go?
HITC
Damien Lucas
After his departure from West Ham United Ravel Morrison scored another brace in his second pre-season game for new club Lazio. Morrison took to social networking site Twitter to give an update after Lazio's latest pre-season match on Wednesday. And he revealed he had scored another two goals to add to the brace he got in his first game at the weekend. He said: "Game two finished another win and another two goals."
The former Manchester United midfielder, who was once hailed the Red Devils' best talent since Paul Scholes by none other than Sir Alex Ferguson, was released by the Hammers last season. The immensely talented star, likened by some West Ham fans to their legendary midfielder Sir Trevor Brooking for the way he effortlessly glided past opponents, looked to have got his career back on track in East London. He had been disposed of by a frustrated Sir Alex and West Ham co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold took a punt on the England youth international. It looked to have paid off when, after a spell out on loan, Morrison forced his way into Sam Allardyce's side and started scoring goals - most memorably away to fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur in a 3-0 Premier League win.
But it soon turned sour as Morrison's infamous lack of discipline saw him fall out of favour yet again. After a series of loan spells at Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff, the Hammers eventually gave up on the 22-year-old and terminated his contract in February, freeing him up to join Serie A side Lazio. Initial reports by the likes of the Mirror suggested he was homesick and wanted to return to England before a ball had even been kicked in anger in Italy.
Has the penny finally dropped?
But he seems to have knuckled down and after impressing on his debut with two goals in a 14-0 win last week, he has now followed it up with another brace. The opposition clearly were not up to much this time either as Lazio ran out 9-1 winners over Top 11 Radio Club. But his form and new-found focus will be concerning for West Ham and the club's fans, many of whom wanted to see how the prodigious talent fared under a different manager than Allardyce. They now have that in the shape of Slaven Bilic who has been brought in partly for his more attack-minded philosophy. But Bilic also demands a high work rate from his players, something Allardyce accused Morrison of lacking when he excluded him from his team after his initial breakthrough.
The Pogba problem
It remains to be seen whether Morrison will stay the course over in the Italian capital, having pushed West Ham's patience to the limit during his time at the club. But like his old Manchester United youth teammate Paul Pogba has shown with Juventus, should he excel it could prove a lack of patience which ultimately costs the club one of the most exciting young players in Europe.
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Stewart Downing travelling to Teesside to complete £5m Boro switch
13:53, 15 JULY 2015
BY PHILIP TALLENTIRE
Downing is set to fly out to Spain to link up with Aitor Karanka and the Boro first team squad once formalities have been completed
Stewart Downing is travelling to Teesside today to complete his £5m switch to Boro, the Gazette understands. Once formalities have been completed, the 30-year-old winger will fly out to Spain to link up with Aitor Karanka and the first team squad on Thursday. Fitness permitting, he could make his first Boro appearance in six years in Saturday's friendly in Marbella.
Downing, who celebrates his 31st birthday next week, has been training on his own at West Ham after insisting that he wanted to join Boro. It's believed that the Middlesbrough-born former England international will put pen to paper on a five-year contract, which will mean he'll almost ceertainly finish his career where he started it. The signing is a massive coup for Steve Gibson and Boro and Downing is expected to operate in the pivotal No10 position next season.
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West Ham boss Slaven Bilic admits Upton Park bow will be a "big privilege"
14:07, 15 JULY 2015
BY JOHN CROSS
The Hammers face Maltese outfit Birkirkara in the Europa League tomorrow and Bilic admits he is relishing the opportunity in east London
The Mirror
Slaven Bilic says it will be a "big privilege" to take charge of his first game at Upton Park. West Ham boss Bilic watched from the stands at home in the last round but will in full control against Maltese outfit Birkirkara in the Europa League second qualifying round. Ex-Hammers defender Bilic said: "I've been excited from the first day and I'm looking forward to the job, it's a big privilege. It's a big club in a big league. "It's a special club for me personally. I played here. I enjoyed everywhere as a player but this is the place where I played the best football of my life also. I like this club. It's a family club. I'm not the only one saying that. "On the other hand it's a big obligation of course. If it's not the best, it's the toughest League in the world of football. Expctations are huge. "The club wants to improve. The competition is unbelievable. This is the last season at this stadium, we're moving to the new stadium next season and all that sums up the situation that is exciting."
Former West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has warned that the club's European campaign could have a serious impact on their Premier League season because of the extra fixtures. Allardyce told talkSPORT: "Europe is going to be a defining factor. If West Ham have a very good run in Europe it could have a detrimental effect on their Premier League results. If you play more games in Europe, along with the FA Cup and League Cup, you're going to test the squad. "I'm not sure the squad is strong and deep enough if they have a long run in Europe. Staying clear of injuries is the most important thing in any manager's season. If not, Slaven Bilic could run into the same problems I did over the last four years."
But Bilic hopes that he can deal with the extra demands even if he accepts the extra fixtures - West Ham will have to play eight extra games to reach the Europa League Group stage - will be difficult. Bilic said: "It is a difficult balance. At least it's unusual especially till today, till tomorrow let's say. To think that you have two teams because we didn't want to call up the seniors players before because we're going to need them till May. In England there is no winter break. "But we wanted to respect the Europa League because it's a big opportunity and privilege to any club. So we wanted to find a balance. "We had one team that was playing and training and started early and played these two games against Andora. It was bingo, it was a jackpot and great for young players."
West Ham midfielder Mark Noble says their final year at Upton Park makes it the biggest season in the club's history and they are determined to start well. Noble said: "We're going into is one of the biggest in the club's history. The new stadium is a Premier League stadium. The money we're spending is a sign we want to go into the new stadium as a solid Premier League team that wants to move up. "We get 35000 a week and we want to get in 20 more thousand. I'm confident we can do it. "Once we get our squad together, we can really push on and become a team capable of playing in this year's League and moving to the stadium a solid team."
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Slaven Bilic makes promise to West Ham fans ahead of Europa League clash
Express.co.uk
By JON WEST
PUBLISHED: 14:11, Wed, Jul 15, 2015 | UPDATED: 14:26, Wed, Jul 15, 2015
Sam Allardyce's replacement takes charge of the Hammers at Upton Park for the first time tomorrow when Maltese outfit Birkirkara are the visitors in a Europa League second round qualification first leg. Former Hammers defender Bilic, who had told academy coach Terry Westley to take care of the first round first leg, said: "There is a good atmosphere. I didn't create it - it was here when I came in 1996. Every day people work with a smile. I would like it to continue. "I've been excited from the first day and I'm looking forward to the job, it's a big privilege. It's a big club in a big league. It's a special club for me personally. I played here. "I enjoyed everywhere as a player but this is the place where I played the best football of my life also. I like this club. It's a family club. I'm not the only one saying that. On the other hand it's a big obligation of course."
Allardyce has suggested Bilic and co would struggle to combine Europa League excursions with Premier League fixtures should they qualify for the group stage. And Bilic did not disagree. He said: "It is good for the spectators and individually the players. To play against clubs that play different style boosts your confidence and your quality as a man and a player. "But it takes from you too. Last year I was at Besiktas and the Europa League cost us because it was something like playing 20 games Saturday, Thursday, Saturday, Thursday." The Hammers played a team that was mainly made up of teenagers in the first round against Andorran minnows Lusitans as the majority if the first teamers were preparing for pre-season on a camp in Ireland.
But tomorrow's starting line-up is expected to be much closer to the likely selection for the first Premier League game of the season.
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Slaven Bilic hints at tactical role for Hammers new signing and hails transfer work
London 24
14:14 15 July 2015 Brad Pinard at Upton Park
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic is looking to use Dimitri Payet as a number ten in a new-look Hammers side. The Frenchman was impressive as a winger for Marseille last season as his 17 assists saw him ranked fourth in Europe behind Kevin De Bruyne, Lionel Messi and Cesc Fabregas. But new manager Bilic, who was named West Ham boss in May, plans to play the 28-year-old behind the strikers this season. "Dimitri Payet, I really wanted him," Bilic said. "He is a number ten, to play in between the midfield and attack. He is creative. "He has goals, assists everything. I have been an admirer of him for a long time. "I have tried to get him at a few clubs but it was very difficult. "The strikers will benefit from him but also the defensive players in midfield too like Mark (Noble)." Payet is one of six new signings who have joined the West Ham squad this summer. The club have also brought in Stephen Hendrie, Darren Randolph, Pedro Obiang, Angelo Ogbonna and Carl Jenkinson. Bilic is pleased with the club's business in this transfer window but he plans to make further additions to the squad. "We are trying to be active and we will try and improve again "We are still trying, we will bring in some more players to lift us then definitely, but I will say it in the club. Maybe a few will come in if they are the ones who will make us better."
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Javier Hernandez to West Ham: Hammers prepare '£8m bid' for Manchester United striker
Roma and Wolfsburg also interested in Chicharito
TOM SHEEN Author Biography Wednesday 15 July 2015
The Independent
West Ham United are set to make an £8million bid for Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez, according to reports. The Mexican spent last year on loan at Real Madrid and did not travel to Seattle with Louis van Gaal's 27-man squad for the pre-season tour of the US as he is on international duty at the Gold Cup. According to the Daily Mail, West Ham have been interested since last summer and are preparing to make a move. However, they could face competition from numerous clubs across Europe with Wolfsburg, Roma, Besiktas and Galatasaray all linked with the striker. Chicharito was a favourite of Sir Alex Ferguson, scoring 50 goals in three seasons in all competitions, but has struggled since he left, with just nine goals since before being sent on loan to the Bernabeu. West Ham are also linked with Roma striker Matteo Destro and Premier League pair Charlie Austin and Loic Remy. The Hammers continue to be concerned with the fitness of record transfer Andy Carroll, who has played just 30 matches in the last two seasons
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West Ham to tie up Lanzini loan deal, freeing Downing to join Middlesbrough
HITC
Graeme Bailey
HITC Sport understands that Manuel Lanzini's move to England is almost complete, with his arrival paving the way for Stewart Downing to head home. Manuel Lanzini is due to arrive in England on Thursday to complete his move to West Ham United, which should free up Stewart Downing to finalise his transfer back to Middlesbrough, HITC Sport understands from sources close to the deal. West Ham agreed terms with Al Jazira earlier this month to sign the 22-year-old on-loan for the season with a view to a permanent transfer. Lanzini has an Italian passport, but he has been waiting for the final bits of paperwork to be completed before flying into England to put pen to paper. He is expected in on Thursday, and Middlesbrough are now expecting that will finally mean West Ham giving Downing the green light to complete his return to The Riverside. Boro have fought off strong Premier League interest, particularly from rivals Sunderland, to agree terms with West Ham and Downing. HITC Sport understands Boro have agreed to give Downing a five-year deal and will part with a transfer fee of around £7million. Boro want the deal in place this week, which will then allow them to move on to other targets, with Christian Stuani also expected to sign by the start of next week. However, another striker remains top of their list of targets and it is understood they are still exploring a deal for Blackburn Rovers frontman Jordan Rhodes.
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As West Ham intensify striker hunt, which player would suit Slaven Bilic's side best?
HITC
Damien Lucas
West Ham United are stepping up their bid to land a top striker with the likes of Charlie Austin, Javier Hernandez, Gervinho and Mattia Destro linked. The Hammers have been one of the busiest Premier League clubs in the summer transfer market spending nearly £25 million so far. Co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold have been true to their word by investing significant funds to strengthen new boss Slaven Bilic's squad. So far the East Londoners have brought in goalkeeper Darren Randolph on a free transfer, midfielders Pedro Obiang and Dimitri Payet for a combined total of around £15 million, defender Angelo Ogbonna for around £8 million and Carl Jenkinson in on loan again from Arsenal for a fee believed to be £2 million. The Irons had already signed left back Stephen Hendrie from Scottish side Hamilton back in January and he officially became a West Ham player on July 1st. But there has been the promise of more to come with Sullivan's son Jack confirming on Twitter ahead of Jenkinson's capture that the club will be trying to sign 'another three or four players'. At least one of those will be a striker and if recent reports are to be believed the main targets are Queens Park Rangers' Charlie Austin, Manchester United's Javier Hernandez and Roma strike partners Gervinho and Matia Destro.
So what will West Ham be getting?
Charlie Austin
Anyone watching the Premier League last season will know all about Austin's exploits. His goals were in vain last season as Rangers were relegated but they look set to earn him a big money move back to the Premier League this summer with the Hammers being heavily linked by the likes of the Daily Mail. Bilic is said to be considering offering flop Matt Jarvis as a makeweight in any potential deal but one thing Austin will guarantee his side is goals. Austin's record is impressive. He bagged 58 goals in 113 matches for Burnley and QPR before smashing 18 goals in a remarkable debut season in the top flight. As a forward he is a natural finisher, although it remains to be seen whether the club could accommodate Austin and Andy Carroll in the same side.
Javier Hernandez
Hernandez is coming off the back of a mixed season on loan from Manchester United at Real Madrid. He bemoaned a lack of playing time in the Spanish capital but was memorably Los Blancos' goalscoring hero in their Champions League quarter-final against city rivals Atletico. Speculation has been rife in the last 24 hours linking him with a move to join Bilic's revolution, as per the London Evening Standard. Should the Hammers bring Chicarito to Upton Park he would undoubtedly be expecting first team football. And the 27-year-old Mexican's record would demand it with an impressive goals to games ratio for his hometown club Guadalajara of 26 in 64 games and 37 for the Red Devils in 102 appearances, many of which were as sub. What is most impressive, though, is his record on the international stage where he has scored a fantastic 40 goals in 74 matches for Mexico. He is the sort of striker who could work well playing off either Diafra Sakho or Andy Carroll in West Ham's attack and offers all-important pace.
Gervinho
According to the likes of the Metro, the Hammers are 'working hard' on a £10 million deal for the former Arsenal man Gervinho. The 28-year-old Ivorian scored just nine goals in 46 games for the Gunners before being shipped off to Serie A side Roma in 2013. His time in Italy has not been littered with goals either, as the African netted just 11 times in 57 matches over two seasons. His stats for his country read a little better with 20 goals in 70 games. Clearly spending such big money on Gervinho would represent something of a gamble but he is another player blessed with terrific pace who can also be utilised as a winger. His style of play and unselfish attitude would also suit the type of game Bilic favours, attacking with pace on the counter.
Mattia Destro
According to the Metro, Mattia Destro is very much on West Ham's radar with the paper claiming recently that his agent was 'in London to finalise a deal'. Destro at 24 has lots of potential and has scored 41 goals in 117 club games so far for the likes of Roma and last season on loan at AC Milan. The Italy international has eight caps and was the subject of intense transfer speculation last year being heavily linked with moves to West Ham's London rivals Chelsea and Real Madrid. Destro is famous in Italy for an outrageous 40-yard half-volley in a 2-0 victory over Hellas Verona. But it could be telling that Roma were willing to loan him out to a rival last season.
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West Ham's pass master Dimitri Payet: I can't wait to link up with 'lethal' Andy Carroll
Evening Standard
KEN DYER
Published: 15 July 2015 Updated: 09:57, 15 July 2015
Dimitri Payet has not had much chance to catch up with his former Lille team-mate, Eden Hazard, since arriving in London. owever, three weeks before completing his £10.7million move to West Ham, the France midfielder came face to face with the Chelsea star during a friendly against Belgium in Paris. Payet said: "We had a chat and he said to me, 'Why don't you come and play in the Premier League?' Well — now I'm here and very excited to start a new adventure in this fantastic league."
The 28-year-old could be one of the signings of the summer if he maintains the form he produced at Marseille last season. No one in Europe created more chances than Payet's total of 135 and his 17 assists were the fourth best in the top five European Leagues, numbers which should impress those fans who have demanded a return to the more expansive 'West Ham way'. "I'm usually a No10 and the thing I most enjoy is helping my team-mates and creating goal-scoring chances for them," he said. "I feel more satisfaction — and attach greater value — to providing assists then scoring myself. That is my role in the team. "Andy Carroll is lethal in the area and, if good crosses come into him, he usually puts them away. He's a fantastic finisher — he has a very good left foot and is a great header of the ball. All he needs is the service."
Payet's mantra will be music to the ears of not only Carroll, who is still battling back from a knee injury, but also West Ham's other main strikers, Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia.
Payet should feel satisfied if he does half as well as Hazard, last season's PFA and Football Writers' Association Player of the Year. "I'm not at all surprised Eden has done so well in England," he said. "He's a top-quality player and I could see that from my time playing with him. He's always had the talent. "He needed to progress in order to become a top international and that's what Chelsea — and Jose Mourinho — have been able to offer him."
So what are Payet's early impressions of his new manager at West Ham, Slaven Bilic? "I know first that he got Laurent Blanc sent off in the 1998 World Cup!" he said. "In terms of what I've observed since I've been here, though, is that he is very close to his players. He made me feel very welcome as soon as I arrived and since then we've had a good chat about how and where he wants to use me. I am excited about his project here."
West Ham have big plans for the future, at the heart of them being their move from the Boleyn to the 54,000-capacity Olympic Stadium next summer Payet will not be fazed. He said: "I am used to moving homes in football and it seems to be a recurring theme in my career. When I joined Lille they had a new stadium, at Marseille it was the same so I know how important it is to clubs when they move home. "It will bring in a new phase for the club and I am very excited to be part of that. First, though, we have to have a successful final season in the old stadium — and then move on." Of more immediate concern to Payet is West Ham's opening game of the season at the Emirates on August 9 and the chance to test himself against a player he admires. "Arsenal are the No1 French club in the Premier League and it's a very tough opening match for us," he said. "The fact we begin with such a big game means we have to get straight into our stride. It will be a good opportunity to see my favourite English player — Jack Wilshere. We are a little bit similar."
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West Ham hold secret talks with Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea target
WEST HAM have reportedly held secret talks with Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot over a move to Upton Park.
By BEN JEFFERSON
PUBLISHED: 00:00, Wed, Jul 15, 2015 | UPDATED: 10:17, Wed, Jul 15, 2015
Express.co.uk
Rabiot has been agitating for a move away from PSG for some time due to concerns about his playing time at the Parc des Princes. Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham have all been linked with the 20-year-old in the past. But according to Le Parisien the Hammers held talks with the player at Paris' Charles De Gaulle airport in recent days. The east London club have already landed Dimitri Payet from Marseille this summer but want to add compatriot Rabiot to their squad as well, according to the reports. Last month, the player's mother and agent Veronique said: "Adrien loves and is attached to PSG, it is the club of his heart. He wants to have a career here. But it's not possible. "Are PSG trying to tarnish Adrien because we have asked for a transfer? "If Adrien leaves PSG, he is not leaving for the sake of leaving, he is leaving in order to play."
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Report: West Ham representatives meet with PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot
HITC
Billy Hawkins
West Ham are looking to steal the talented midfielder away from PSG, having also seen him linked with Tottenham. Rabiot has long been linked with a move to the Premier League, and now West Ham have sent representatives to talk with him, according to Le Parisien. It is stated that he wants to leave PSG this summer, although the club want to keep the 20-year-old midfielder due to his homegrown status and impressive potential. First-team chances have been hard to come by for Rabiot since breaking onto the scene with PSG, and as he has struggled to establish himself in the first-team set-up recently, he is looking for a move away. Although the Ligue 1 giants want to keep ahold of him, they will not prevent the youngster from talking with other clubs, and the report states that Rabiot met with West Ham representatives at Charles de Gaulle airport. There are no indications as to whether talks were productive, but the Hammers are certainly taking forward steps in their transfer policy by looking to sign the talented midfielder.
Is Rabiot the player West Ham need?
A central midfielder, Rabiot is best deployed as the box-to-box presence alongside some more creative types, although he can also be utilised as a holding midfielder who shields the back-four. Full of energy and a strong mentality, Rabiot is willing to cover the entire pitch for his team, and is useful in the final third, even if he is better at the defensive side of the game. Signing Rabiot would also be a statement of intent from the Hammers, as he has been linked with Tottenham Hotspur recently. Le Parisien has reported previously that Spurs are looking to bring him to England, and if West Ham can move for Rabiot ahead of their London rivals, it will prove they mean business.
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Exclusive - Europa League could prove costly for West Ham this season, warns Sam Allardyce
By Nick Rostron-Pike (@nickrostronpike) | Wednesday, July 15, 2015
TalkSport
Sam Allardyce believes West Ham may struggle domestically this season if their Europa League campaign is successful. The Hammers face Maltese side Birkirkara in the first leg of their second qualifying round clash on Thursday, and face another four matches before they even reach the competition proper. With six group stage games then possibly to follow, the east London club are likely to play more than 50 matches this season. Slaven Bilic's main task this campaign is to keep the Irons in the Premier League, ahead of their move to the Olympic Stadium. And Allardyce, who left Upton Park at the end of last season, claims the Croatian could struggle if the club continue to progress in Europe's secondary competition. "Europe is going to be a defining factor," the 60-year-old told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show. "If West Ham have a very good run in Europe it could have a detrimental effect on their Premier League results.
"If you play more games in Europe, along with the FA Cup and League Cup, you're going to test the squad. "I'm not sure the squad is strong and deep enough if they have a long run in Europe. Staying clear of injuries is the most important thing in any manager's season. "If not, Slaven Bilic could run into the same problems I did over the last four years."
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Conflicting reports over Alex Song's move to West Ham but could it derail Slaven Bilic's plans?
HITC
Damien Lucas
There are conflicting reports doing the rounds about Alex Song's protracted move from Barcelona to West Ham United which could be a blow to Slaven Bilic. Last month Bilic said signing the former Arsenal midfielder permanently this summer after a loan spell last season would show the world just how ambitious the Hammers are for the future. "Look, we know what Alex Song is and it also shows the size of the club," Bilic told West Ham's official website. But the former Croatia manager's best laid plans could be in jeopardy now after a report in the Mirror claimed the midfielder needs surgery on an ankle injury.
Move in doubt over injury?
According to the report Song could have to go under the knife to remove a piece of bone which has caused an ankle injury. But the club are said to be actively aiming to rescue the deal by looking into another season-long loan deal for the former Cameroon captain.
Conflicting reports
However, a conflicting report in the Metro, claims the 27-year-old has 'agreed terms with West Ham ahead of a permanent transfer'. While it remains to be seen whether the African's future will be in East London, would it make a huge difference to Bilic's plans for the season? Song played 28 games last season and early on there was a running joke on the terraces that the Man of the Match could be named before kick-off given the number of times Song had won the award. Injuries undoubtedly affected his form later in the season and when Sam Allardyce departed in May it seemed Song may have played his last game for the club.
Form mirrored that of his team
His form very much mirrored that of the team last season, which perhaps reflects just how influential a player he is. Before Christmas, Song was the best player on the park most weeks and he led the Hammers to the dizzy heights of fourth by the new year. But he was so ineffectual in 2015 many wondered if they were watching the same player, as West Ham won just three games to slip all the way down to 12th by the season's end. If Bilic can get the best out of a player that should still have a good five or six years left at the top level then he will be a force to be reckoned with in the heart of midfield. But should he join carrying an injury and play like he did in the second half of last season, questions will soon be asked. One thing the Hammers can rest easy knowing is that they now have plenty of strength in depth in midfield. They have signed the likes of Pedro Obiang, Dimitri Payet and youngster Martin Samuelsen from Manchester City who could be the surprise package of the season.
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Alex Song's West Ham transfer in doubt as the former Arsenal midfielder needs surgery
22:30, 14 JULY 2015
BY JOHN CROSS
The Hammers have already agreed terms with Barcelona for the Cameroon international but ankle problem could now lead to ANOTHER year's loan
The Mirror
West Ham are trying to save Alex Song's move to Upton Park. Barcelona midfielder Song could have to go under the knife to remove a piece of bone which has caused an ankle injury. That has put his switch in serious doubt even though West Ham had already agreed terms for the 27-year-old former Arsenal midfielder. He is hoping the lay-off will not be as long as first feared.
But the Hammers are now proposing a second one-year loan but with a view to a fixed permanent deal, which could help it go through - even if Song misses the start of the season. Cameroon international Song, who has been receiving treatment for the injury, spent last season on loan at West Ham and is keen to rejoin the club.
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West Ham plot £8m bid for Javier Hernandez but face competition from Roma and Wolfsburg for Manchester United striker
By SIMON JONES FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 01:06, 15 July 2015 | UPDATED: 01:06, 15 July 2015
Manchester United expect West Ham to make an £8million offer for Javier Hernandez. The Mexico international has been on the Upton Park club's wishlist since last summer but they made contact in January and have kept in touch. West Ham know though they have a lot of competition with Roma, Galatasaray, Besiktas and Wolfsburg among the admirers. They have discussed Matteo Destro on loan from Roma and Charlie Austin at QPR and Loic Remy of Chelsea but each are expensive or, in Destro's case, without proven Premier League ability. They have concerns about the fitness of Andy Carroll, who could be out for another three months recovering from his knee ligament injury, so want a player who can start the season reliably. Enner Valencia is due back from injury but co-chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan want to give Slaven Bilic plenty of options.
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Wednesday 15 Jul Updated Wednesday 15 Jul 07:00
WHUFC.com
Carl Jenkinson joined West Ham United for a second loan spell this week and immediately laid out his plans to build on the first. Having experienced a full season of first team football for the first time in his career last term, the England international is thrilled to have the chance to show what he can do again in a claret and blue shirt.
Carl, how happy are you to be back?
CJ: "I'm really happy to be back after last year," he said. "It was a good season for the Club and a good season for myself.
"To be honest I just wanted to come back here and I'm happy everything's been sorted out. I've got another season here and I can't wait.
Having been here for a year already, you know exactly what you're coming back into…
CJ: "I'm a young player and I haven't had too many experiences of different clubs, but I loved every minute of it here. Everything about it is fantastic - it's a real family Club, the lads are great and the fans are great, so it ticks all the boxes you want when you join a football Club."
We've got a new manager in place now. How much do you know about him?
CJ: "I've seen what the manager has done in the past and he's done great things with the Croatia national team and the other clubs he's been, so he's a proven manager.
"I've got to come in, show what I can do and prove myself to a new manager. That keeps you on your toes and I've got to go and do that in pre-season. I'm looking forward to it.
"I know from speaking to the boss on the phone about the style of football, how he wants to play and his philosophy. That was an attractive thing for me and that's one of the reasons I signed here as well - he sounds like a guy who's going to be a great manager and I'm glad to be a part of that."
You started over 30 games last season. Presumably the aim is to nail down that right back slot again?
CJ: "I just want to play as much football as I can. To be honest, last season was the first I played every week and I'm a different person on and off the pitch. I found my love for the game again and you forget how much that means to you.
"I want to do that again - I want to play as much football as I can and develop as much as I can as a player.
"Confidence, everything grows when you're playing and you find out more about yourself as a player and a person. I really enjoyed it and of course it's something I want to continue to do."
You talked about feeling at home here from day one. How important is that for a player?
CJ: "There's a lot of English lads here, so it's very easy to settle in and the lads are a good laugh here. I look forward to coming into training every day - of course everyone works hard and wants to do the right things on the football pitch, but it's nice to come into environment where you can enjoy yourself and are amongst friends. That's important in any job, you want to look forward to coming into work and I certainly do that at West Ham."
The Club have been busy in the transfer market this summer. How impressed have you been by the signings?
CJ: "I know this club is going in the right direction, I think everyone can see that from within the club and outside. The Board signed a lot of good players last year and have obviously done the same this summer, making a few real statements of intent.
West Ham are back in Europe this year. Having experienced Champions League football yourself, what will European football do for West Ham?
CJ: "It's a Club going in the right direction, I can really see West Ham becoming a big force in the next two or three years. We're in that process now and I'm looking forward to being a part of it.
"It takes the Club to the next level being in Europe. Everyone wants to play a part in European football - the fans and players love European nights. I know the fans are excited about being in the Europa League and I certainly am as well. It will be a good thing for West Ham."
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Slaven Bilic: The first press conference
WHUFC.com
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic faced the media for the first time at the Boleyn Ground on Wednesday and looks forward to his first season in charge of the Club.
Hi Slaven, from your point of view, how pleasing is it to be in charge of West Ham United at such an important time?
"I am very glad to be here and have said it from day one. I am very excited and I am looking forward to the job. It's a big privilege, it's a big club in a big league. I've played here and I enjoyed it here. "I've played everywhere but this is where I probably played the best football of my life. So I like it, it's a family club. I am not the only one who is saying that.
"This league is, if not the best, the hardest league to compete in. The expectations are huge. The club want to improve but the competition is unbelievable. This is the last season at the stadium before we move to the new stadium, so it is very exciting and I can't wait to get started.
What is the key to having a successful European campaign and then playing well in the League? You could potentially play eight games before the group stages so how will you cope with all these games?
"It is a very difficult balancing act and has been unusual until this week because we had two groups of players. We didn't want to bring the first team back too early because we are going to need them until May without having a proper break. "The Europa League has to be respected, it's a big opportunity and a privilege for any club so we have to make a balance. So it was a bit strange to use two different teams, one for Andorra and the players started early. "But Bingo, it was like a jackpot and was great for the younger players and some First Team Players who didn't play much last year for whatever reasons. But it was a good experience for them. "The other first-team players then started on time and we went to Cork. We had two squads and I was in Ireland, flying to London, then flying to Andorra and back so it wasn't ideal but from the game on Thursday we are starting to have a normal preparation for the Premier League.
"To be fair we would have played on Thursday anyway, so to have a competitive game against a decent side is good. It's not ideal that we have to fly to Malta next week and we basically lose Wednesday, Thursday and half of the Friday for one game. "But we want to qualify and play in the Europa League. It's good for the Club and good for the spectators. It is good to play against teams with different styles of play. It can boost your confidence."
Can you tell us anything about a move for Javier Hernandez?
"The fact is so far in my career, I have never talked about other players who are not past of West Ham United. "We are trying to be active in the transfer window and so far the board have been very active in the transfer window. We are still trying to improve our squad and bring players who in my opinion and the Club's opinion can lift us up. We already have a good team but I will discuss it inside the Club."
What have you made of the new signings and how have they settled in?
"They are really good players and we wanted the.. The first one, Pedro Obiang, he's been a regular at Sampdoria for a few years, he is a really good player. Box-to-box, he can play in several different systems and positions. "Dimitri Payet is a player who I really wanted. I feel the Club needed someone who is a good link between midfield and the attackers. "He is a very creative player, a No10 as they used to call them with quality. He can do everything, goals, assists, I have been his admirer for a long time. "I have tried to get him at a few of my previous clubs but it was impossible. Not only the strikers but the players behind him, midfielders like Mark Noble will benefit from him. "We wanted to buy an additional centre-back and my first target was Angelo Ogbonna and we signed him. He is a player I've known for a long time because Italy were in the same group as Croatia in Euro 2012. "I followed every player that we could have faced in the Italy squad and at that time Ogbonna was just emerging at Torino. After the Euros, Juventus who were already champions signed him. "He played there in one of the best defences in Europe. He is still close to the Italian squad. "He wanted to come here, he has great determination and quality and is going to be really good for us. "We then signed Carl Jenkinson on loan. He did very well here last season, he had great determination to stay here for at least another year and he is a West Ham fan which is always good. "Stephen Hendrie and Darren Randolph have also both impressed me in training. We lost some players and we need to find a balance. Don't forget last season the team was really good, but we are trying to make it better."
What do you feel you are capable of achieving this season?
"That is a question that is so easy to answer one month before the season starts because you can say whatever you want. I want to try and bring stability and make us better. "I want the guys to improve individually and as a team. If we are going to play week after week and be better in ball possession and have more killer instinct, that should put us in a position where we are going to have more chances than our opponent. "We should score more goals and that should lift us in the table. Where that is going to be I don't know. "I am quite confident and have a good team. There is a good atmosphere and it was the same back in 1996 when I was a player here. "Every day we worked hard but also we were smiling. It is the same now. I would like it to continue like that and I am going to give everything."
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Boleyn Insider
WHUFC.com
Our man on the inside lifts the lid on the latest transfer speculation...
All the attention has now switched towards the Club's Europa League second qualifying round tie against Birkirkara on Thursday night.
West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic faced the national media for the first time in the pre-match press conference and was immediately asked about transfer targets. The Boleyn Insider revealed the other day that following the arrival of Carl Jenkinson from Arsenal, the Club would now switch their attentions to bringing in a forward and that remains the case. My understanding is that the Club are looking to make a move for one of the top strikers at a big club in England and hope a move can be finalised in the near future. There have also been stories suggesting the Club could be considering other options as they look to land another target. I have been told that the Club would be open to a possible player-exchange deal if they could get the striker they wanted. With six new arrivals already this summer, I believe the fans can look forward to more new signings before the new Premier League season gets underway against Arsenal on August 9.
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Stewart Downing: Middlesbrough set to sign West Ham winger
BBC.co.uk
Winger Stewart Downing is close to completing a return to Middlesbrough after West Ham gave him permission to speak to his hometown club. The 30-year-old will have a medical examination on Thursday before meeting with chairman Steve Gibson, BBC Tees Sport has learned. He will then join the Boro squad at their Marbella training camp. Downing, capped 35 times by England, left the Riverside for Aston Villa in July 2009, before moving to Liverpool. He has been with West Ham since 2013 and made 37 Premier League appearances for the Hammers in 2014-15, with his early-season performances earning him an England recall in November. Since making his professional debut for the Teessiders in May 2002, he has made 493 appearances in all competitions, scoring 50 goals. Middlesbrough were beaten by Norwich City in the Championship play-off final at Wembley in May.
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Jesus, Nelson Mandela and Karren Brady cited amongst 'world's most inspirational people'
Kumb.COM
Filed: Wednesday, 15th July 2015
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United's vice-chairman Karren Brady has been named as one of the World's 50 most inspirational people in a poll by a publishing house. Raconteur Media's poll of 2,000 of its readers threw up one or two surprises in its survey to find the World's 50 most inspirational people - of all time, no less. Although all the usual candidates - such as Jesus, Anne Frank, Oscar Wilde and Nelson Mandela - are present, Hammers fans may be surprised to learn that the club's current vice chair - aka Baroness Brady of Knightsbridge in the City of Westminster - is also listed.
Talking about the poll, the website states: "We all know what it feels like to have a 'lightbulb' moment – that lightning-quick strike of momentary inspiration that plants the seed of genius and sends us racing to the whiteboard. "But the feeling of sustained inspiration is something much deeper, and much greater. It was the unpacking of this kind of inspiration that we aimed to achieve. Canvassing our readers, we asked who is the most inspirational person of all time?"
The Top 50: Some Credentials
Nelson Mandela: Former leader of the ANC and President of South Africa. Jailed for 27 years. Helped prevent civil war and end apartheid.
Mother Teresa: Macedonian-born missionary who won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979 and was beatified as "Blessed Teresa of Calcutta" in 2003.
Oscar Wilde: Author, playwright and poet of distinction. Jailed for his homosexuality, he died a pauper in Paris at the age of 46.
Anne Frank: Teenage Jewish victim of the Nazi holocaust during the Second World War. Her wartime diary - 'The Diary of a Young Girl' - is one of the most celebrated works of literature from the war.
Alan Turing: Computer scientist whose Turing machine is the daddy of modern day computers. Killed at 41 by cyanide poisoning (officially suicide).
Jesus Christ: Turned water into wine. Helped kick-start a religion that today boasts around two billion followers.
Mohamed: Slightly more recent fellow prophet whose religion also commands a following of around two billion.
Martin Luther King Jnr: Civil Rights Movement leader who had a dream that he never lived to see. Peaceful protester who was murdered in 1968.
Gandhi: Leader of the Indian Independence Movement who shaped his nation's history during the first half of the 20th century.
Karren Brady: Prep school-educated businesswoman and TV personality known as 'the first lady of football'. Made a Tory life peer in 2014.
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Bilic refuses to acknowledge Hernandez interest
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 15th July 2015
By: Staff Writer
Slaven Bilic refused to be drawn on West Ham's purported interest in Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez when questioned by a reporter this morning. Bilic, speaking in his first general press conference since being appointed as the latest West Ham manager insisted that he would only talk about players currently at the club, whilst failing to either confirm or deny United's interest. "The fact is, I will not discuss players who are not part of West Ham," he replied to a question regarding Hernandez. "We are trying to be active in the transfer window - and so far, the Board have been. "We're still trying to improve our squad and bring in players who - in my and the club's opinion - can lift us up. We already have a good team but I will discuss it inside the club."
Bilic also spoke at length on several of his summer signings:
Pedro Obiang: "He's been a regular at Sampdoria for a few years, he is a really good player. Box-to-box, he can play in several different systems and positions."
Dimitri Payet: "A player who I really wanted. I feel the club needed someone who is a good link between midfield and the attackers. I have tried to get him at a few of my previous clubs, but it wasn't possible."
Carl Jenkinson: "He did very well here last season. I spoke to him a few times and and he had great determination to stay here for another year - at least."
Angelo Ogbonna: "He is a player I've known for a long time. He played in one of the best defences in Europe. He is still close to the Italian squad. He has great determination and quality and is going to be really good for us."
Stephen Hendrie: "He's a left-back who played some really good football in Scotland."
Darren Randolph: "Did I miss anyone out? Oh Randy! We needed a new goalkeeper. They all look really good."
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Stewart Downing closing on move back to Middlesbrough
Last Updated: 15/07/15 3:54pm
SSN
Middlesbrough have agreed a fee with West Ham for winger Stewart Downing, Sky sources understand. Downing is poised to return to his home town club for a fee of around £5m with talks over a deal having been going on between the clubs for some time. The 30-year-old graduated from the Middlesbrough academy and made 234 appearances for the club before leaving for Aston Villa at the end of the 2008-9 season.
He spent two years at Villa Park before joining Liverpool and then moved on to West Ham at the start of the 2013-14 campaign, where he played a regular role over the last two seasons. Downing is expected to undergo a medical on Thursday and he could join up with the rest of the Boro squad at their training camp in Marbella by the end of the week if the deal is completed in time.
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Hammers meet players mum
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 15, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Reports in France claim West Ham have met PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot's mother who acts as his agent in Charles Du Gaulle airport in Paris. The highly-rated 20-year-old has attracted the attention a number of clubs after an impressive run in Ligue 1 under manager Laurent Blanc. Spurs were said to be tracking Rabiot but, according to French paper Le Parisen, the Hammers now lead the race to sign the Frenchman and have met him and his mother to discuss a deal. The France Under-21 international made 21 Ligue One appearances, 10 from the start, and scored four goals last season. Rabiot spent a short time at Manchester City in 2008 was previously linked with Arsenal.
Rabiot slapped in a transfer request – via his mum in June. 'Adrien loves PSG, he's attached and would love to make a career for himself there, but it's not possible,' his mother and agent told Le Parisien. 'He needs 35 games per season to continue his progression, and this won't happen at PSG next season. 'I've asked for a transfer.'
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Tinkerman could make Carlton his first signing
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 15, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Leicester City boss Claudio Ranieri could make former Hammer Carlton Cole his first signing. According to the Daily Mirror, The Tinkerman is weighing up a move for Cole who is a free agent as he knows him from his time as Chelsea manager. Ranieri gave Cole his debut as a teenager in 2002 and described him as the best young player he had ever worked with at the time. He has always kept a good relationship with Cole after once labelling him "Tyson" for his size and strength. It is claimed Cole has also attracted interest from West Brom, Aston Villa and Norwich.
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Stewart Downing Out, Manuel Lanzini in
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 15, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Hammer Stewart Downing appears close to completing a return to Middlesbrough after West Ham gave him permission to speak to his hometown club in the town where he was born.
Reports this afternoon suggestDowning two clubs are said to have agreed a fee of around £5m. The 30-year-old will have a medical examination as early as Thursday before meeting with chairman Steve Gibson. Assuming he passes a medical it is claimed he will then join the Middlesbrough squad at their Marbella training camp.
Downing joined West Ham in 2013 and made 37 Premier League appearances for the Hammers last season. Downing is said to have agreed a five year deal worth as much as £70,000 per week together with a £1 million bonus if Middlesbrough achieve promotion to the Premier League.
West Ham will remove one of their highest earners off their payroll as the £50,000 week man leaves freeing £2.6m off the annual wage bill.
manuel-lanzini-pictures-1Downing's exit is also likely to pave the way for a loan deal for Argentine midfielder Manuel Lanzini from UAE-based club Al Jazira.
Reports have suggested that Lanzini has agreed to join the Hammers on a season long loan deal. Lanzini was previously linked with West Ham in the past but the former River Plate star opted for a move to Al Jazira for a fee of around £5.25million.
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Slav tight-lipped on Hernandez
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 15, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Slaven Bilic has refused to comment on the news that the Hammers are in talks with Manchester United over a possible Javier Hernandez switch to Upton Park.
And that in itself is a significant indicator that the club is pressing ahead with negotiations as revealed by ClaretandHugh this week.
Addressing his first press conference since taking over as manager, Slav – when asked directly about the striker – said: " "The fact is so far in my career, I have never talked about other players who are not part of West Ham United.
"We are trying to be active in the transfer window and so far the board have been very active in the transfer window.
"We are still trying to improve our squad and bring players who in my opinion and the club's opinion can lift us up. We already have a good team but I will discuss it inside the club."
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Malta Europa league clash to be broadcast on UK TV
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 15, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Matese team Birkirkara appear to have sold their TV broadcast rights for the 2nd away leg to UK TV company Premier Sports. The 2nd round Europa League match played on Thursday 23rd at the 18,000 capacity Maltese national stadium will be broadcast LIVE on Premier Sports TV channel. The channel is currently only available in the UK. They broadcast on SKY channel 428,Virgin channel 551 and TalkTalk channel 526. They also offer you the channel online in HD through the Premier Player. Viewers in Northern Ireland can view Premier Sports via Setanta Sports 1.
SKY
Premier Sports HD channel launches in 4 days time and the channel is offering a discount for Sky customers of £9.99 for two months subscription by using code ABERDEENFC.
VIRGIN MEDIA
Premier Sports is sold directly by Virgin Media priced at £7.99 per month. Virgin also operate streaming on behalf of Premier Sports via their Virgin Anywhere service.
TalkTalk Customers
You can add Premier Sports to your TalkTalk package for £10 a month.
PREMIER PLAYER Online Customers
The Premier Player is available in HD priced at £9.99 per month and includes a 7 day catch-up service.
Virgin Media and Premier Player customers are on auto renewing 1 month contract.
More details can be found on their website premiersports.tv
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Hammers Away kit revealed
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 15, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
West Ham have unveiled their new 2015-16 season away kit this morning. The new-look strip is understood to be heavily influenced by the historic 'Union Jack' design, which was worn between 1901-03 – when Queen Victoria and King Edward VII were on the throne! It features a light blue shirt with single claret chest hoop, light blue shorts and light blue socks with claret hoops.
Pre-orders will be delivered on 29th July and the kit will be available to buy on the same date for men, women, juniors, infants and babies The Hammers are set to wear the away kit for the first time against Birkirkara in Malta on 23 July.
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EXCLUSIVE: Hammers get tough with Barca on Song
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 15, 2015 in News
C AND H EXCLUSIVE
West Ham are exploring a complex plan which would hopefully seal an eventual long term deal for Alex Song to join the club permanently. But whilst he is carrying a surgery-threatening ankle injury, the Irons are trying to do a' pay as you play' loan deal with Barca paying his wages outside of those appearances. The Hammers have suggested that they are then given the option to take the player on a permanent deal in the January window when, hopefully, his injury worried are sorted The Catalan giants want to do a permanent deal NOW with the Irons taking on the full wage burden but ClaretandHugh sources said: "That's not going to happen. we need to sort out a safeguarded deal. "Barcelona are maybe hoping some other club will come in. Understandable, but we aren't going pushed into such a wage deal in these circumstances."
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United to give Irons Hernandez price
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 15, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic has identified Javier Hernandez as his preferred striking option and the board are working hard to make it happen. ClaretandHugh exclusively broke the news earlier this week that the club were in for the Mexican front man and we have learned that talks will re-start by the weekend. Whilst United are understood to have put a £10-£12 million price tag on the player's head, the Reds have yet to make that official to the Irons negotiators but have said they will let us know by Saturday and Sunday. A source revealed: "United have indicated that they will name their price at the weekend and as far as the manager is concerned, Javier is the preferred option. "We understand the player wants a move to Upton Park. No doubt there will be other interest but hopefully the club can make this one happen. However, there's a way to go."
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Third 'Oxford Blue' kit to be unveiled
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 15, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Following the announcement of the away kit this morning West Ham are expected to unveil a third kit soon. Built of the theme of historic kits in the club's 120 year history, the third kit is rumoured to be inspired by our origins in 1895 when the team played in Oxford Blue as the Thames Ironworks.
The original team colours were Oxford Blue due to founder Arnold Hills being a former student of Oxford University. The Ironworks played their first ever fixture in these colours against Royal Ordnance reserves on 7th September 1895, the game ending 0-0.
Hills was said to be a talented footballer and represented Oxford against Cambridge in the varsity match.
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Transfer news: Stewart Downing heads home to Middlesbrough in £5m deal
England winger cleared for north-east return after West Ham and Middlesbrough agree transfer fee
By Telegraph Sport
11:06PM BST 15 Jul 2015
Stewart Downing is closing in on a return to home-town side Middlesbrough after the Championship club agreed a deal of around £5 million with West Ham for the winger. West Ham have given Downing, 31 next week, permission to speak to Middlesbrough and the player is now set to have a medical examination on Thursday before meeting Steve Gibson, the Boro chairman, to sign a reported five-year contract. It is expected he will then fly to Spain to join the Middlesbrough squad at their Marbella training camp. He could make his first Middlesbrough appearance in six years in Saturday's friendly in Marbella. Downing, capped 35 times by England, left the Riverside for Aston Villa in July 2009, before moving on to Liverpool. He has been with West Ham since 2013 and made 37 Premier League appearances for the Londoners last season, with his early-season performances earning him an England recall in November. Since making his professional debut for the Teessiders in May 2002, he has made 493 appearances in all competitions, scoring 50 goals. Middlesbrough missed out on promotion to the top flight when they were beaten by Norwich City in the Championship play-off final at Wembley in May.
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Andy Carroll pencilled in for September return by West Ham chief David Gold
By RICHARD ARROWSMITH FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 23:07, 15 July 2015 | UPDATED: 23:07, 15 July 2015
West Ham co-chairman David Gold has suggested that record signing Andy Carroll could make his long-awaited return from injury in September. The 26-year-old has struggled for fitness since completing a £15million move from Liverpool to Upton Park in 2013 and has has been ruled out since the start of this year with a serious knee injury that required surgery. Gold revealed on Twitter that the England international is nearing a comeback, saying: 'Andy Carroll is training hard and getting stronger. We are hopeful that he will be available early September. dg.'
Carroll is back in training and could join up with the first team squad to work on his match fitness ahead of their opening Premier League fixture against Arsenal on August 9. Should Carroll return to action after the international break in September, he could find himself appearing against his former club with West Ham playing Newcastle on September 14.
Meanwhile, the Hammers have been linked to an £8million bid for Manchester United outcast Javier Hernandez. The Mexico international has been on the Upton Park club's wishlist since last summer but they made contact in January and have kept in touch. West Ham know though they have a lot of competition with Roma, Galatasaray, Besiktas and Wolfsburg among the admirers. They have discussed Matteo Destro on loan from Roma and Charlie Austin at QPR and Loic Remy of Chelsea but each are expensive or, in Destro's case, without proven Premier League ability. Enner Valencia is due back from injury but co-chairmen Gold and David Sullivan want to give Slaven Bilic plenty of options.
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Manuel Lanzini set for West Ham medical on Thursday ahead of loan from Al Jazira after selling Stewart Downing to Middlesbrough
By SIMON JONES FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 22:45, 15 July 2015 | UPDATED: 22:45, 15 July 2015
Manuel Lanzini is expected to arrive in London on Thursday to complete a medical ahead of his move to West Ham from United Arab Emirates side Al Jazira. The 22-year-old is joining on loan after West Ham agreed to sell Stewart Downing to Middlesbrough. The Hammers agreed a deal in principle to sign Argentine midfielder Lanzini from the UAE-based club earlier this month. Likened to former Argentina star Pablo Aimar, Lanzini, who has an Italian passport, was considered by West Ham while at River Plate last summer but he moved to the Middle East instead for £5.25million. Known as 'La Joya' or 'The Jewel', Lanzini also has interest from Sharjah of the UAE Pro League. He scored eight goals in 24 appearances to help Jazira to a second-place finish in the Arabian Gulf League last season. New manager Slaven Bilic has already made six signings this summer with the arrivals of Darren Randolph, Pedro Obiang, Stephen Hendrie, Dimitri Payet, Angelo Ogbonna and Carl Jenkinson. The Croatian boss leads his new team at Upton Park for the first time on Thursday night as they take on Birkirkara of Malta in the second qualifying round of the Europa League.
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West Ham are no longer the 'circus act' of yesteryear, says Mark Noble
Midfielder believes Bilic is ready to build on the foundations laid down by previous manager Sam Allardyce
By Jon West
Telegraph.co.uk
10:33PM BST 15 Jul 2015
Mark Noble has praised the way Slaven Bilic has transformed West Ham United, with the midfielder insisting that the club were no longer the "circus act" of yesteryear. Noble is one of a number of first‑team players poised to play on Thursday night in the Europa League second qualifying round first leg against Maltese side Birkirkara after missing the first-round double-header with Andorran side Lusitans.
Playing on the European stage is a far cry from the relegation season under Avram Grant in 2010-11 – a point acknowledged by Noble, who believes Bilic is ready to build on the foundations laid down by Sam Allardyce, the previous manager.
"In the last four years under Sam, from the Championship we have a strong base, the chairman and the gaffer are together and the club feels like a proper club now – not a circus act," Noble, 28, said. Bilic, who had a single season at West Ham as a player in 1996-97, admits that he will have to be a luckier manager than Allardyce if he is to be a success at Upton Park. Allardyce has warned that the squad Bilic has inherited, despite six additions from last season, is unlikely to be able to prosper in the Premier League if it is also playing in the Europa League proper on Thursdays. The Hammers enjoyed an impressive start under Allardyce last season but results soon tapered off once key men began to be ruled out through injury. "I'm not sure the squad is strong and deep enough if they have a long run in Europe. Staying clear of injuries is the most important thing in any manager's season," he said. "If not, Slaven Bilic could run into the same problems I did over the last four years."
Allardyce's claims will be sure to have annoyed a significant section of the West Ham support, who became implacably opposed to him because they could not tolerate his preferred direct style of play. But Bilic made it clear he agreed with his predecessor. "It has a lot to do with being lucky or unlucky. Last year the club was very unlucky in that department. One unlucky accident in training not to mention the games can damage your plans. Two or three you are finished."
Bilic even went out of his way to praise Allardyce. "I would like to thank the ex-manager, Sam," he said. "He left me a really good team and god atmosphere and he didn't leave me a mess. It is solid and it is a great great base, or whatever you call, it for me to try and improve."
West Ham United (4-2-3-1) Adrian; O'Brien, Tomkins, Reid, Cresswell; Poyet, Noble; Amalfitano, Nolan, Jarvis; Zarate.
Birkirkara (4-3-3) Haber; Mazzetti, Vukanac, Muscat, Camenzuli, Zerafa, Fenech, Muscat, Agius, Miccoli, Plut.
Referee M Hameter (Austria).
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Ravel Morrison makes it four goals in two games for Lazio, will West Ham regret letting him go?
HITC
Damien Lucas
After his departure from West Ham United Ravel Morrison scored another brace in his second pre-season game for new club Lazio. Morrison took to social networking site Twitter to give an update after Lazio's latest pre-season match on Wednesday. And he revealed he had scored another two goals to add to the brace he got in his first game at the weekend. He said: "Game two finished another win and another two goals."
The former Manchester United midfielder, who was once hailed the Red Devils' best talent since Paul Scholes by none other than Sir Alex Ferguson, was released by the Hammers last season. The immensely talented star, likened by some West Ham fans to their legendary midfielder Sir Trevor Brooking for the way he effortlessly glided past opponents, looked to have got his career back on track in East London. He had been disposed of by a frustrated Sir Alex and West Ham co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold took a punt on the England youth international. It looked to have paid off when, after a spell out on loan, Morrison forced his way into Sam Allardyce's side and started scoring goals - most memorably away to fierce rivals Tottenham Hotspur in a 3-0 Premier League win.
But it soon turned sour as Morrison's infamous lack of discipline saw him fall out of favour yet again. After a series of loan spells at Queens Park Rangers and Cardiff, the Hammers eventually gave up on the 22-year-old and terminated his contract in February, freeing him up to join Serie A side Lazio. Initial reports by the likes of the Mirror suggested he was homesick and wanted to return to England before a ball had even been kicked in anger in Italy.
Has the penny finally dropped?
But he seems to have knuckled down and after impressing on his debut with two goals in a 14-0 win last week, he has now followed it up with another brace. The opposition clearly were not up to much this time either as Lazio ran out 9-1 winners over Top 11 Radio Club. But his form and new-found focus will be concerning for West Ham and the club's fans, many of whom wanted to see how the prodigious talent fared under a different manager than Allardyce. They now have that in the shape of Slaven Bilic who has been brought in partly for his more attack-minded philosophy. But Bilic also demands a high work rate from his players, something Allardyce accused Morrison of lacking when he excluded him from his team after his initial breakthrough.
The Pogba problem
It remains to be seen whether Morrison will stay the course over in the Italian capital, having pushed West Ham's patience to the limit during his time at the club. But like his old Manchester United youth teammate Paul Pogba has shown with Juventus, should he excel it could prove a lack of patience which ultimately costs the club one of the most exciting young players in Europe.
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Stewart Downing travelling to Teesside to complete £5m Boro switch
13:53, 15 JULY 2015
BY PHILIP TALLENTIRE
Downing is set to fly out to Spain to link up with Aitor Karanka and the Boro first team squad once formalities have been completed
Stewart Downing is travelling to Teesside today to complete his £5m switch to Boro, the Gazette understands. Once formalities have been completed, the 30-year-old winger will fly out to Spain to link up with Aitor Karanka and the first team squad on Thursday. Fitness permitting, he could make his first Boro appearance in six years in Saturday's friendly in Marbella.
Downing, who celebrates his 31st birthday next week, has been training on his own at West Ham after insisting that he wanted to join Boro. It's believed that the Middlesbrough-born former England international will put pen to paper on a five-year contract, which will mean he'll almost ceertainly finish his career where he started it. The signing is a massive coup for Steve Gibson and Boro and Downing is expected to operate in the pivotal No10 position next season.
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West Ham boss Slaven Bilic admits Upton Park bow will be a "big privilege"
14:07, 15 JULY 2015
BY JOHN CROSS
The Hammers face Maltese outfit Birkirkara in the Europa League tomorrow and Bilic admits he is relishing the opportunity in east London
The Mirror
Slaven Bilic says it will be a "big privilege" to take charge of his first game at Upton Park. West Ham boss Bilic watched from the stands at home in the last round but will in full control against Maltese outfit Birkirkara in the Europa League second qualifying round. Ex-Hammers defender Bilic said: "I've been excited from the first day and I'm looking forward to the job, it's a big privilege. It's a big club in a big league. "It's a special club for me personally. I played here. I enjoyed everywhere as a player but this is the place where I played the best football of my life also. I like this club. It's a family club. I'm not the only one saying that. "On the other hand it's a big obligation of course. If it's not the best, it's the toughest League in the world of football. Expctations are huge. "The club wants to improve. The competition is unbelievable. This is the last season at this stadium, we're moving to the new stadium next season and all that sums up the situation that is exciting."
Former West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has warned that the club's European campaign could have a serious impact on their Premier League season because of the extra fixtures. Allardyce told talkSPORT: "Europe is going to be a defining factor. If West Ham have a very good run in Europe it could have a detrimental effect on their Premier League results. If you play more games in Europe, along with the FA Cup and League Cup, you're going to test the squad. "I'm not sure the squad is strong and deep enough if they have a long run in Europe. Staying clear of injuries is the most important thing in any manager's season. If not, Slaven Bilic could run into the same problems I did over the last four years."
But Bilic hopes that he can deal with the extra demands even if he accepts the extra fixtures - West Ham will have to play eight extra games to reach the Europa League Group stage - will be difficult. Bilic said: "It is a difficult balance. At least it's unusual especially till today, till tomorrow let's say. To think that you have two teams because we didn't want to call up the seniors players before because we're going to need them till May. In England there is no winter break. "But we wanted to respect the Europa League because it's a big opportunity and privilege to any club. So we wanted to find a balance. "We had one team that was playing and training and started early and played these two games against Andora. It was bingo, it was a jackpot and great for young players."
West Ham midfielder Mark Noble says their final year at Upton Park makes it the biggest season in the club's history and they are determined to start well. Noble said: "We're going into is one of the biggest in the club's history. The new stadium is a Premier League stadium. The money we're spending is a sign we want to go into the new stadium as a solid Premier League team that wants to move up. "We get 35000 a week and we want to get in 20 more thousand. I'm confident we can do it. "Once we get our squad together, we can really push on and become a team capable of playing in this year's League and moving to the stadium a solid team."
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Slaven Bilic makes promise to West Ham fans ahead of Europa League clash
Express.co.uk
By JON WEST
PUBLISHED: 14:11, Wed, Jul 15, 2015 | UPDATED: 14:26, Wed, Jul 15, 2015
Sam Allardyce's replacement takes charge of the Hammers at Upton Park for the first time tomorrow when Maltese outfit Birkirkara are the visitors in a Europa League second round qualification first leg. Former Hammers defender Bilic, who had told academy coach Terry Westley to take care of the first round first leg, said: "There is a good atmosphere. I didn't create it - it was here when I came in 1996. Every day people work with a smile. I would like it to continue. "I've been excited from the first day and I'm looking forward to the job, it's a big privilege. It's a big club in a big league. It's a special club for me personally. I played here. "I enjoyed everywhere as a player but this is the place where I played the best football of my life also. I like this club. It's a family club. I'm not the only one saying that. On the other hand it's a big obligation of course."
Allardyce has suggested Bilic and co would struggle to combine Europa League excursions with Premier League fixtures should they qualify for the group stage. And Bilic did not disagree. He said: "It is good for the spectators and individually the players. To play against clubs that play different style boosts your confidence and your quality as a man and a player. "But it takes from you too. Last year I was at Besiktas and the Europa League cost us because it was something like playing 20 games Saturday, Thursday, Saturday, Thursday." The Hammers played a team that was mainly made up of teenagers in the first round against Andorran minnows Lusitans as the majority if the first teamers were preparing for pre-season on a camp in Ireland.
But tomorrow's starting line-up is expected to be much closer to the likely selection for the first Premier League game of the season.
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Slaven Bilic hints at tactical role for Hammers new signing and hails transfer work
London 24
14:14 15 July 2015 Brad Pinard at Upton Park
West Ham boss Slaven Bilic is looking to use Dimitri Payet as a number ten in a new-look Hammers side. The Frenchman was impressive as a winger for Marseille last season as his 17 assists saw him ranked fourth in Europe behind Kevin De Bruyne, Lionel Messi and Cesc Fabregas. But new manager Bilic, who was named West Ham boss in May, plans to play the 28-year-old behind the strikers this season. "Dimitri Payet, I really wanted him," Bilic said. "He is a number ten, to play in between the midfield and attack. He is creative. "He has goals, assists everything. I have been an admirer of him for a long time. "I have tried to get him at a few clubs but it was very difficult. "The strikers will benefit from him but also the defensive players in midfield too like Mark (Noble)." Payet is one of six new signings who have joined the West Ham squad this summer. The club have also brought in Stephen Hendrie, Darren Randolph, Pedro Obiang, Angelo Ogbonna and Carl Jenkinson. Bilic is pleased with the club's business in this transfer window but he plans to make further additions to the squad. "We are trying to be active and we will try and improve again "We are still trying, we will bring in some more players to lift us then definitely, but I will say it in the club. Maybe a few will come in if they are the ones who will make us better."
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Javier Hernandez to West Ham: Hammers prepare '£8m bid' for Manchester United striker
Roma and Wolfsburg also interested in Chicharito
TOM SHEEN Author Biography Wednesday 15 July 2015
The Independent
West Ham United are set to make an £8million bid for Manchester United striker Javier Hernandez, according to reports. The Mexican spent last year on loan at Real Madrid and did not travel to Seattle with Louis van Gaal's 27-man squad for the pre-season tour of the US as he is on international duty at the Gold Cup. According to the Daily Mail, West Ham have been interested since last summer and are preparing to make a move. However, they could face competition from numerous clubs across Europe with Wolfsburg, Roma, Besiktas and Galatasaray all linked with the striker. Chicharito was a favourite of Sir Alex Ferguson, scoring 50 goals in three seasons in all competitions, but has struggled since he left, with just nine goals since before being sent on loan to the Bernabeu. West Ham are also linked with Roma striker Matteo Destro and Premier League pair Charlie Austin and Loic Remy. The Hammers continue to be concerned with the fitness of record transfer Andy Carroll, who has played just 30 matches in the last two seasons
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West Ham to tie up Lanzini loan deal, freeing Downing to join Middlesbrough
HITC
Graeme Bailey
HITC Sport understands that Manuel Lanzini's move to England is almost complete, with his arrival paving the way for Stewart Downing to head home. Manuel Lanzini is due to arrive in England on Thursday to complete his move to West Ham United, which should free up Stewart Downing to finalise his transfer back to Middlesbrough, HITC Sport understands from sources close to the deal. West Ham agreed terms with Al Jazira earlier this month to sign the 22-year-old on-loan for the season with a view to a permanent transfer. Lanzini has an Italian passport, but he has been waiting for the final bits of paperwork to be completed before flying into England to put pen to paper. He is expected in on Thursday, and Middlesbrough are now expecting that will finally mean West Ham giving Downing the green light to complete his return to The Riverside. Boro have fought off strong Premier League interest, particularly from rivals Sunderland, to agree terms with West Ham and Downing. HITC Sport understands Boro have agreed to give Downing a five-year deal and will part with a transfer fee of around £7million. Boro want the deal in place this week, which will then allow them to move on to other targets, with Christian Stuani also expected to sign by the start of next week. However, another striker remains top of their list of targets and it is understood they are still exploring a deal for Blackburn Rovers frontman Jordan Rhodes.
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As West Ham intensify striker hunt, which player would suit Slaven Bilic's side best?
HITC
Damien Lucas
West Ham United are stepping up their bid to land a top striker with the likes of Charlie Austin, Javier Hernandez, Gervinho and Mattia Destro linked. The Hammers have been one of the busiest Premier League clubs in the summer transfer market spending nearly £25 million so far. Co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold have been true to their word by investing significant funds to strengthen new boss Slaven Bilic's squad. So far the East Londoners have brought in goalkeeper Darren Randolph on a free transfer, midfielders Pedro Obiang and Dimitri Payet for a combined total of around £15 million, defender Angelo Ogbonna for around £8 million and Carl Jenkinson in on loan again from Arsenal for a fee believed to be £2 million. The Irons had already signed left back Stephen Hendrie from Scottish side Hamilton back in January and he officially became a West Ham player on July 1st. But there has been the promise of more to come with Sullivan's son Jack confirming on Twitter ahead of Jenkinson's capture that the club will be trying to sign 'another three or four players'. At least one of those will be a striker and if recent reports are to be believed the main targets are Queens Park Rangers' Charlie Austin, Manchester United's Javier Hernandez and Roma strike partners Gervinho and Matia Destro.
So what will West Ham be getting?
Charlie Austin
Anyone watching the Premier League last season will know all about Austin's exploits. His goals were in vain last season as Rangers were relegated but they look set to earn him a big money move back to the Premier League this summer with the Hammers being heavily linked by the likes of the Daily Mail. Bilic is said to be considering offering flop Matt Jarvis as a makeweight in any potential deal but one thing Austin will guarantee his side is goals. Austin's record is impressive. He bagged 58 goals in 113 matches for Burnley and QPR before smashing 18 goals in a remarkable debut season in the top flight. As a forward he is a natural finisher, although it remains to be seen whether the club could accommodate Austin and Andy Carroll in the same side.
Javier Hernandez
Hernandez is coming off the back of a mixed season on loan from Manchester United at Real Madrid. He bemoaned a lack of playing time in the Spanish capital but was memorably Los Blancos' goalscoring hero in their Champions League quarter-final against city rivals Atletico. Speculation has been rife in the last 24 hours linking him with a move to join Bilic's revolution, as per the London Evening Standard. Should the Hammers bring Chicarito to Upton Park he would undoubtedly be expecting first team football. And the 27-year-old Mexican's record would demand it with an impressive goals to games ratio for his hometown club Guadalajara of 26 in 64 games and 37 for the Red Devils in 102 appearances, many of which were as sub. What is most impressive, though, is his record on the international stage where he has scored a fantastic 40 goals in 74 matches for Mexico. He is the sort of striker who could work well playing off either Diafra Sakho or Andy Carroll in West Ham's attack and offers all-important pace.
Gervinho
According to the likes of the Metro, the Hammers are 'working hard' on a £10 million deal for the former Arsenal man Gervinho. The 28-year-old Ivorian scored just nine goals in 46 games for the Gunners before being shipped off to Serie A side Roma in 2013. His time in Italy has not been littered with goals either, as the African netted just 11 times in 57 matches over two seasons. His stats for his country read a little better with 20 goals in 70 games. Clearly spending such big money on Gervinho would represent something of a gamble but he is another player blessed with terrific pace who can also be utilised as a winger. His style of play and unselfish attitude would also suit the type of game Bilic favours, attacking with pace on the counter.
Mattia Destro
According to the Metro, Mattia Destro is very much on West Ham's radar with the paper claiming recently that his agent was 'in London to finalise a deal'. Destro at 24 has lots of potential and has scored 41 goals in 117 club games so far for the likes of Roma and last season on loan at AC Milan. The Italy international has eight caps and was the subject of intense transfer speculation last year being heavily linked with moves to West Ham's London rivals Chelsea and Real Madrid. Destro is famous in Italy for an outrageous 40-yard half-volley in a 2-0 victory over Hellas Verona. But it could be telling that Roma were willing to loan him out to a rival last season.
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West Ham's pass master Dimitri Payet: I can't wait to link up with 'lethal' Andy Carroll
Evening Standard
KEN DYER
Published: 15 July 2015 Updated: 09:57, 15 July 2015
Dimitri Payet has not had much chance to catch up with his former Lille team-mate, Eden Hazard, since arriving in London. owever, three weeks before completing his £10.7million move to West Ham, the France midfielder came face to face with the Chelsea star during a friendly against Belgium in Paris. Payet said: "We had a chat and he said to me, 'Why don't you come and play in the Premier League?' Well — now I'm here and very excited to start a new adventure in this fantastic league."
The 28-year-old could be one of the signings of the summer if he maintains the form he produced at Marseille last season. No one in Europe created more chances than Payet's total of 135 and his 17 assists were the fourth best in the top five European Leagues, numbers which should impress those fans who have demanded a return to the more expansive 'West Ham way'. "I'm usually a No10 and the thing I most enjoy is helping my team-mates and creating goal-scoring chances for them," he said. "I feel more satisfaction — and attach greater value — to providing assists then scoring myself. That is my role in the team. "Andy Carroll is lethal in the area and, if good crosses come into him, he usually puts them away. He's a fantastic finisher — he has a very good left foot and is a great header of the ball. All he needs is the service."
Payet's mantra will be music to the ears of not only Carroll, who is still battling back from a knee injury, but also West Ham's other main strikers, Diafra Sakho and Enner Valencia.
Payet should feel satisfied if he does half as well as Hazard, last season's PFA and Football Writers' Association Player of the Year. "I'm not at all surprised Eden has done so well in England," he said. "He's a top-quality player and I could see that from my time playing with him. He's always had the talent. "He needed to progress in order to become a top international and that's what Chelsea — and Jose Mourinho — have been able to offer him."
So what are Payet's early impressions of his new manager at West Ham, Slaven Bilic? "I know first that he got Laurent Blanc sent off in the 1998 World Cup!" he said. "In terms of what I've observed since I've been here, though, is that he is very close to his players. He made me feel very welcome as soon as I arrived and since then we've had a good chat about how and where he wants to use me. I am excited about his project here."
West Ham have big plans for the future, at the heart of them being their move from the Boleyn to the 54,000-capacity Olympic Stadium next summer Payet will not be fazed. He said: "I am used to moving homes in football and it seems to be a recurring theme in my career. When I joined Lille they had a new stadium, at Marseille it was the same so I know how important it is to clubs when they move home. "It will bring in a new phase for the club and I am very excited to be part of that. First, though, we have to have a successful final season in the old stadium — and then move on." Of more immediate concern to Payet is West Ham's opening game of the season at the Emirates on August 9 and the chance to test himself against a player he admires. "Arsenal are the No1 French club in the Premier League and it's a very tough opening match for us," he said. "The fact we begin with such a big game means we have to get straight into our stride. It will be a good opportunity to see my favourite English player — Jack Wilshere. We are a little bit similar."
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West Ham hold secret talks with Arsenal, Liverpool and Chelsea target
WEST HAM have reportedly held secret talks with Paris Saint-Germain midfielder Adrien Rabiot over a move to Upton Park.
By BEN JEFFERSON
PUBLISHED: 00:00, Wed, Jul 15, 2015 | UPDATED: 10:17, Wed, Jul 15, 2015
Express.co.uk
Rabiot has been agitating for a move away from PSG for some time due to concerns about his playing time at the Parc des Princes. Arsenal, Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham have all been linked with the 20-year-old in the past. But according to Le Parisien the Hammers held talks with the player at Paris' Charles De Gaulle airport in recent days. The east London club have already landed Dimitri Payet from Marseille this summer but want to add compatriot Rabiot to their squad as well, according to the reports. Last month, the player's mother and agent Veronique said: "Adrien loves and is attached to PSG, it is the club of his heart. He wants to have a career here. But it's not possible. "Are PSG trying to tarnish Adrien because we have asked for a transfer? "If Adrien leaves PSG, he is not leaving for the sake of leaving, he is leaving in order to play."
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Report: West Ham representatives meet with PSG midfielder Adrien Rabiot
HITC
Billy Hawkins
West Ham are looking to steal the talented midfielder away from PSG, having also seen him linked with Tottenham. Rabiot has long been linked with a move to the Premier League, and now West Ham have sent representatives to talk with him, according to Le Parisien. It is stated that he wants to leave PSG this summer, although the club want to keep the 20-year-old midfielder due to his homegrown status and impressive potential. First-team chances have been hard to come by for Rabiot since breaking onto the scene with PSG, and as he has struggled to establish himself in the first-team set-up recently, he is looking for a move away. Although the Ligue 1 giants want to keep ahold of him, they will not prevent the youngster from talking with other clubs, and the report states that Rabiot met with West Ham representatives at Charles de Gaulle airport. There are no indications as to whether talks were productive, but the Hammers are certainly taking forward steps in their transfer policy by looking to sign the talented midfielder.
Is Rabiot the player West Ham need?
A central midfielder, Rabiot is best deployed as the box-to-box presence alongside some more creative types, although he can also be utilised as a holding midfielder who shields the back-four. Full of energy and a strong mentality, Rabiot is willing to cover the entire pitch for his team, and is useful in the final third, even if he is better at the defensive side of the game. Signing Rabiot would also be a statement of intent from the Hammers, as he has been linked with Tottenham Hotspur recently. Le Parisien has reported previously that Spurs are looking to bring him to England, and if West Ham can move for Rabiot ahead of their London rivals, it will prove they mean business.
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Exclusive - Europa League could prove costly for West Ham this season, warns Sam Allardyce
By Nick Rostron-Pike (@nickrostronpike) | Wednesday, July 15, 2015
TalkSport
Sam Allardyce believes West Ham may struggle domestically this season if their Europa League campaign is successful. The Hammers face Maltese side Birkirkara in the first leg of their second qualifying round clash on Thursday, and face another four matches before they even reach the competition proper. With six group stage games then possibly to follow, the east London club are likely to play more than 50 matches this season. Slaven Bilic's main task this campaign is to keep the Irons in the Premier League, ahead of their move to the Olympic Stadium. And Allardyce, who left Upton Park at the end of last season, claims the Croatian could struggle if the club continue to progress in Europe's secondary competition. "Europe is going to be a defining factor," the 60-year-old told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show. "If West Ham have a very good run in Europe it could have a detrimental effect on their Premier League results.
"If you play more games in Europe, along with the FA Cup and League Cup, you're going to test the squad. "I'm not sure the squad is strong and deep enough if they have a long run in Europe. Staying clear of injuries is the most important thing in any manager's season. "If not, Slaven Bilic could run into the same problems I did over the last four years."
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Conflicting reports over Alex Song's move to West Ham but could it derail Slaven Bilic's plans?
HITC
Damien Lucas
There are conflicting reports doing the rounds about Alex Song's protracted move from Barcelona to West Ham United which could be a blow to Slaven Bilic. Last month Bilic said signing the former Arsenal midfielder permanently this summer after a loan spell last season would show the world just how ambitious the Hammers are for the future. "Look, we know what Alex Song is and it also shows the size of the club," Bilic told West Ham's official website. But the former Croatia manager's best laid plans could be in jeopardy now after a report in the Mirror claimed the midfielder needs surgery on an ankle injury.
Move in doubt over injury?
According to the report Song could have to go under the knife to remove a piece of bone which has caused an ankle injury. But the club are said to be actively aiming to rescue the deal by looking into another season-long loan deal for the former Cameroon captain.
Conflicting reports
However, a conflicting report in the Metro, claims the 27-year-old has 'agreed terms with West Ham ahead of a permanent transfer'. While it remains to be seen whether the African's future will be in East London, would it make a huge difference to Bilic's plans for the season? Song played 28 games last season and early on there was a running joke on the terraces that the Man of the Match could be named before kick-off given the number of times Song had won the award. Injuries undoubtedly affected his form later in the season and when Sam Allardyce departed in May it seemed Song may have played his last game for the club.
Form mirrored that of his team
His form very much mirrored that of the team last season, which perhaps reflects just how influential a player he is. Before Christmas, Song was the best player on the park most weeks and he led the Hammers to the dizzy heights of fourth by the new year. But he was so ineffectual in 2015 many wondered if they were watching the same player, as West Ham won just three games to slip all the way down to 12th by the season's end. If Bilic can get the best out of a player that should still have a good five or six years left at the top level then he will be a force to be reckoned with in the heart of midfield. But should he join carrying an injury and play like he did in the second half of last season, questions will soon be asked. One thing the Hammers can rest easy knowing is that they now have plenty of strength in depth in midfield. They have signed the likes of Pedro Obiang, Dimitri Payet and youngster Martin Samuelsen from Manchester City who could be the surprise package of the season.
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Alex Song's West Ham transfer in doubt as the former Arsenal midfielder needs surgery
22:30, 14 JULY 2015
BY JOHN CROSS
The Hammers have already agreed terms with Barcelona for the Cameroon international but ankle problem could now lead to ANOTHER year's loan
The Mirror
West Ham are trying to save Alex Song's move to Upton Park. Barcelona midfielder Song could have to go under the knife to remove a piece of bone which has caused an ankle injury. That has put his switch in serious doubt even though West Ham had already agreed terms for the 27-year-old former Arsenal midfielder. He is hoping the lay-off will not be as long as first feared.
But the Hammers are now proposing a second one-year loan but with a view to a fixed permanent deal, which could help it go through - even if Song misses the start of the season. Cameroon international Song, who has been receiving treatment for the injury, spent last season on loan at West Ham and is keen to rejoin the club.
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West Ham plot £8m bid for Javier Hernandez but face competition from Roma and Wolfsburg for Manchester United striker
By SIMON JONES FOR MAILONLINE
PUBLISHED: 01:06, 15 July 2015 | UPDATED: 01:06, 15 July 2015
Manchester United expect West Ham to make an £8million offer for Javier Hernandez. The Mexico international has been on the Upton Park club's wishlist since last summer but they made contact in January and have kept in touch. West Ham know though they have a lot of competition with Roma, Galatasaray, Besiktas and Wolfsburg among the admirers. They have discussed Matteo Destro on loan from Roma and Charlie Austin at QPR and Loic Remy of Chelsea but each are expensive or, in Destro's case, without proven Premier League ability. They have concerns about the fitness of Andy Carroll, who could be out for another three months recovering from his knee ligament injury, so want a player who can start the season reliably. Enner Valencia is due back from injury but co-chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan want to give Slaven Bilic plenty of options.
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