Daily WHUFC News - 14th November 2015

Kemp signs for Hammers
WHUFC.com

West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of 16-year-old winger
Daniel Kemp on a long-term contract. The exciting winger joins the Hammers
having recently left London rivals Chelsea, where he first signed aged just
six. Describing his delighted at signing for the Hammers, Kemp said: "I'm
over the moon to have signed for West Ham. It's a great club and I can
really see a good pathway and a positive culture here. "Today is a very
proud day for myself but also my Dad, Mum and Sister. All I look to do is
make them happy."
With several other clubs interested in Kemp's signature, he explained why he
chose the claret and blue shirt over other suitors. "Speaking to Academy
manager Terry Westley, it sounds like they've been watching me for a couple
of years. It was about trying to find the right time to move, now I'm here
I'm so pleased and really looking forward to my future. "I've been to the
Boleyn Ground a couple of times to watch games, it's a fantastic stadium,
it's not the biggest but it has a great atmosphere."

After signing a one-year scholarship, Kemp will sign a three-year
professional deal in July 2016. Having swapped west London for east, Kemp
continued to describe his admiration for new fans' favourite Manuel Lanzini.
"As an attack-minded player I really like watching Lanzini, I think he's an
excellent player. I also like Mauro Zarate, those small, tricky kind of
players. "I like to take people on and dribble. I like to link up and I just
enjoy making people happy when they're watching me."

The exciting prospect can play as a left-sided winger, as well as in a more
central role as a number 10. Having completed his move, Kemp could go
straight into the U18s' squad which travel to play Leicester City on
Saturday 14 November. Further down the line, Kemp is already looking
forward to a successful career at West Ham, and stated his dream of making
his professional debut at the Hammers' new stadium in Stratford. "I'd love
to make my debut in the new Stadium, it's an unbelievable stadium. Obviously
it'll be brand new, it's already iconic. I actually went to a few of the
events during the Olympics; three years ago I never thought I might be
playing there one day. "As for this season, hopefully I'll make a couple of
appearances for the U21s, for now I just need to concentrate on training
well, day in, day out. From there, I'll see where that takes me."

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New time for Man City at home
WHUFC.com

West Ham United's home Barclays Premier League fixture with Manchester City
on Saturday 23 January will now kick-off at 5.30pm.
Originally scheduled for 3pm, the change in time completes January's fixture
changes.

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O'Brien backing Irish teammate Darren
WHUFC.com

Joey O'Brien will be an interested observer on Friday evening as Darren
Randolph and his Republic of Ireland teammates take on Bosnia-Herzegovina
for a place at Euro 2016. The five-cap Ireland international has missed most
of this season with a niggling calf injury, but will be cheering his
teammates on from afar in their crucial play-off. Randolph was called into
action for Ireland's last two qualifiers after No1 Shay Given suffered an
injury and O'Brien believes, if selected, his Hammers colleague will step up
to the plate. He said: "I'll obviously be supporting as a fan, I think
looking at the draw and the possible teams we could have got, we might have
got a slightly easier team. On the other side, you definitely wanted the
away leg first. To have the second leg at home is a massive boost and an
advantage, that's a big plus. "It's a tough game; they've got some quality
players. I don't think they get enough recognition as they probably deserve,
but when you look at their team, they've got some very good players. I'm
sure we'll see their quality on Friday night. Most of their players don't
play in the Premier League, but in other top leagues in Europe so we know
they are strong and can't afford to underestimate them. "I fancy Ireland,
with the second leg at the Aviva, it'll be a great night and I'm sure the
boys will get there. "Darren is a laid back guy. I think that helps him
quite a lot. You could see it when he came on in the Germany game, it was a
difficult situation to come into but he did fantastically well. Obviously,
I'm not quite sure what the mentality of a substitute goalkeeper is, it must
be hard thinking you won't really be needed. But to come on and to perform
to the level that he did was outstanding. "Earlier in the season he got an
opportunity and had three games where he did very well. He was our best
player against Bournemouth even though we got beat; it could have been a
real cricket score without him."

As for his own fitness, O'Brien is ready to show what he can do when called
upon. He added: "This injury kind of came at a terrible time for me really,
personally. We were in the Europa League qualifiers; I was playing in those
games and doing quite well. I was hoping to start the season, and then I
picked up an injury in the last European game which kind of hung around a
bit. "It wasn't too serious really but it hung around and I couldn't shake
it off. By the time it was all sorted it was four or five weeks into the
season. Obviously the lads have been great so it's been hard to get back
into the team. "Injuries are obviously a big part of football. And now I'm
waiting for my chance, I'm confident my opportunity will come at some point
sooner or later. It's a long season, and you never know what might happen
with injuries or loss of form."

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From the Boardroom - David Gold
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It has been a disappointing week for the Club with the news that Dimitri
Payet will be ruled for out a lengthy period with an ankle injury.

He has been such a big influence on the team and our performances in the
opening 11 games this season.

He will be sadly missed, but the fans can be assured that everything will be
done to bring him back as quickly as possible and we have a fantastic
medical team who will look after him during his recovery.

Thankfully Slaven has put together a strong squad of players and we have
strength in depth throughout the team.

I can remember previous seasons when we have lost a big player, for example
the year when we lost Scott Parker we didn't pick up points for a long
period, but the situation is different now and that is not the case anymore.

We are fortunate that Alex Song is coming back from injury at just the right
time and he came through a behind-closed-doors friendly against Crystal
Palace without any problems.

We are all excited at the prospect of seeing Alex back in action and there
is no doubt the quality he will bring to the team.

He has played in the Champions League and you cannot get higher than that.
His experience will be important for the rest of the dressing room and the
young players who look up to him.

You don't go from Arsenal to Barcelona without being a serious player. He
played a major role in us breaking into the top four in the first half of
last season and if he can re-produce that kind of form we have a fantastic
player to come back into the team.

Hopefully he will get another full week's training under his belt next week
and he will be in contention for the first-team in the near future.

I know that Slaven went back to see the new Stadium last week and he is
getting even more excited about the impending move to our new home.

I have said it before but the changes that are taking place there are
unbelievable. The players will want to play there and it will help us when
it comes to signing even more big name players.

We want to do things better than our competitors and Slaven knows it will be
a big bonus for him.

The players will be back in training on Monday and getting ready for the big
London derby against Tottenham.

We have had some amazing away results this season and the big game for a lot
of our supporters will come at White Hart Lane.

I'm sure Slaven and the players will not need any motivation for this one
and they will be ready for action.

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Bilic - We have no limitations
WHUFC.com


Slaven Bilic believes there are no limitations for the Club when they move
into the new Stadium and feels they can achieve big things over the next few
years. Bilic made his first return to Queen Elizabeth Park since he was
appointed manager back in the summer and cannot believe the changes that
have taken place in such a short space of time. The West Ham United manager
attended a special event alongside Vice-Chairman Karren Brady, club captain
Mark Noble, James Tomkins and the Mayor of London Boris Johnson to mark
ten-years since London was awarded the Olympic Games. Bilic cannot wait to
see over 50,000 Hammers fans inside the new Stadium and believes the Club
can move onto another level when they move into their new home. West Ham
Joint-Chairman David Sullivan and David Gold have already shown their
ambition for the Club bringing in the likes of Dimitri Payet during the
summer and Bilic feels they will attract even more big name players when
they play at the new Stadium.

Bilic said: "It has changed a lot and it has only been four months since the
last time I was here. I mean it's brilliant, it gives you shivers. We are
really looking forward to it and it makes you really excited when you come
here. "It's a great move for the Club, it's a great move for everyone, it
will be brilliant to see 54,000 Hammers under one roof. We are really
looking forward to next season. "It feels real and it's still going to
change. We are going to have West Ham seats and it is going to look even
better. "We want to finish this season well so we give a good farewell to
the Boleyn Ground and come to the new Stadium as high as possible. "The
players are talking about it and they asked me about the new Stadium. I said
it's a big step up for the Club, it shows the ambition of the Chairmen and
the Board and they are trying to make a Club that is already a huge, massive
Club even bigger. This shows their ambition and I think we're going the
right way. "The Premier League is attracting the best players in Europe and
in the world, and then if you add to that the Stadium move and that we are
the Club from London that puts you in a position that you have no
limitations. "But you have to stay on the ground, and we have to plan slowly
and we have to be realistic. There are no borders, to be fair, the sky is
the limit, but step by step."

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Striker link – Irons ask: 'How many do we need?'
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 13, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

West Ham is reported to be leading the race for Roma star Seydou Doumbia,
who will be free to leave the club next summer.

According to reports from TuttoMercatoWeb the Hammers are keeping a watching
brief on the Ivory Coast international who having joined the Italian outfit
in January, is already is already out on loan at CSKA

Despite a lean spell in Rome the 27-year-old has returned to form, notching
three goals in four Champions League appearances this term, as well as five
in domestic league action.

However, a Hammers insider told ClaretandHugh: "We have four strikers now
and questions being asked about how we can keep them all happy – how many
are people expecting us to bring in?
"We have our own scouts looking at players every day – we certainly don't
suddenly think about spending a reported £10 million because a guy is having
a hot streak.

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Hammers double bid on live TV
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 13, 2015 in News
C and H

The Irons will be aiming to complete a famous double over Manchester City in
front of the Sky cameras. Their match at Upton Park on January 23 has been
rearranged for Sky and will now kick off at 5.30 as Slav's boys look to
carve out a special spot in the last Boleyn season. The game was originally
planned to kick off at 3pm but the Hammers growing status and their bid for
the double over the Sky Blues is an attractive proposition to the
broadcasters

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Song: I'll work hard for Spurs and Man U games
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 13, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Alex Song has told the West Ham medical staff the way they do things is the
equal of that he received at Barcelona and Arsenal. And in an updated blog
on the official site he pledges: "We play Tottenham and Man Utd in the next
few weeks and I have to be ready. I'll work very hard in the next few weeks
to be ready for those games." Discussing the medical staff he says: "I have
to say thank you to the medical staff because they have done a great job. I
was at Barcelona and Arsenal and the staff here are one of the best in the
way they work. I am very happy with the way they've done everything with me
and now I'm looking forward to coming back. I don't want to rush, which is
why we've taken the time to come back step-by-step. On Wednesday I played 60
minutes, that's one step. I know it won't be easy because I've been out for
a long time, but I need to come back to the game so I'm looking forward to
it. On Wednesday we saw some players who needed some minutes, and some
players like me who need to come back from injuries. That's what you need to
build your fitness. I was happy with the way I played and the way I moved. I
need some time to come back, but the way it went on Wednesday made me happy.
I've been seeing the guys and they've been doing very well. I just wanted to
come back to give my contribution, especially with some important games
coming up."

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Irons refuse to give City defender assurances
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 13, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Bradford City are desperate to hold on to Reece Burke until the end of the
season as the League One club stage a sustained bid for the Championship.
ClaretandHugh understands the Bantams are ready for talks extending the
central defender's stay until the end of the season if possible but they are
unlikely to receive firm assurances. The Hammers consider it too early to do
so given the speculation surrounding James Collins who may be on the wanted
list of Sunderland and other clubs.wanted list. Reece has been outstanding
at the heart of the Bantams defence and has already won a player of the
month award as the club has risen to ninth place just three points off the
play-off places. They have conceded just 18 goals as along the way with
Burke the lynchpin of a mean defence. The Hammers. however, have noted the
19 year old's brilliant progress and a club source has made it clear to
ClaretandHugh they are not ready to give any commitment to Bradford at this
stage. We were told: "Given the movement we get in January that would be
silly. We have kept a keen eye on Reece and he is doing very well indeed. We
see him as very much part of the squad. "

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Irons rule out return of the prodigal!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 13, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Ravel Morrison fans suggesting the club would do well to bring back the
wayward midfielder in January are set to be disappointed. Morrison's
possible return is regularly mentioned on Twitter and Dimi Payet's injury
has only hastened the urgency of some of them. Among the recent tweets are:

O Here's to you Ravel Morrison, West Ham loves you more than you will know!

O Imagine having @dimpayet17, @maanuulanzini10 and @morrisonravel behind
Sakho. Would be unreal.

O Would take Ravel Morrison back at West Ham any day, especially now as
Payet is injured. If anyone can sort him out its Bilic !

O Breaking: Ex West Ham player Ravel Morrison has been linked with a move
back to the club! Do you want him back?g

Twitter is of course a hotbed of chatter, often ill informed speculation and
downright nonsense interspersed with some gold nuggets. However, the
Morrison stuff really does appear to fit into one of the first three
categories with a club source telling us this morning: "That period is
behind us – we are moving on. "Everybody knows everything there is to know
about the Ravel Morrison position and it's not one that we have an intention
of revisiting."

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Irons wait but player makes his mind up
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on November 13, 2015 in News, Whispers
C and H

Enner Valencia will undergo an operation if needed to as a result of his
injury against Everton. However, such has been the bruising surrounding the
affected area that medics have so far been unable to decide exactly what's
wrong. He will be examined and scanned again over the weekend and see a top
consultant on Monday who is expected to deliver a decision . He may well
have suffered a recurrence of the knee/ankle injury which sidelined him for
12 weeks before he saw action against Watford and The Toffees. A source
close to the player explained to ClaretandHugh that he s getting pain from
between the knee and ankle but at this stage no one can be sure where it's
originating from or its cause given the bruising when he was last scanned.
However, we were told: "It's fair to say that should an operation prove
necessary the player will go ahead with it." We reported last night that
Enner chose not to take that option on the last occasion but is set to take
club advice this time around should surgery be recommended.

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Charlton Athletic sign former West Ham and Bolton striker
By Sevenoaks Chronicle | Posted: November 13, 2015

CHARLTON Athletic have completed the signing of experienced striker Ricardo
Vaz Te on a free transfer.

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Inter Milan join Arsenal and West Ham in eyeing move for £8m Turkey star
Oguzhan Ozyakup
By talkSPORT (@talkSPORT) | Friday, November 13, 2015

Arsenal and West Ham have been joined by Inter Milan in the race for
Besiktas star Oguzhan Ozyakup. The midfielder has been in impressive form
this season and scouts from across Europe have taken notice. The 23-year-old
spent four years at Arsenal as a youngster, before joining Besiktas in 2012
for around £500,000. The Gunners are keen on bringing Ozyakup back to the
Emirates, while West Ham also have an interest as current boss Slaven Bilic
worked with the Turkey international during his time at Besiktas. However,
according to Gazzetta dello Sport, the Premier League pair now face
competition from Inter Milan. Manager Roberto Mancini is determined to
bolster his midfield options in January and believes he could snap up
Ozyakup for £8m.

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West Ham snap up impressive academy star from rivals Chelsea
London 24
11:47 13 November 2015 Brad Pinard

West Ham have signed 16-year-old midfielder Daniel Kemp on a long-term deal.
6 The winger recently left Chelsea and has been quickly snapped up by the
Hammers and will go into their under-18's side and eventually under-21's if
his form impresses. Signing young stars has been an aim of West Ham's in
recent months, brining in academy boys from the likes of Arsenal and
Manchester City. Working alongside the likes of fellow 16-year-old Reece
Oxford, Kemp can't wait to get going. "I'm over the moon to have signed for
West Ham. It's a great club and I can really see a good pathway and a
positive culture here," he told the club's official site. "Today is a very
proud day for myself but also my Dad, Mum and Sister. All I look to do is
make them happy. "Speaking to Academy manager Terry Westley, it sounds like
they've been watching me for a couple of years. It was about trying to find
the right time to move, now I'm here I'm so pleased and really looking
forward to my future. "I've been to the Boleyn Ground a couple of times to
watch games, it's a fantastic stadium, it's not the biggest but it has a
great atmosphere."

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Tottenham's Mousa Dembele expected to be fit for West Ham clash despite calf
problem
TOM COLLOMOSSE
Evening Standard

Mousa Dembele should be fit for Tottenham's derby at West Ham next Sunday
despite missing Belgium's friendly with Italy due to a calf problem. The
midfielder has been ruled out of tonight's match against the Azzurri after
feeling pain in the muscle earlier this week, which forced him to miss
training. However, the damage is not thought to be serious and Dembele could
even return in time for next week's meeting with European champions Spain.
Belgium coach Marc Wilmots said: "We are working on an individual programme
with Mousa to get him ready for the game against Spain. Because he was not
certain to play, I selected an extra midfielder, [Anderlecht's] Steven
Defour."

Since returning to the Tottenham team for last month's 0-0 draw with
Liverpool, Dembele has shown some of his best form since he joined the club
from Fulham for £15million in summer 2012.
Before he recovered from an injury picked up against Everton in August,
Dembele's Spurs future was uncertain, with Napoli interested in signing him
in January. But the 28-year-old has since established himself as a key man
for Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino.

Meanwhile, Andros Townsend is set to rejoin the first-team squad in time for
that game with West Ham. Due to a clash with fitness coach Nathan Gardiner
following the 2-0 win over Aston Villa on November 2, the winger was
excluded by Pochettino from the games against Anderlecht and Arsenal that
preceded the international break.

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SOME THINGS YOU CANNOT GIVE UP
By Iain Dale 13 Nov 2015 at 08:00
WTID
Guest Post by David Stewart

I was always interested in football. Growing up in South London our local
big team was Crystal Palace, but I chose West Ham. This was probably due to
the 1966 World Cup, and I still remember watching the Final in our front
room in Cheam.

Now although my parents were not particularly interested in football, my
Great-Uncle, who lived around the corner was. He was a supporter of our
local team, Sutton Utd, and took me to numerous matches. One match in
particular was the Amateur Cup Final of 1969. 47,000 people at Wembley
Stadium to see Sutton play North Shields. (A 2-1 defeat for Sutton) It would
be not so long when I was to visit Wembley again to see my beloved Hammers
lift the FA Cup.

A couple of years previous to that 1969 Final, I went with my Uncle to see
my first "big match". The date was March 1967, and the match Fulham v Man
Utd. I don't remember much of the match that ended in a 2-2 draw, but here
the seed was sown for the years to come of my football journey. We had gone
to Fulham as it was my Uncles "second team" and although I pestered him to
take me to West Ham he was not interested. In the end it was my Dad who took
me to my first West Ham match in March 1970 at Selhurst Park. The match
ended in a 0-0 draw, but this was it! West Ham!

The following year I was allowed to go to Upton Park alone, and I still
remember standing there, on the Northbank, and immediately making new
friends. I became a regular at home matches, but in 1973, due to work
commitments, my parents moved to Suffolk, and so I attended Upton Park less
often. This was the first move in my life that meant that I had to travel to
get to see a match, although the one plus of living "in the sticks" was that
I got to see away matches at Ipswich and Norwich.

1975 came, and the FA Cup final beckoned. How was I going to get a ticket?
Step in my French teacher at school. Her Dad was on the board at Nottingham
Forest, and after some persuasion, I managed to get a ticket, via her, to
the match, albeit in the Fulham end. There were quite a few of us in that
end , and we all got together in one group to make as much noise as
possible, and at the end of the match I remember running on the pitch and
"going bonkers".

The following years, up to 1986, were spent supporting my team everywhere.
1976 Europe, and the ECWC Final in Brussels. (Having slept outside UP in a
queue to get my ticket for the match), 1980 FA Cup. Home or Away, it didn't
matter. If I had the time and cash I would go to see West Ham. Luckily I had
the cash, as I was running a successful business with my brother.

In 1986 came the biggest change to my life. I moved to Finland. Not just
Finland, but to Lapland, 600 miles North of Helsinki. (Well blonde
Scandinavian women, who can resist them!). Due to work, kids being born, and
starting up a new business, my time following West Ham was a once a year
trip. This lasted until the 2000, when my millennium resolution was to
rekindle my love for the team, and also "educate" my kids about the only
team they will be able to support .

Well here we are in 2015, and what has happened? Well I am with Scandinavian
wife number 2, and have five wonderful kids all thankfully West Ham
supporters ,and I am still living in Roavaniemi, Lapland. I am a ST holder,
with my youngest son (13 year old Liam), in the East Stand upper. I am lucky
that I have a very successful business here in Finland, and can combine
business trips to coincide with matches, and so I get to see 10 – 15 matches
every year. Liam probably sees 5-8 matches a year. Already he has tasted a
Wembley experience, European Football (in Malta), and his bedroom is a
shrine to his team, with signed shirts, and scarves. My other kids use my ST
whenever they are in the UK as well.

This now takes me back to the title of my article and often people ask me
what do I miss about England, and my answer is always the same. I was able
to give up going down the Pub, weekend curries, English TV , and all those
wonderful English things ………. except one thing, West Ham.

Some things you just cannot give up!

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