Daily WHUFC News - 18th August 2012

Development Squad 3-1 Reading
WHUFC.com
The Development Squad got off to a winning start in the Barclays Under-21
Premier League
17.08.2012

The Development Squad made the perfect start in the Barclays Under-21
Premier League by beating Reading 3-1 at Rush Green. Paul McCallum opened
the scoring in the 42nd minute, tapping home the rebound from Rob Hall's
initial effort. The forward then got his second ten minutes into the second
half. Hall twisted and turned before bursting into the box and crossing to
McCallum, who dispatched the ball expertly into the corner. Reading rarely
threatened, but pulled one back in the 72nd minute, but a trialist made sure
of the win for the hosts four minutes from time, clinically finishing over
the stranded Jonathan Henly. Speaking post-match, Development Squad manager
Ian Hendon revealed his delight after a near flawless performance from his
young side. "I'm delighted with the result because it gives us an excellent
platform going into the season," explained Hendon. "We had a mixed
pre-season and played a lot of experienced, physical teams but it has
prepared us well for tonight's game. "Reading are a big team who tried to
knock the ball long up to the front three and I felt we dealt with that, and
we of course did extremely well going forward scoring three good goals."

Hendon often admitted his side had lacked a little focus defensively during
pre-season so he was very pleased at the way his side organised themselves.
"It's something that I have highlighted recently so it's good to see the
lads respond and take it on board. "It was a little disappointing conceding
from a corner, but that may have more to do with a little lapse in
concentration due to being 2-0 up. "It's early days and that is something we
can focus on ironing out on the training ground, but as I say I'm delighted
with the result and to have got off to a winning start."

McCallum was the star turn, scoring two and grabbing an assist, leading
Hendon to praise him and his support trio of Hall, Blair Turgott and Dominic
Vose. "They are very talented, forward-thinking players as you can see, Dom
has done really well for the first goal and Rob has shown his talent with
the second and that is another thing that is pleasing. "We worked hard this
week on getting the ball to the back post for Paul because he is very good
at attacking that, so it's very pleasing as a coach to see something you
have worked on come to fruition."

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Joey's joy
WHUFC.com
Joey O'Brien has expressed his delight at returning to international duty
18.08.2012

Joey O'Brien has revealed his delight after playing for the Republic of
Ireland for the first time in over four years. Speaking ahead of West Ham
United's Barclays Premier League opener with Aston Villa on Saturday -
Tickets will be available on the day at the Boleyn Ground - O'Brien
expressed his pride at pulling on the green shirt once again. The Hammers
star appeared as a 79th-minute substitute in Wednesday's goalless
international friendly draw in Serbia and is now targeting a place in
Giovanni Trapattoni's squad on a regular basis as Ireland begin their quest
to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup in Brazil. "It was brilliant. It's
obviously it was a long time since the last time I had played at an
international level so it was great to meet up with the lads again," he
confirmed. The 26-year-old also admitted he didn't think he would play a
part in Belgrade, and he now hopes he can kick on and earn another call-up.
"I didn't expect to come on, I was delighted to get on the pitch and I think
we played really well and got a good result. "We had certain players who
don't usually start and they came in and did very well, I thought we were
unlucky not to get the win. "Hopefully I can keep playing well at West Ham
United and play a part in the World Cup qualifiers."

Ireland travel to Kazakhstan for their opening World Cup qualifier in
September before welcoming Oman to Fulham's Craven Cottage for a friendly
four days later.
O'Brien has endured a torrid few years after being blighted with a knee
injury, but he revealed that his religious faith played and will continue to
play a big role in his positive outlook on life. "Yeah definitely, over the
past few years I have endured a difficult time and had a big operation on my
knee. Everybody has their highs and lows and luckily for me I had my family,
my faith and great players around me who hoped everything was going to work
out. Luckily it did. "I was brought up around religion, my ma and da used to
take me to mass when I was a kid and when I went to the academy they also
made sure I would go to say my prayers and ask god to look after me and my
family. "It is just something we have in Ireland, it's a central part of my
life, I like to live a good life, keep the Catholic faith near to it."

O'Brien is in the squad for Saturday's Barclays Premier League visit of
Villa - a fixture that could see him come up against recently-retired
Ireland goalkeeper Shay Given. While Given will be missed, the No17 thinks
the Boys in Green have the strength in depth to move on from his departure -
perhaps in the shape of West Ham's own Irish stopper Stephen Henderson.
"Shay has just retired from international football. He has done everything
and played in a lot of games. Without him between the posts we may not have
qualified for the tournaments we have. "It's going to be hard without him,
but the lads we have are more than capable and going forward we have got
players who can score a lot of goals."

Concentrating on Saturday's kick-off, O'Brien believes both teams itching to
get started at the Boleyn Ground. "We're new coming into the league, but
looking at their squad they will pretty much be a new team as well. "It will
hopefully be two good teams having a good go at it on the first day of the
season, hopefully we can do the business, all the lads are raring to go and
we have had a good pre-season. "Everything has been building up to the first
game of the season, and we want to get off to a good start."

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Montano joins Oldham
WHUFC.com
Academy graduate Cristian Montano has joined npower League One side Oldham
Athletic
17.08.2012

West Ham United Academy graduate Cristian Montano has joined npower League
One side Oldham Athletic on a two-year contract for an undisclosed fee. The
Colombia-born 20-year-old joined the Hammers as an Under-12 and was named
Academy Player of the Year for 2008/09. Montano spent time on loan at npower
Football League clubs Notts County, Swindon Town, Dagenham and Redbridge and
Oxford United last season. Everyone at West Ham United would like to wish
Montano well in his future career

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West Ham allow Cristian Montano to join Oldham Athletic
BBC.co.uk

Oldham have signed Cristian Montano from West Ham for an undisclosed fee.
The 20-year-old midfielder has agreed a two-year deal, with the option to
extend it by a further year. Montano, who can also play as a striker, could
feature at MK Dons on Saturday, as long as the necessary paperwork is
completed in time. Last season, he had two loan spells with Notts County, as
well as temporary stints with Swindon Town, Dagenham & Redbridge and Oxford
United. But he never featured at first-team level for the Hammers.

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West Ham v Aston Villa
KO 15:00
17 August 2012
By John Motson
BBC Match of the Day commentator
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
Venue: Upton Park Date: Saturday, 18 August

West Ham will hand a second debut to centre-back James Collins but Jack
Collison is out with a knee problem. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce has revealed
new signings Modibo Maiga and Alou Diarra are not yet fit enough to start.

Aston Villa's Brett Holman has shaken off a knee injury and should start
alongside fellow new recruits Karim El Ahmadi, Ron Vlaar and Matthew Lowton.
Injured trio Richard Dunne, Gabriel Agbonlahor and Marc Albrighton all miss
Paul Lambert's first match in charge.

MATCH PREVIEW

West Ham's return to the Premier League takes place within the shadow of the
Olympic Stadium, fresh from all the excitement, euphoria and global
attention of the London Games over last few weeks. The Olympic Stadium could
well be West Ham's future new home if the Hammers board get their way but
their first priority above anything else this season must be to stay up.

To do this the Hammers are going to have to work on their home form, which
was a patchy last season despite their eventual promotion. The fans also
need to unite behind Sam Allardyce. Some may not like his methods but he is
a man who knows what the Premier League is all about, knows how to fire up a
newly-promoted side and most importantly knows how to keep clubs away from a
relegation battle.
Allardyce has made eight new signings so far, three of them goalkeepers as
he looks to replace loyal servant Rob Green. The experienced Jussi
Jaaskelainen and Stephen Henderson will fight it out to be the club's new
number one and a reliable goalkeeper is a vital for any newly-promoted side.
Resolute centre-back James Collins has returned to Upton Park from Aston
Villa to strengthen the defence, while the arrivals of Alou Diarra and
Mohamed Diame should add foreign industry to the British steel that already
exists in the Hammers midfield. I believe another new player Modibo Maiga
will eventually play as part of a front three alongside Carlton Cole and
Ricardo Vaz Te.
It must surely be a more stable campaign for Aston Villa under Paul
Lambert's management than they experienced during Alex McLeish's
uncomfortable season-long tenure. Hiring the manager of your most fierce
rivals is always risky, but especially in this case after he was relegated
with Birmingham the previous year. The slate is now wiped clean and this is
Lambert's Villa, although it may be small steps of recovery at first.
Lambert is a thoughtful manager, not frightened to switch his squad around.
I saw Villa play a friendly at Nottingham Forest and judging by what I saw
I'm expecting an adventurous 4-4-2 from them this season. Three of the four
new signings over the summer have come in from Holland, continuing a trend
from Lambert of unearthing gems rather than buying superstars.
I think they will need an immediate return from new centre-back Ron Vlaar,
who has already endeared himself to the Villa fans and won comparisons with
club legend Paul McGrath. Of the existing players I believe Charles N'Zogbia
owes Villa a good season, be it on the wing or as a second striker. Stephen
Ireland's role may have to adapt despite winning the club's Player of the
Year title last year, while Shay Given's decision to retire from
international football with the Republic of Ireland will see him dedicate
more time to his club commitments and he may need to with the impressive
Brad Guzan breathing down his neck.
I expect to see both sides battling it out for mid-table honours this
season, with perhaps a draw the most likely result to get both their
campaign up and running.

MATCH FACTS

Head-to-head

Half of the 16 Premier League matches Aston Villa have played at Upton Park
have ended in draws.

West Ham have won only two of their last 11 Premier League home meetings
with Villa; a 2-1 triumph in 2009 and a 4-0 win in 2005.

The home side has won on eight of nine previous between the clubs in August,
including 7-2 and 5-2 West Ham wins in 1958 and 1960 respectively. The only
result to buck this trend was the 2-2 draw at Villa Park in 1999.

West Ham began their 2010-11 Premier League campaign against Aston Villa.
They lost 3-0 at Villa Park and went on to be relegated at the end of the
season.

West Ham

West Ham have lost their last two opening day fixtures since beginning with
a 2-0 win at Wolves three years ago.

Sam Allardyce's West Ham ended last season with seven wins in their last
nine matches and just one defeat in 21 games. This run included all three
play-off matches.

The Hammers ended the 2010-11 Premier League campaign with nine winless
matches. Their last top-flight victory was a 3-0 home triumph against Stoke
in March 2011.

Allardyce is taking charge of his 324th Premier League match - the only
Englishmen with more are Harry Redknapp (593) and Alan Curbishley (328).

Aston Villa

Villa have failed to win in their last five away opening Premier League
fixtures of the season, since a 1-0 victory at Newcastle in 1999.

Aston Villa ended last season with just one victory in their last 16 league
matches.

Villa recorded just seven league wins last term, their fewest in a
top-flight season since the 1890-91 campaign - when only 12 teams competed.

Darren Bent is two away from scoring his 150th league goal. The club won
only twice in 17 league matches without him last season.

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Der Hammer wishes West Ham United well
WHUFC.com
Thomas Hitzlsperger will be a keen viewer when the Hammers take on Aston
Villa
17.08.2012

Thomas Hitzlsperger will be keeping a close eye on events at the Boleyn
Ground this weekend. The ex-West Ham United and Aston Villa midfielder moved
back to his native Germany after leaving the Hammers in the summer of 2011,
but 'Der Hammer' remains a keen fan of his two former clubs. Still only 30,
Hitzlsperger also revealed in an exclusive interview with whufc.com that he
is eager to return to English football after an injury-affected season with
Bundesliga side VfL Wolsfburg.
As for West Ham and Aston Villa, the Munich-born Germany international
believes the abilities of managers Sam Allardyce and Paul Lambert will see
both thrive in the Barclays Premier League this season. "It's always
difficult to predict how a team is going to do, especially after promotion.
I wish the West Ham team all the best that they stay in the Premier League
and don't have to fight for survival all season long. Sam Allardyce is
experienced enough to get the job done. "Paul Lambert has had a good season
with Norwich City [last season] and I am sure he will bring some stability
to Villa. The club has big potential."

Hitzlsperger, who spent four seasons with Aston Villa between 2001 and 2005
before playing 13 times for West Ham during the 2010/11 campaign, believes
both clubs need to adopt a positive approach this season. With Villa
finishing 16th last term and the Hammers being newly-promoted, the
temptation may be to target 'winnable' games, but the former VfB Stuttgart
player believes every Barclays Premier League fixture represents a potential
three points. "Of course, any game is winnable and therefore I would always
try to achieve the maximum. However, international players sometimes need a
rest. It's important to have a balanced squad."

As for Hitzlsperger himself, he revealed that he would love to return to the
Barclays Premier League himself and make up for lost time. The midfielder
injured his thigh while on international duty just days before his scheduled
West Ham debut in August 2010. Last season, knee problems restricted him to
just six Bundesliga appearances for VfL Wolfsburg, but he is now returning
to full fitness and hoping to start a new chapter in his career. Last week,
he spent time training with MLS club San Jose Earthquakes in the United
States, but he told reporters there and whufc.com that he sees his future on
this side of the Atlantic Ocean. "I didn't have a good season, because I was
out for most of the time. Two operations on my knee allowed me only six
appearances. "I just hope that I can play regular football again. After two
years with little football, I just want to get back to playing, preferrably
in England."

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West Ham United v Aston Villa
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 17th August 2012
By: Preview Percy

It's a new season and that can mean only one thing. Ten more months of
visits to the Marco Boogers wing of the Avram Grant Rest Home For The
Bewildered to pick up the usual mad ramblings of Preview Percy, a prospect
we find about as appealing as the idea of being forced to sit and watch the
Olympic Closing Ceremony again.

Here's his opening salvo of the season, a look at Saturday's visit of Aston
Villa. At least he's cheap. By way of compensation there's statistical input
from John Northcutt to jog the memory cells…

So here we are once more, back upstairs in the penthouse apartment with the
big screen telly and the stunning river views having moved up from the
bedsit with the two-bar electric fire and rising damp. A home opener against
Aston Villa starts the Premier League ball rolling in a 3pm kick off on a
Saturday. Which is precisely as it should be of course.

All engineering activity on the tubes having ceased for the last few weeks
whilst the school sports were going on, the good people at TfL have
forgotten their usual habit of making it difficult for us to get to matches
and you should get a clear run on the modern electric underground railway
thing. You can ignore the special games lanes for the time being as well.

It's all change for our opponents at the start of this season. Last term the
faithful appeared less than happy at the appointment of Alex McLeish whose
previous employers just happened to be Birmingham City. This particular sin
might have been forgiven had McLeish actually been any good.

Unfortunately, it was a pretty undistinguished season for the Villains who
finished in 16th spot with 38 points – a slightly worrying two points clear
of Bolton who occupied the final relegation place. They failed to make any
meaningful impression in the cups either, Arsenal seeing them off in the 4th
round of the FA Cup whilst the aforementioned Bolton knocked them out of the
League Cup at the third round stage.

All of which was served up with a heavy dose of perspective as it was
announced that midfielder Stiliyan Petrov was suffering from leukaemia.
Happily his treatment has gone well enough for the club to be able to
announce recently that the player's condition is in remission and, whilst
there is a long way to go yet, the outlook is good.

Back on less serious matters, a relegation battle was never going to be good
enough for the club's owner, Randy Lerner (apparently his real name) and
barely 24 hours had elapsed after the final day 2-0 defeat to Norwich when
McLeish picked up his P45.

It was back to Carrow Road that Lerner went and, following a cuppa and
presumably some wonderfully light home-made cake with Delia the
highly–regarded Paul Lambert came in. Lambert had tried to resign at the end
of the season but the resignation had been rejected, presumably in order to
ensure compensation for any forthcoming departure.

Lambert is regarded as something of a thinker amongst coaches (much in the
same way that Harry Redknapp isn't) and it was back to Germany, where he won
the so-called Champions League with Borussia Dortmund, that Lambert
travelled to study for the coaching badges that are required to take office
these days. Look out for Villa in the Cups then in any go to penalty
shootouts.

Lambert's relatively early close-season appointment has afforded him the
time to go shopping and to rebuild the squad in his own image. Amongst those
through the exit door was the released Emile Heskey. Blackpool reportedly
offered Heskey £90 per week plus bonuses (that'll be £90 per week then) to
join. Heskey rejected the deal on the grounds that he felt insulted by the
offer and wanted a contract that reflected his worth (that'll be £85 per
week then).

They also sold James Collins back to us, the reported £2.5m fee meaning that
we're still in profit on 'The Ginger Pele'. Collins blotted his Villa Park
copybook towards the end of last season, picking up a club fine for being
involved in a nightclub incident a few days before a match with Spurs.
Still, hangover and all they still managed to mess up Spurs' so-called
Champions League prospects by drawing 1-1, so it wasn't all bad news.

Collins' replacement in the back four is Dutch International Ron Vlaar.
Vlaar came in on a deal worth around £3.3m having originally failed to agree
terms earlier in the window. Vlaar missed a couple of seasons a few years
ago with a cruciate ligament problem, followed by a bacterial infection
(sounds like one of those things go to those 'special' clinics for. Er, so
I'm told).

When he'd got over that, he did the same cruciate ligament again in a
training ground accident so it's fair to say that the player won't look back
on 2007/08 or 2008/09 with an awful lot of fondness. Having missed out on
the 2010 World Cup Vlaar made a couple of starts in Euro 2012 – which seems
so long ago now, doesn't it.

Vlaar was Lambert's second signing of the summer from Feyenoord, with him
having earlier popped over to Rotterdam to sign Dutch-Moroccan midfielder
Karim El Ahmadi. Feyenoord have spent most of the past couple of seasons
trying to offload the player in an attempt to raise funds for player
purchases and he spent the back end of 2010/11 in the United Arab Emirates
on loan, an experience that he likened to playing in and against the weakest
teams in the Dutch league.

Things might have got interesting had Feyenoord been able to agree a fee
with Al Ahli FC but 'twas not to be which is why El Ahmadi now finds himself
in the slightly less warmer climes of Birmingham. Although the player
represented the Dutch national side at junior age levels, when the Moroccans
came knocking at the door with competitive football on offer he went to his
family roots and now has full caps for the North African country.

They also brought in right back Matt Lowton, the £3.3m fee presumably going
some way to keeping parasite whingers Sheffield United afloat following
their inexplicable failure to be in the Premier League when it was
completely our fault that they went down.

At the end of last season Villa let 'keeper Brad Guzan go, his contract
having expired. Exit McLeish and enter Lambert and lo and behold, Guzan
re-signs. He's still likely to play second fiddle in the onion-bag guardian
pecking order to Shay Given, who has just announced his retirement from
international football.

Given must be having an attack of the 'what might have beens' as he looks up
at Man City's Premier League title, his career there never really having
taken off after his move from Newcastle. There's never a right time to pick
up an injury I suppose, but if there's a wrong time, just as your club is
beginning to hit the jackpot would probably be it.

Up front there's Darren Bent. Bent is a younger and less 'robust' version of
Emile Heskey and has never, ever impressed anyone. How he's managed to get
caps for England when Bert, who has the room next to mine here at the Avram
Grant Rest Home for the Bewildered doesn't get selected I'll never know.
(Actually we think it's something to do with Bert not being able to get the
oxygen tank he needs these days through the airport metal detectors).

What makes the thing so damned annoying is the fact Bent, who has played for
Ipswich, Spurs, Sunderland and Villa in his time has scored against us for
all of those clubs (except Sunderland – but it would only have been a matter
of time). I mean I know Michael Owen always scores against us but you can
sort of take it from him.

File him in the section marked 'annoying'. Bent picked up a brace in a
recent friendly against Werder Bremen so he'll be full of beans. Maybe it's
something about clubs beginning with the letter 'W'.

And so to us. Well as one might expect following a promotion there's been a
few changes in personnel. It's farewell to Rob Green who was always going to
leave once his contract was up, having got the hump previously over how
small his salary was in comparison to some other players whose contribution
to the cause was nowhere near his own. It's to his credit that he never let
his annoyance with the owners affect his game and he's one ex-Hammer who
I'll willingly applaud on his return.

The other notable departure was that of Julien Faubert who's off to
somewhere not particularly well-known in Turkey (ie not Fenerbahce or
Galatasaray). Faubert carried on with the time-honoured tradition of picking
up an awful pre-season injury when he signed for us and was probably nowhere
near the player we signed following his return. His time with us included a
surreal spell on loan at Real Madrid where the most notable thing he did was
fall asleep on the subs bench!

To replace Green in comes Jussi Jaaskelainen (Message to editors: if you
want me to type that out every flipping week I want a pay rise) and Stephen
Henderson, whose loan spell from Pompey has been made permanent. Hopefully
JJ (told you) will repeat the form for us that he always seemed to display
when playing against us.

In front of him we welcome back to the fold the aforementioned James
Collins. If we keep selling him then buying him back for half the price we
sold him for we'll be rolling in it.

So far this window we have operated on the "you can never have enough
midfielders" principle. Diame, one of two guys called Mo that we've signed,
has come in from Wigan to whom we didn't have to pay a fee. Which hopefully
will have annoyed child slave labourer Dave Whelan. Diame tends to play a
defensive midfield role, as does Alou Diarra to whom we also say, er, 'allo.

Diarra has come in from Marseilles, has captained France and his previous
spell in English football is noteworthy for his having arrived at Liverpool
and returned to France on loan before the ink on the transfer documents had
dried. I suppose that's something that we can all relate to – everytime I
pitch up on Merseyside I take one look at the state of the place and
immediately wish I was somewhere else. Possibly even France.

The second guy called Mo to arrive is Modibo Maiga from Mali. He's supposed
to have failed a medical with Newcastle before Christmas but is now
seemingly fit and ready for the rigours of Premier League life at the
Boleyn.

The new signings and the fact that we seem capable of fielding ten
midfielders (it'd have been eleven had Lansbury not gone back to Arsenal)
makes it difficult to establish what the line-up is likely to look like. We
do have injuries though. Jack Collison's knee has seen him spend pre-season
in the Kieron Dyer Memorial Treatment Facility.

Against Braga – which I suppose is as good a clue as any - we started off
with Reid and Ginge pairing up at the back, pushing Tomkins into that
auxiliary midfield role we kept trying him in only for someone to be sent
off requiring him to play in a more orthodox midfield position. Ginge missed
the midweek international with a pelvic/groin injury. The word is that
Ginge's injury may eventually require an op but that he is likely to be
available for selection this weekend.

In Portugal, Demel and O'Brien made up the full backs; hopefully Demel will
improve on his last competitive match for us where he had a 'mare against
Blackpool before getting injured. After the play-off Final I heard one of
our supporters go on the wireless the morning after suggesting full backs
ought to be a priority. I agree with that man.

In midfield, despite the apparent embarrassment of numbers one notable
absentee will be Jack Collison. Collison has apparently been unable to train
properly since the win over Blackpool all those aeons ago and rest is the
order of the day.

Up front in Braga we had Carlton Cole and Mo Maiga being augmented by Vaz Te
and, if I had to guess that would be my prediction of how we'll start out
this weekend, though given the manager's habit of preparing for each
opponent differently it wouldn't be too much of a surprise to see something
else.

Villa will be missing three important players themselves - in addition to
club captain Petrov (for obvious reasons). Richard Dunne has picked up
'Gilmore's Groin' which is a genuine injury that Mark Noble once suffered
from, and not, as some of you may be thinking, a piece of scurrilous gossip.

Marc (note to his family – don't be flash it's spelt 'Mark') Albrighton will
miss this one with a broken metatarsal. If ever you needed proof of our
being back in the Premier League it's the fact that the boring old broken
toes that people suffered from in the Championship have suddenly
metamorphosed back to the infinitely more trendy 'metatarsals' that we've
become used to in recent years.

Up front, Gabriel Agbonlahor will also miss out with a cruciate knee
ligament problem. Knees aren't what they used to be – when I was a lad
ligaments stood the test of time and it was cartilage operations that were
all the rage. Nowadays you rarely hear of cartilage ops. Unless that was in
the episode of Holby City that we missed in the TV room here at the Rest
Home I threatened to put my foot through the screen unless something else,
anything else, was shown.

The absence of Dunne will mean an unfamiliar back four for them, with the
main man having no English league experience. Also, without Agbonlahor they
seem to lack a bit of depth in attack so, for my first prediction of the
season I'll take us to turn the first game feel good factor into three
points.

The rest home's Olympic Celebration budget (£2.50) has therefore been
liberated from the secret place where Matron keeps it and placed firmly on a
home win to occur by a 3-1 margin. We might even be top of the league if
that happens.

For a bit.

Enjoy the game!


Referee: Mike Dean. Loves to be the centre of attention and if the players
aren't giving him anything to do he is not above making controversial
decisions for the sake of it. Actually had a half-decent match when last we
saw him in the 3-0 play-off semi-final defeat of Cardiff, which suggests
that he saves his self-promotion for the bigger TV audiences.

Some other referees rate him – which is not something to boast about.
Consider this: the last time we were in the top flight we had this ref twice
for every time he was entrusted with a match involving Man Utd. In fact we
only had him for one less match (2) than the Salford whingers (3) last
season – when we were in the Championship. Now call me suspicious but…..

When Last We Met: April 2011 (lost 1-2). A horrible, horrible match. Robbie
Keane (remember him?) gave us an early lead but we sat back and invited them
on to us. Darren Bent (qv) stuck away his customary goal whilst Gabriel
Agbonlahor added a stoppage time winner. Worse still, a shocking tackle from
Nigel Reo-Coker nearly ended Gary O'Neil's career. A lousy day all round
that was just another nail in the relegation coffin.

Danger Men: Mike Dean (obviously) and Darren Bent . Neither of this week's
danger men is particularly good at his job. Despite this both have an
irritating habit of putting in a match-winning performance against us.

Daft facts of the week: Villa didn't score a single goal from a corner last
season, apparently.

Additionally, apart from being home to Villa, Aston is also the surname
adopted by actress Anne Lloyd part of the way through her run as hostess of
seminal 1960's Birmingham-based TV game show 'The Golden Shot' when she
discovered that there was already an actress registered with that name.

For those of you too young to remember, Aston was a sort of anti-Carol
Vorderman: "Our next contestant is, er, I've forgotten your name. Oh yes,
Ronald from Birchfield. I mean Gloucester". "Ronald scored five points on
the static target and 20 points on the moving target making a total of (long
pause) er, 24 points. No 25. I think".

And Bernie The Bolt's real name was Derek - and he was no relation to Usain.


Stat man John: Northcutt's corner

Head to Head
Pld 103; West Ham Utd 37, Aston Villa 36, Draws 30.

Biggest Win
30th August 1958: West Ham Utd 7-2 Aston Villa (Boleyn Ground, Division One)

Heaviest Defeat
6th September 1930: Aston Villa 6-1 West Ham Utd (Villa Park, Division One)

First Meeting
1t February 1913: Aston Villa 5-0 West Ham Utd (Villa Park, FA Cup)

Last Five Meetings
16th April 2011: West Ham Utd 1-2 Aston Villa (Boleyn Ground, Premier
League)
14h August 2010: Aston Villa 3-0 West Ham Utd (Villa Park, Premier League)
17th January 2010: Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham Utd (Villa Park, Premier League)
4th November 2009: West Ham Utd 2-1 Aston Villa (Boleyn Ground, Premier
League)
18th April 2009: Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham Utd (Boleyn Ground, Premier
League)

Memorable Match
8th March 1980: West Ham Utd 1-0 Aston Villa (Boleyn Ground, FA Cup)

Second division West Ham were huge underdogs in this FA Cup quarter Final
against a first division Aston Villa side who were to be crowned European
Champions within two years. With the game entering the final minute of
normal time Ken McNaught's hand struck Trevor Brooking's corner. Referee
David Richardson had no doubt and pointed immediately to the penalty spot -
to the delight of more than 36,000 fans crammed into the Boleyn Ground.

With several of his team mates unable to watch, 20-year-old full-back Ray
'Tonka' Stewart - at Second Division West Ham for less than a year following
his £400,000 move from Dundee United - stepped up to smash the ball into
Jimmy Rimmer's bottom right corner to send the happy Hammers through to a
semi-final clash with another First Division team, Everton.

Video: http://youtu.be/bmDijc0Oc5U

Seeing Red
4th December 1982: Ray Stewart for body-checking Mark Walters

They Played For Both
Bill Askew; John Carew; Carlton Cole; James Collins; Alan Curbishley; Mervyn
Day; Marlon Harewood; Ray Houghton; Thomas Hitzlsperger; David James; Frank
McAvennie; Fred Norris; Nigel Reo-Coker; Tony Scott; Les Sealey; Phil
Woosnam.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Latics sign up Hammers winger
Last Updated: August 17, 2012 5:25pm
SSN

Oldham Athletic boss Paul Dickov has signed winger or striker Cristian
Montano from West Ham on a two-year deal. The 20-year-old, who had been at
West Ham since the age of 10 and signed his first professional contract in
2010, has the option of a third year at Boundary Park. He will be available
for the Latics' opening fixture against MK Dons as his paperwork was
registered in time. Montano, who can play as a striker or on the wing, spent
loan spells at Notts County, Swindon, Dagenham and Oxford last season,
scoring 10 goals in 39 appearences. Dickov believes his new signing can
provide his Oldham team with a variety of attacking options this season. The
Colombian joined the Latics after training at Boundary Park during
pre-season. Montano received interest from clubs in Italy and France but
opted for Greater Manchester instead - a decision Dickov puts down to the
20-year-old's desire to play first-team football. "It wasn't so much
Cristian being on trial, but him coming in and getting a feel for the club
and for us to do likewise," Dickov told the club's official website.
"Cristian is another piece of the jigsaw and a left-sided player who is
quick and talented. "He is left footed, but can play on either wing and he
loves to take on opponents and to get in crosses and shots. He can also play
up front so he gives us lots of options. "I gather he could have stayed at
West Ham, but he was keen to move because of his wish to play football
rather than being a squad player."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce caution over Villa
Hammers boss not expecting a comfortable return to the top flight
Last Updated: August 17, 2012 5:22pm
SSN

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is hopeful of getting off to a winning start
but admits he is apprehensive ahead of the visit of Aston Villa. The Hammers
return to the Premier League on Saturday after a one-season absence thanks
to Allardyce leading the club back to the top flight at the first attempt.
The experienced boss is confident of three points against Villa at Upton
Park but acknowledges it is difficult to judge how prepared his team will be
for the Premier League challenge. And he rejects the notion that the fixture
list has been kind on West Ham. "Everybody thought that Cardiff City at home
was a comfortable start last season and we got beat 1-0 in the last minute,"
he said. "I don't think there is any kind of comfortable start in the
Premier League. "I think there is a possibility that we can get off to a
good start if we give a good performance.

Chance

"What we are looking for is a good performance by our players and that might
give us a chance to win the first game here at Upton Park at the start of a
new Premier League season. "I think we all need to be a little apprehensive,
certainly myself because it doesn't matter how good or bad I think we are, I
won't really know until we play Barclays Premier League games." The match at
the Boleyn Ground will be Paul Lambert's first in charge of Villa since
leaving Norwich in the summer and Allardyce is expecting a tough game. "I am
expecting a pretty determined and well organised side," added Allardyce.
"Paul's record in terms of moving into a new club and producing results
almost immediately stands there in front of everybody. "I think that he will
get them playing a system that suits the players and playing the best they
possibly can play. "For us it's about making sure we are on top of our game
because we're obviously playing a well-established Premier League side.

Experience

"While we have got some players with Premier League experience, it's been a
year since we have been there. "We are looking forward to getting back there
and hopefully we can deliver in terms of expectations and, of course, try
and win as many games as we can, starting with the first one. "The first
game is as important as the last game, and if you can win the first game it
gets everybody off to a nice, pleasant start. "You try and get three points
in the bag and try and move forward. "It builds the confidence of all the
players at a club and it gets rid of any anxiety anybody may have, or at
least reduce what they have of 'can they really reproduce in the Premier
League and produce performances', as last time we were there we were
relegated."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham v Aston Villa preview
New dawn for both returning Hammers and Lambert's Villa
Last Updated: August 17, 2012 12:55pm
SSN

Newly-promoted West Ham are looking to make a winning Premier League return
when they host Aston Villa at Upton Park on Saturday. But there is also a
new dawn for the Birmingham club with recently-appointed manager Paul
Lambert taking charge of a competitive game for the first time. The Hammers
bounced back to the top-flight at the first time of asking, despite many
supporters having an uneasy relationship with manager Sam Allardyce amid
criticism of his team's style of play. Ultimately, Allardyce achieved the
club's sole aim of promotion with a 2-1 win over Blackpool in May's
Championship play-off final to silence his critics - for the time being.
However, a poor start to their Premier League campaign is likely to see fans
jump on his back again. Expectations of a raft of big-name signings have not
materialised, but Allardyce has added two seasoned top-flight campaigners in
goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen and centre-half James Collins, who joined from
Saturday's opponents Villa, to bring experience to his defensive line. And
Mali striker Modibo Maiga could prove to be an inspired signing for the
Hammers, who missed out on an ambitious move for England striker Andy
Carroll.

Meanwhile, Lambert's arrival has given Villa fans a renewed sense of
optimism after a traumatic campaign which nearly ended in relegation last
season. Former boss Alex McLeish was never a popular figure following his
switch from bitter rivals Birmingham and it was unsurprising when he was
sacked after a dreadful season where Villa finished 16th. Lambert was
immediately targeted by chairman Randy Lerner as the man to rebuild the
former European Cup winners after leading Norwich to a 12th-placed Premier
League finish following back-to-back promotions. He has brought in four new
faces, Australia midfielder Brett Holman, Netherlands central defender Ron
Vlaar, right-back Matthew Lowton and midfielder Karim El Ahmadi, who will be
eager to prove themselves in their debut Premier League seasons. Added to
the experience already in the squad, their arrivals should bring a new
hunger to Villa Park as Lambert aims for a top-half finish.

Midfielder Jack Collison is missing but defender Collins will be fit to face
his former club. Collison, 23, played a key part in the Hammers' promotion
but aggravated an existing knee injury in the process, which has seen him
miss pre-season. Fellow Wales international Collins is fit again after a
groin injury, while Allardyce has revealed his overseas signings, Maiga and
Alou Diarra, will not start.

Villa's Holman has shaken off a knee problem sustained in Australia's
midweek friendly defeat by Scotland and the midfielder is included in
Lambert's squad. Other newcomers Vlaar, Lowton and El Ahmadi are also in
contention to make their Premier League debuts at Upton Park. However,
striker Gabriel Agbonlahor (knee), defender Richard Dunne (groin) and winger
Marc Albrighton (foot) are still sidelined.

Opta Facts

Only relegated Wolves (23) dropped more points from winning positions than
Aston Villa (22) in 2011/12
West Ham have won just one of their last 10 Premier League meetings with
Aston Villa
Aston Villa's points total in the 2011-12 season was their lowest since
1986/87 (36) when they were relegated

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce out to match Arsenal
Hammers boss dreaming of walking out at Olympic Stadium
Last Updated: August 17, 2012 9:42am
SSN

Sam Allardyce believes becoming the new tenants at the Olympic Stadium would
allow West Ham to move onto a level playing field with the likes of Arsenal.
The Hammers are hoping a lengthy application process will see them given the
green light to move into the Stratford arena once the London Games come to a
close. The events which have unfolded in the stadium over the last few
weeks, and are set to continue over the course of the Paralympic Games, have
inspired a generation. West Ham hope they can buy into that feel-good factor
and inherit a world-class sporting venue. An 80,000-seater stadium would
allow them to bring in extra matchday revenue, offering a considerable boost
to their bank balance and spending power.

Atmosphere

In time, the Hammers feel they would then be able to stand alongside their
more illustrious capital rivals. "When you feel the atmosphere created in
that arena, then you dream about walking out there the way you dreamed about
walking out at Wembley when you were a kid," said Allardyce. "Everyone looks
forward to playing Arsenal at the Emirates. We could be the same size in
that stadium. "It would be awesome to walk a team out on that pitch."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carlton Cole Interview (Part 3): 'I Want to Stay at West Ham - I Don't Like
Change'
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die

ID: Who's been your best strike partner over the years at West Ham?
CC: Well there are many to choose from!

ID: But you're still there!
CC: I know, I don't know how I'm still here! [laughs]. It's hard for me to
say because I have enjoyed playing with a load of strikers. Demba Ba took a
lot of pressure off me. He scored a load of goals. We had Craig Bellamy, Di
Michele, Franco. Franco was really good as well. We have had quite our fair
share of good players who have moved on now. If I have to pick one, I would
say Di Michele.

ID: Really???
CC: Yup, he was such a clever player. He played with the striker. He wasn't
greedy. He wanted me to do well. He always talked to me and tried to help me
through. He was a good player to play with.

ID: Do you set yourself targets? I seem to remember last season it was 15
goals, which you achieved. What's your target this season. It's got to be 25
surely?!
CC: [giggles]. I've got to sit down with the manager again. We're going to
go through it. The way we did it last year was to talk just before the games
started. He sat us all down individually and we agreed targets, he told us
what he wanted from us. I think that will be happening on Thursday or
Friday. I didn't actually start the season last year, I was on the bench.
Freddie Piquionne started against Cardiff so our focus kind of changed
during the season.

ID: Do you do a lot of stat work. Sam Allardyce is known to be obsessed by
it. Your goals to games ratio is actually a lot lower than people think. Do
you look at stats like that and use them to inspire you to do better?
CC: I've not actually looked it, I should do. I go with games I start. If
you do that I think it's OK. I need to have a look. When I was younger, at
Chelsea, I was always looking at my stats, but with starting games. When you
come on as a sub it's really hard to get into the game, especially for my
type of player. I have never seen myself as a game changer, but maybe
sometimes I am.

ID: Have you ever consciously changed the way you play? Zola or Clarke once
said that you were so nice off the pitch but you needed to be more
aggressive on it.
CC: I have had that criticism from a few managers. I go through stages, I
think. It's more of a mental thing than just my character. When I am on it,
you can see I'm on it. I'm aggressive. In training today I was aggressive.
James Collins was complaining, so I was obviously doing something right, and
he's an aggressive player! I'm in the right frame of mind now to get
aggressive and when I am like that I know I am hard to control for a
defender.

ID: I think sometimes people look at a player and they see a body style
which is quite languid and laconic, but that doesn't mean to say they are
not giving their all.
CC: I always give my all. You can't hide nowadays. As the manager says, he's
got all the stats there. He knows what you're supposed to be doing so you
can't hide anymore. Maybe back in the day before all the stattos came out
with all these little machines you could get away with not working hard, but
now you can't get away with it at all.

ID: Earlier in your career you were a bit of a nomad. Chelsea sent you out
on loan a lot. When you first came not many people though you would stay 6
years. Would you like to see your career out at West Ham?
CC: Of course, yes. I am not really a guy that likes change. I just don't
like it. I like things as I know them. As long as I'm doing what I am
supposed to be doing, and not getting in the way, and I feel welcome, I will
continue to give my all for the cause. Not many people like change in their
jobs and it's the same for a footballer. You like to know what's expected of
you so it's the same pressure all the time.

ID: Which of the young players at the club do you think will push forward
this season?
CC: I am looking forward to see Robert Hall do well.

ID: I remember Scott Duxbury was waxing lyrical about him when I interviewed
him several years ago. I think he was 14 at the time – not Scott, Robert!
CC: Robert is a good, handy player. Really nippy. Daniel Potts is another
one. He's been travelling with us. He made a pretty good debut and hopefully
he can progress now and get the experience he needs. We've got the people
too help him here – players, staff, coaching staff. Young Blair Turgott is
another one who's doing really well. They all train with us and that's so
important. It makes them feel part of it and gives them experience. They
came with us on the pre-season tour too. I'm quite happy with all of them at
the moment.

ID: What are you hoping for this season? I suppose avoiding relegation has
to be the aim.
CC: I'm expecting more than that to be honest with you. We had a lot of
Premiership players playing the Championship last year. We have some great
players here. Hopefully we can build on what we did last year and do even
better. We have Premiership quality here. I'm aiming for mid table – eighth
to tenth. That might be a pipedream but if you aim any lower you're going to
be fighting relegation and we don't want to do that. I'd rather aim high and
come up a little short.

ID: How much is Robert Green's departure going to affect the side? We have
two new goalkeepers. What do they bring to the side?
CC: With Jussi I have seen vast experience. He knows what he is doing.
Obviously he's the oldest player in our squad. He talks to you, gives you
advice. Especially someone likes me. You've then got the young maverick in
'Hendo'. He's got quality as well.

ID: Why is he a maverick?
CC: I don't know. I just call him that.

ID: You mean he comes to play alongside you up front sometimes?
CC: [laughs]. He's wild. If you know his personality you'll understand.

ID: Right, he's the next player I want to interview then!
CC: He's young and he's raring to go. He can't wait to get into the team. So
we've got youth and vast experience. We'll see where that takes us, but from
what I have seen so far, I can't see any problems. Rob Green was massive for
us in goal and you could always rely on him, but time moves on and we have
got to adapt.

ID: Who's the best defender you've ever played against, apart from James
Collins, obviously!
CC: In my younger days I played a friendly against Nesta. Stam was a
monster. Nowadays in the Premiership I'd say Vidic and Rio Ferdinand are the
best pairing. They are really hard to get by.

The final part of the interview will be posted later today.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carlton Cole Interview (Part 4): 'Ashley Cole is Actually a Nice Guy!'
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die

ID: Who inspired you to become a professional footballer?
CC: My uncle, Duncan King, used to play football who used to play for
Chelsea when he was younger, but he got led astray a little. He floated
about a bit and went to QPR and Tottenham. He wasn't focussed on what he had
to do. But you've got to remember, he was a young kid coming from Africa so
he had other things on his mind. It was hard for him. When I was younger he
would take me to training, he would talk to me and make sure I stayed
positive and analyse my games with me and tell me what I needed to do better
or what I was good at. There was another guy called Richard Butler. I used
to play for a team around the Hounslow and Ealing area. He used to take me
to practice all the time as well and he got me involved me with Chelsea. A
real inspiration. I have had a lot of influential and good people around me
who helped me make it, and I am very privileged to be here.

ID: When you joined West Ham how aware were you of their history of brining
on black players going right back to the 1960s with John Charles and then
later Clyde Best, Ade Coker?
CC: I wasn't aware of it until I got here. I had known West Ham for being
the Academy of Football and bringing England players through and having that
kind of quality and the youth setup, but I didn't know about Clyde Best and
all the others. But they helped paved the way for us, and as a black boy I
am really grateful.

ID: You're quite famous on Twitter – not always for the right reasons! Well,
one time a wrong reason [alluding to whe he was fined £20k for a joke remark
made about immigration]…
CC: [laughs] Yes, for a stupid joke.

ID: Is social media a good way to keep in touch with fans?
CC: It's the best way, I think. Since I have been on Twitter I have been
fined £20k and I don't want to do that again so I have to manage what I say
properly, so I have Laura here to help me [points to Laura Burkin, a West
Ham press officer]

ID: She's your brake mechanism.
CC: She tells me to take it down quickly!

ID: Too late. These things are there somewhere for ever!
CC: Yeah, cos someone will retweet it straightaway. Yeah, it's a great way
to stay in touch with the fans – not necessarily to talk about football but
to keep in touch about general stuff. I think there's been a culture of
footballers not being in touch with the fans and people complaining about
that, saying 'oh they've got too much money', 'they don't talk to the fans',
'they won't sign programmes'…

CARLTON IS INTERRUPTED BY DAVID GOLD WHO WALKS OVER…

DG: Carlton good to see you in fine form today, good to see you again Iain…
CC: Good to see you chairman!
DG: Don't be late on Saturday!

CC: I think Twitter is one of the best ways of communicating with the fans,
so they can see what kind of personality you have got. I had to convince
Ashley Cole to join Twitter. He's actually a nice guy but people don't
realise that They just see him as 'the cheat'. I think Craig Bellamy needs
to go on Twitter so people can see where's he coming from. He's such a nice
guy as well. He does a lot of stuff for where my Mum is from – Sierra Leone.
He does a lot of charity work there. People don't see that side to him. But
he's just not interested. He says 'why should I have to explain myself, that
I'm a nice guy?' At the end of the day people will never know unless you
show them how it is – not to toot your own horn or anything. At the end of
the day you've got a personality, but people don't realise you do. They just
think you're a robot.

ID: Have you changed your seat on the team coach now? [Carlton had tweeted
earlier in the week that he wants to change his seat on the team coach as he
sits by the toilet and it reeks!]
CC: [laughs] I haven't yet! As I said, I don't like change! But that toilet
is getting out of hand! It's not smelling too good. I have already had a
word with Pete, the driver, and he's already looking into the air
conditioning.

ID: David Gold just walked over. How much do you have to do with him, David
Sullivan and Karren Brady? Do they have much to do with the players?
CC: On Friday's David Gold is always at the training ground and mingles in.
He wants to see what is going on, where the injuries are at. He mingles in
so all the players are familiar with him. David Sullivan not so much. He
used to come down, but he is not as hands on at the training ground. I think
Karren Brady has only been to the training ground just once. She's not
interested in that part, she's interested in us keeping safe, the finance,
the business part. But I have a good relationship with all of them.

ID: Right, some quickfire questions now… [Laura, the press officer looks
rather nervous at this point!]. What do you eat before a match?
CC: Pasta, Broccoli, that's my favourite. I love Broccoli, and I'll have
some chicken with that.

ID: Where do you like to go on holiday?
CC: My new favourite destination is Marrakesh. I took my family there. The
people, the country, everything's lovely there.

ID: If you weren't a footballer, what do you think you'd be doing?
CC: I'd probably be a DJ or something in the music industry. I love DJing in
my spare time, I love music.

ID: What kind of music do you like? Stuff I'd never have heard of, no doubt.

CC: Yeah, you'd never have heard of it.

ID: No Roxette, Abba, Dire Straits…
CC: Nah, although I don't mind listening to it, but I wouldn't be doing it
myself!

ID: Favourite footballer of all time?
CC: That's a really hard question. Probably Ronaldo. The real one. The
Brazilian one.

ID: Last book you read…
CC: [laughs] I'm not going to say what I was going to say…

ID: I bet it was 5 Shades of Grey…
CC: I'm not going to say that! I love comics. So I'm going to say The
Avengers.

ID: Funniest thing you have heard from the crowd?
CC: Baldock's chant! I heard it for the first time last year at the train
station. We were coming back from somewhere up north and the crowd just
started chanting, 'Baldock, Baldock, he's got a massive cock!' I was in
pieces. I was crying.

ID: Best away fans?
CC: I like going to Fulham. They give me a hard time, all the time. And I
usually end up scoring against them!

ID: And the worst fans?
CC: Got to be Millwall!

ID: Five dinner party guests. Living or dead.
CC: Bob Marley, Oprah Winfrey, John F Kennedy, Michael Jackson and Eddie
Murphy because I know he's make me laugh.

ID: I was going to ask for your favourite politician, but you've said JFK.
Are there any current politicians you have any respect for?
CC: No, not really, not at the moment. I don't really follow politics. I
don't really know why. My Grandmother does and she tries to keep me up to
date with what's going on but I'm not really into politics. Only football
politics!

ID: Best player you've ever played with at West Ham?
CC: Scott Parker would be up there.

ID: Favourite App?
CC: Right now it's got to be Shazam. I've got my own App actually, but it's
not working at the moment so I've got to get them to fix it. It's going to
be really good. Shazam is a music app. If a song is playing, it identifies
what it is and who it's by.

ID: That's it! Great to talk to you Carlton and good luck luck for the
season!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam expects
The Sun
Published: 17th August 2012

SAM ALLARDYCE says the pressure is on West Ham to do better than the other
promoted sides because of the club's history and fan expectation. But the
boss insists he thrives on pressure and goes into the opener against Aston
Villa with new signings James Collins and Jussi Jaaskelainen set to start.
Allardyce said: "We're expected to stay up. The pressure is constant but I
put myself under more pressure. "My life is about winning and standards, and
demanding standards from everybody who works with me."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Don't expect miracles from my Hammers
The Sun
Published: 17th August 2012

SAM ALLARDYCE has warned the West Ham faithful not to expect miracles this
season. Hopes are high in the East End with the area still basking in the
glow of the feel-good factor from London 2012. But while Allardyce is
quietly confident of picking up three points against Aston Villa tomorrow,
he insists his side will be taking nothing for granted as they find their
feet in the Premier League. He said: "Everybody thought Cardiff City at home
was a comfortable start last season and we got beat 1-0 in the last minute.
"I don't think there is any kind of comfortable start in the Premier League.
"I think there is a possibility that we can get off to a good start if we
give a good performance. "What we are looking for is a good performance by
our players and that might give us a chance to win the first game here at
Upton Park at the start of a new Premier League season. "I think we all need
to be a little apprehensive, certainly myself because it doesn't matter how
good or bad I think we are, I won't really know until we play Premier League
games."

Allardyce admits the Hammers will be in for a hard afternoon with the
visitors looking to make an immediate impression under new boss Paul
Lambert.
And Big Sam is well aware of the qualities Lambert will have instilled in
his squad. He added: "I am expecting a pretty determined and well organised
side. "Paul's record in terms of moving into a new club and producing
results almost immediately stands there in front of everybody. "I think that
he will get them playing a system that suits the players and playing the
best they possibly can. "For us it's about making sure we are on top of our
game because we're obviously playing a well-established Premier League side.
"While we have got some players with Premier League experience, it's been a
year since we have been there. "We are looking forward to getting back there
and hopefully we can deliver in terms of expectations and, of course, try
and win as many games as we can, starting with the first one. "The first
game is as important as the last game. If you can win the first game it gets
everybody off to a nice, pleasant start. "You try and get three points in
the bag and try and move forward. "It builds the confidence of all the
players at a club and it gets rid of any anxiety anybody may have."

Alladyce will be without midfielder Jack Collison, who misses tomorrow's
game after sitting out pre-season with a knee injury. James Collins is fit
to face his former club following a groin problem, but fellow summer
signings Alou Diarra and Modibo Maiga will not start.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
We'll be Hammered: West Ham must win new boys' mini-league or else - Big Sam
The Mirror

Sam Allardyce says the pressure is on West Ham to finish above their fellow
Premier League new boys Southampton and Reading. With a much bigger fan base
and an esteemed history of being in the top flight, boss Allardyce knows the
­expectation levels will be far higher for his east London club. The Hammers
kick off their season at home to Aston Villa on Saturday and Allardyce
insisted: "There's a greater ­expectation here than at Reading or
Southampton, even though we went up through the play-offs. "There's a bigger
­pressure. We are expected not to be ­relegated. Not just from the fan-base
but also the history and tradition.
"That's not quite the case with Reading or ­Southampton, with respect. "But
if you get off to a good start, some of the ­anxieties diminish and it
becomes a little easier than you thought it was."

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 17th August 2012

Aston Villa match preview
WHUFC.com
All the build-up ahead of West Ham United's opening Barclays Premier League
fixture
16.08.2012

WEST HAM UNITED v ASTON VILLA
BARCLAYS PREMIER LEAGUE
SATURDAY 18 AUGUST 2012
KICK-OFF: 3PM
REFEREE: MIKE DEAN
FULL AUDIO AND TEXT COMMENTARY - WEST HAM TV

Introduction
• West Ham United welcome Aston Villa to the Boleyn Ground for the first
game of the Barclays Premier League 2012/13 season.
• The Hammers are currently unbeaten in 2012 at the Boleyn Ground and will
hoping to keep up their superb record as they enter the top flight and look
to get off to a good start.
• As many as five summer signings could be making their competitive debut
for the club, with Jussi Jaaskelainen, Stephen Henderson, Mohamed Diame,
Alou Diarra and Modibo Maiga all hoping to feature.
• Two players could make their second debuts for the Hammers after
re-joining the club over the summer, George McCartney has signed a permanent
deal after spending last season on loan in east London from Sunderland,
while James Collins has also returned following a three-year spell with
Saturday's visitors Aston Villa.
• The Hammers clash with Aston Villa is one of six Barclays Premier League
ties kicking-off at 3pm on Saturday, the other games are as follows: Arsenal
v Sunderland, Fulham v Norwich, QPR v Swansea, Reading v Stoke, West
Bromwich Albion v Liverpool and Newcastle v Tottenham.
Last time out
Pre-season match
Friday 10 August 2012
SC Braga 1-1 West Ham United
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel (Potts 79), Reid, Collins (O'Neil 76),
O'Brien, Tomkins, Diame (Moncur 84), Noble, Vaz Te, Maiga, Cole (Taylor 71)
Sub not used: Henderson
Goal: Reid 89
Pre-season match
Saturday 11 August 2012
Werder Bremen 3-3 Aston Villa
Aston Villa: Given, Lichaj, Clark, Vlaar, Stevens (Bannan 65), Holman
(Ireland 65), El Ahmadi, Delph, N'Zogbia (Gardner 77), Bent, Weimann
Subs not used: Marshall, Guzan, Baker
Goals: Bent 16, 68 Clark 22
Previous meeting
• The last meeting between the two sides came in a Barclays Premier League
fixture at the Boleyn Ground on 16 April 2011. The match ended in a 2-1
defeat for West Ham United as substitute Gabriel Agbonlahor scored an
injury-time winner. The Hammers got off to the best possible start when
on-loan striker Robbie Keane opened the scoring within two minutes. After
going behind, Villa struck back in the 36th minute when Bent headed home.
Carlton Cole had an appeal for a penalty turned down before the Hammers'
misery was compounded in added-time when Agbonlahor headed home the winner.
West Ham United: Green, Jacobsen, Upson, Bridge, Da Costa (Gabbidon 14),
Noble, O'Neil (Ba 63), Hitzlsperger, Cole, Keane, Obinna (Hines 58)
Subs not used: Boffin, Spector, Piquionne, Boa Morte~
Goal: Keane 2
Aston Villa: Friedel, Dunne, Young, Walker, Collins, Downing, Reo-Coker,
Young, Petrov, Bent, Heskey (Agbonlahor 78)
Subs not used: Marshall, Cuellar, Pires, Clark, Makoun, Albrighton
Goals: Bent 36, Agbonlahor 90

Background
• West Ham United and Aston Villa have met 105 times in total in competitive
fixtures. Each club has tasted victory on 37 occasions, with 31 draws.
• The Hammers travelled to Villa Park exactly 60 years ago today on 18
August 1962. Unfortunately, Aston Villa ran out 3-1 Division One winners in
front of 37,000 fans, with Johnny Byrne bagging the visitors' goal.
• Today's game is the second time in three seasons that West Ham United and
Aston Villa have met on the opening day. Villa won 3-0 at Villa Park on 14
August 2010.
• The first-ever meeting between the two clubs proved to be a forgettable
one for West Ham United, who were beaten 5-0 at Villa Park in the FA Cup
second round on 1 February 1913.
• West Ham United's largest victory over Aston Villa came in Division One on
30 August 1958, when the newly-promoted Hammers won 7-2 at the Boleyn
Ground. A 30,506-strong crowd saw John Dick, Vic Keeble and Malcolm Musgrove
scored twice apiece and Bill Lansdowne once.
• Sam Allardyce faced Aston Villa five times as a manager during the 2009/10
season, when his Blackburn Rovers side were eliminated from the FA Cup and
League Cup by the Villans.
• West Ham United's all-time record goalscorer Vic Watson netted 18 goals in
15 appearances against Aston Villa, including three hat-tricks in November
1926, December 1929 and April 1930.
• Marlon Harewood scored West Ham United's most-recent Premier League
hat-trick when he bagged three times in a 4-0 home win over Aston Villa on
12 September 2005. He later went on to play for Villa.
• A total of 13 West Ham United players have made their debuts against
today's opponents Aston Villa - Alfred Earl, Ernest England, Alvin Martin,
Carlos Tevez, Winston Reid, Pablo Barrera, Frederic Piquionne, Archibald
Macauley, Ian Crawford, Bill Green, Craig Forrest, Paulo Alves and Matthew
Upson.

Last six metings
(Premier League unless stated)
16 April 2011 - West Ham United 1-2 Aston Villa
14 August 2010 - Aston Villa 3-0 West Ham United
17 January 2010 - Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham United
4 November 2009 - West Ham United 2-1 Aston Villa
18 April 2009 - Aston Villa 1-1 West Ham United
21 December 2008 - West Ham United 0-1 Aston Villa
Overall record v Aston Villa (all competitions) W 37 D 31 L 37

Ten-year record
West Ham United
2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted via Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (33 points)
2009/10 Premier League 17th (35 points)
2008/09 Premier League 9th (51 points)
2007/08 Premier League 10th (49 points)
2006/07 Premier League 15th (41 points)
2005/06 Premier League 9th (55 points)
2004/05 Championship 6th (73 points - promoted via Play-Offs)
2003/04 Championship 4th (74 points)
2002/03 Premier League 18th (42 points - relegated to Championship)
2001/02 Premier League 7th (53 points)
2000/01 Premier League 15th (42 points)
Aston Villa
2011/12 Premier League 16th (38 points)
2010/11 Premier League 9th (48 points)
2009/10 Premier League 6th (64 points)
2008/09 Premier League 6th (62 points)
2007/08 Premier League 6th (60 points)
2006/07 Premier League 11th (50 points)
2005/06 Premier League 16th (42 points)
2004/05 Premier League 10th (47 points)
2003/04 Premier League 6th (56 points)
2002/03 Premier League 16th (45 points)
2001/02 Premier League 8th (50 points)
2000/01 Premier League 8th (54 points)

Referee
• Saturday's referee is Mike Dean.
• Select Group official Dean, 44, took charge of just one West Ham United
fixture last season - the 2-0 npower Championship victory at Middlesbrough
on 29 November 2011.
• The previous campaign, Dean was the man in the middle for six Hammers
fixtures - most notably the 3-2 Barclays Premier League defeat at Wigan
Athletic on 15 May that confirmed the club's relegation. That season, the
experienced referee also took charge of West Ham's 3-0 opening-day defeat at
today's opponents Aston Villa. In all, Dean has taken charge of 29 West Ham
fixtures.
• Dean refereed Aston Villa just once last term - a 1-1 home draw with Stoke
City on 9 April 2012 - but has taken charge of the Midlands side 28 times
during his career.
• He began refereeing in 1985, starting out his career in senior football in
the Northern Premier League.
• In 2004, Dean took charge of his first international match, a friendly
between the Netherlands and Republic of Ireland at Amsterdam Arena. That
same year, he took control of the FA Community Shield between Arsenal and
Manchester United.
• In May 2006, he refereed the Championship play-off final between Leeds
United and Watford at the Millennium Stadium. In 2008, he was in charge for
the FA Cup final between Portsmouth and Cardiff City at Wembley Stadium.

Team news
• As many as nine players could make their competitive debuts for their
respective new clubs at the Boleyn Ground this weekend - Jussi Jaaskelainen,
Stephen Henderson, Mohamed Diame, Alou Diarra and Modibo Maiga for West Ham
United and Matthew Lowton, Ron Vlaar, Karim El Ahmadi and Brett Holman for
Aston Villa.
• Jack Collison is unlikely to play after failing to feature in any of the
Hammers pre-season games as he continues to manage his long-term knee
issues. However, captain Kevin Nolan is hoping to return after missing the
final pre-season match at SC Braga with a toe problem suffered at Colchester
United last month.
• France midfielder Alou Diarra is yet to make an appearance for the
Hammers, having signed on the day of the final pre-season game in Braga.
However, he has trained with his new team-mates all week and could be named
in the matchday squad.

Old boys

• James Collins swapped east London for Birmingham on 1 September 2009 for
an undisclosed fee after making 65 appearances in all competitions for West
Ham United, scoring two goals. The Wales centre-back returned to West Ham on
1 August, having scored six goals in 109 games for the Villans.

• Carlton Cole would be playing against the team where he spent the 2004/05
season on loan. Cole scored three goals in 30 league and cup appearances for
Aston Villa.
• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Billy Askew,
Alan Curbishley, Mervyn Day, Marlon Harewood, Thomas Hitzlsperger, Ray
Houghton, David James, Fred Norris, Nigel Reo-Coker, Tony Scott, Les Sealey,
Nolberto Solano, Tommy Southren, David Unsworth and Phil Woosnam.

General Information
• Less than 1,000 tickets for Saturday's season-opener are still available
and can be purchased online here.
• The weather forecast for Saturday is for sunny intervals with a maximum
temperature of 27C (81F).
• There are no planned engineering works on the London Underground this
weekend.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam on Aston Villa
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce spoke to the media ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League
opener at the Boleyn Ground
16.08.2012

Sam Allardyce has revealed his excitement, expectations and thoughts on West
Ham United's Barclays Premier League return. Big Sam and his side trained at
the Boleyn Ground on Thursday and the manager was in a positive mood ahead
of the season opener against Aston Villa on Saturday when he spoke to the
media.

Welcome back. Are you more excited than most after leading West Ham United
back into the Barclays Premier League?

SA - "I think so. There is a lot of excitement around the place and it is
building the closer and closer we get to the kick-off. We will have to wait
and see how we will perform in the end, I think the only slow process has
been getting players in. We have been working extremely hard but being able
to complete signings has been very difficult indeed. We are pleased with who
we have brought in already and we are still working to bring in a few more
before the end of the window."

David Sullivan believes Alou Diarra is the best signing the club have made
this summer What are your thoughts on his view?

SA - "I'm not sure about that - time will tell. I think that everybody we
have signed will have a big part to play in how successful we are this year
because unlike most promoted football clubs we have released a lot of
players. We needed to increase the talent of the squad and decrease the age
of the squad, so we released seven or eight players which is unusual for a
promoted side. Then you have to replace those players and we are not there
yet so we have taken a risk by trying to get these players in. We have done
well but we are still a little short."

Would you agree that facing Aston Villa at home represents a comfortable
start to the season?

SA - "Everybody said that Cardiff City at home was a comfortable start last
season and we ended up getting beat 1-0 in the last minute. I don't think
there is any kind of comfortable start in the Premier League. I think there
is a possibility that we could get off to a good start if we give a good
account of ourselves. We are looking for a good performance by our players
and that may give us a chance to win the first game here at Upton Park at
the start of a new Premier League season. I think we all need to be a little
apprehensive, certainly myself. It doesn't matter how good or bad I think we
are as I won't really know until we play in the
Barclays Premier League."

Would you agree that you have a reasonable start against typically mid-table
sides?

SA - "I would agree to a certain extent in the sense that they are a
reasonable set of games because we have avoided getting the top boys on a
regular basis which is always going to be tough no matter when you play
them. We have a group of games that give us the opportunity to get off to as
good a start as we possibly can."

What are your dreams for the coming season?

SA - "My dreams are to try and get the team to finish in a position where
there has been little or no pressure on them from a relegation point of
view, so as near to a top-ten finish as we can."

Can you give us an update on the current fitness situations of James Collins
and Jack Collison?

SA - "James Collins will train tomorrow with us and Jack Collison still
hasn't trained fully with the first team since the Play-Off final last year.
James is OK but Jack is a big concern for me having missed the summer and
having not played in any of the pre-season games like we expected him to.
It's his knee - the one he had operated on two years ago. We probably played
him more than we should have towards the end of last season and he gave that
much effort and desire that it has exaggerated the injury. It's been a great
shame for him that he hasn't been able to come in with the rest of the squad
and enjoy the excitement we are all feeling ahead of the new season. He
won't need another operation but he does need some tender guidance. We
mustn't rush him back or think about rushing him back, we need to wait for
the right time for him to come back."

What kind of Aston Villa side are you expecting?

SA - "A very determined and organised side. Paul Lambert's record in terms
of moving into a new club and instantly getting results stands for itself. I
think he will get them playing a system that suits the players and get them
playing the best they possibly can. For us it's about making sure we play at
the top of our game against a side that has been established in the top
league for a very long time now. We have got some players with Premier
League experience but it's been a year since we have been there. We are
looking forward to getting back, we will deliver our best and of course try
and win as many games as we can. The first game is as important as the last
game in my opinion, and if we win the first game it gets everybody off to a
nice pleasant start. If you get three points in the bag it builds the
confidence of the club getting rid of any anxiety anybody may have or at
least reduce it."

Do you hope the euphoria of the Olympics is brought into the Boleyn Ground
this weekend?

SA - "We would certainly like to continue the atmosphere the Olympics has
brought to the East End and the entire country. It's been an outstanding
game from every aspect and every angle. I hope the euphoria spills into
Upton Park on Saturday and we can deliver the same kind of entertainment
that the Olympics provided, it was absolutely outstanding for me. I wish we
hadn't planned as far from London as I did, we tried to avoid the mayhem
when in actual fact it's been easier to get around when the Olympics is on.
Unfortunately for me I took myself out of the equation and I didn't get to
see any of the events. If I had knew what it would be like I would have
stayed here longer and gone to one or two. But what a fantastic Olympics it
has been not just for London but for everybody in Britain."

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Joint-Chairman ready for big kick-off
A positive David Gold is looking forward to Saturday's Barclays Premier
League opener with Aston Villa
16.08.2012
Send Print RSS

Joint-Chairman David Gold has revealed his excitement, desire and
apprehension ahead of the 2012/13 Barclays Premier League season. Cutting
the figure of a true West Ham United fan, Mr Gold explained that despite his
optimism he still finds it hard to shun the nerves from his mind ahead of
Saturday's big kick-off at home to Aston Villa. Speaking at a special
community event at the Boleyn Ground which also saw Olympic Silver medal
winner Mark Hunter make an appearance, Mr Gold admitted to having mixed
emotions. "It is very exciting but at the same time I am very nervous," he
said. "We just want to get started now. We have a good squad and it
certainly looks like a determined one, but we won't be able to judge until
after the first game. "Even though I am nervous I think we can come out
firing on all cylinders and start well. Confidence will play a massive part
and if we get off to a good start it will be sky high."

The Hammers have only lost once at home this calendar year and after
promotion back to the big time there is a good vibe around the club, but Mr
Gold insists the Premier League will offer a very different challenge.
"There is a big difference going back into the Premier League. Each of us
have different ways of dealing with the pressure of a new season. I'm
confident, but I still can't stop myself from being equally nervous. "Around
ten years ago when I was at Birmingham City I thought we had the best team
we had ever had, but things went against us, we had injury after injury and
a lot of bad luck. "That said the lads have looked terrific this week, and
to be honest with you if we didn't come out on Saturday looking like a
Premier League team I would be very disappointed."

Mr Gold also took the time to chat to rowing hero and West Ham fan Hunter,
and the Joint-Chairman believes everyone can be inspired by the 2008 Olympic
lightweight double sculls champion. "He is a very inspirational figure, but
I must tell you I've beaten him in five sets of tennis and I want everyone
to know I've beaten the champion!" joked Mr Gold, alluding to the pair
joining local youngsters playing tennis on the Boleyn Ground pitch. "It is
amazing what he has achieved, his determination and his courage is
outstanding. "But from a motivational point of view he is a young man who
has worked very hard and quite rightly reaped the rewards. "He is not only
inspirational to the team but also the youngsters here today, it is great to
see him here."

Mr Gold, like Hunter is a lifelong West Ham supporter, and like all of us he
has been in awe of the 2012 London Olympic Games. Looking ahead, the
Joint-Chairman hopes the club can continue to embrace the Olympic spirit as
he and the club continue to champion the ethos of 'Moore Than a Club'.
"Seeing the success and positive effect of the Olympics is unbelievable,
especially seeing as I was born and raised in east London," explained Gold.
"You wouldn't have seen community days like this in the past where young
people are allowed out onto the hallowed turf, but the policy of the club is
now to make everyone feel a part of it. "We want them to embrace what we're
trying to accomplish whereas in yesteryears the only way you could get into
Upton Park was to bunk in before being chased out by the groundstaff!
"People have a good feeling that has been generated from the Olympics and we
want to keep that going, if we win on Saturday we can do that and keeping
the momentum going which is key for everybody within the community."

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Hammers to face Crewe
WHUFC.com
West Ham United have been drawn against Crewe Alexandra in the Capital One
Cup second round
15.08.2012

West Ham United will host Crewe Alexandra in the second round of the newly
branded Capital One Cup, following Wednesday afternoon's draw. It will be
the first time the two sides have met since a 1-1 draw in the Championship
back in 2005, when Teddy Sheringham looked like he had bagged the winner
until Steve Jones scored an added-time equaliser. The match could see Nicky
Maynard line up against the side he played for until 2008 before moving to
Bristol City. West Ham United will be looking to improve on last season's
League Cup showing, when they were knocked out at the first hurdle by
Aldershot Town after being reduced to ten men. The Hammers have reached the
League Cup final twice before, finishing as runners up to West Bromwich
Albion in 1966 and Liverpool in 1981. All ties will take place in the week
commencing 27 August, with the final taking place on 24 February 2013.
whufc.com will bring ticket news as soon as it is available.

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Olympic Stadium move could make West Ham giants - Allardyce
BBC.co.uk

West Ham manager Sam Allardyce says the club could grow to the size of
Manchester United or Arsenal if they move to the Olympic Stadium. The
Hammers want to take over the 80,000-capacity venue after the Paralympic
Games end next month. And Allardyce claims it could see West Ham rival Old
Trafford and Emirates Stadium for size and atmosphere. "We could be that
size in a brand new stadium, with that atmosphere," he said. West Ham are
one of four bidders under consideration for the Olympic Stadium. An original
deal for the club to lease the £486m stadium was scrapped last year amid
legal wrangling. Allardyce added: "It would be awesome to walk a team out on
that pitch and say 'this is West Ham's new home and the creation of what
could possibly be a new modern history hopefully'."

Upton Park, which has a 35,000 capacity, has been West Ham's home for the
past 108 years. Meanwhile, Allardyce says West Ham's move for winger Matt
Jarvis is "stuck" as they have yet to agree a deal with Wolves. Allardyce
wants Jarvis for his team's new Premier League campaign, but Allardyce has
written off signing the 26-year-old before Saturday's opening game with
Aston Villa. "For me, it is on the backburner because Saturday is the most
important thing," said Allardyce.
"Then if it is to be done after Saturday we'll see where we are."

While Allardyce hopes to push through a deal for Jarvis, West Ham have all
but conceded defeat in their attempt to sign Liverpool striker Andy Carroll.
The Hammers made an audacious bid to prise the £35m England international
from Anfield. But Allardyce revealed: "We never agreed with Liverpool any
deal to be able to speak to Andy Carroll to see if he would join us.
"Whatever deal we put forward to Liverpool was not agreed by Liverpool. "He
would have been a massive signing for us and, like everything else, when you
see an opportunity you try to go for it."

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Matt Taylor says West Ham United will play an attacking game
BBC.co.uk

West Ham midfielder Matt Taylor says the side aim to adopt an attacking
style of play in the Premier League. The Irons are back in the top flight
after winning the Championship play-off final last season. He told BBC
London: "I think we are going to see a team that goes all-out to win
football matches. "It's not going to be beautiful Barcelona football all the
time but I think you'll see us playing football as we've definitely got the
players." Hammers fans voiced their displeasure at what they saw as direct
tactics used by manager Sam Allardyce last season. Despite the desire for a
passing style, Taylor believes the Upton Park outfit will have to be
pragmatic about their chances in the Premier League. "The stadium will be
near enough full every week and people will want to see attractive football
but first and foremost, we need to win football matches," the 30-year-old
continued. "How we do that doesn't really worry me. "You want to pass and
play attractive football but at the same time you want to play football
that's effective so we're going to have to mix it and match it. "We're going
to need to keep the ball in spells. "There's going to be times when we'll
need to pass it but when we play the bigger teams we won't have as much
possession. "There are not any easy games. For the start of the season, it's
all about making sure we give a good account of ourselves in every game we
play." West Ham begin their campaign at home to Aston Villa on Saturday.

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Allardyce: Morrison could have West Ham future
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 15th August 2012
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce has refused to rule out a return for Ravel Morrison - despite
the youngster being packed off to Birmingham for the season. Amid a string
of rumours regarding his behaviour, the former Manchester United midfielder
- who joined West Ham just seven months ago - was loaned to the Championship
club for the season. However Allardyce has refused to rule out a return for
the higly-talented yet flawed 19-year-old former England youth international
- adding that he was rarely used last season due to inexperience. "What
Ravel needs for the first time in his life is first team football,"
Allardyce told KUMB.com. "I was striving for promotion last year and I
wasn't in the position to risk Ravel not because of his talent, but because
of his inexperience as a first team player. "So going into the Premier
League and getting where we wanted to go, he'd never played there before.
Going to Birmingham and playing for them in the Championship with a very
good young manager/coach with a great backroom staff in Terry McDermott and
Fazackerley [will do him good]."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers face home tie
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 15th August 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham will face Crewe Alexandra in the second round of the League Cup.
Sam Allardyce's side will face The Railwaymen at the Boleyn Ground in the
week commencing 27th August. Crewe, who have faced West Ham in the League
Cup just once previously - when they won a 1992 replay 2-0 after the first
leg ended in a goalless stalemate at the Boleyn - made the second round
having thrashed Hartlepool 5-0 last weekend.

The full draw is as follows:

Preston v Crystal Palace
Watford v Bradford City
Swansea v Barnsley
Yeovil v West Brom
Coventry City v Birmingham City
West Ham United v Crewe
Doncaster v Hull
Carlisle v Ipswich
Reading v Peterborough
Sheffield Wed v Fulham
Leicester City v Burton Albion
Burnley v Plymouth
QPR v Walsall
Stevenage v Southampton
Nott'm Forest v Wigan
Stoke v Swindon
Aston Villa v Tranmere
Crawley v Bolton
Gillingham v Middlesbrough
Northampton v Wolves
Everton v Leyton Orient
MK Dons v Blackburn
Leeds United v Oxford United
Sunderland v Morecambe
Norwich v Scunthorpe

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sullivan explains Carroll bid
West Ham had lined up 'terribly expensive' deal for Liverpool striker
Last Updated: August 15, 2012 12:21pm
SSN

David Sullivan says West Ham United had agreed a deal with Liverpool for
Andy Carroll, but the striker turned down the chance to be the focal point
of Sam Allardyce's side. Carroll's future at Liverpool has been uncertain
following the appointment of Brendan Rodgers as manager and he has been
linked with several rival Premier League clubs. West Ham were among those to
show an interest and a season-long loan deal with a view to a permanent
£17million transfer had been lined up by the promoted club. Sullivan says
the proposed deal was 'terribly expensive' for the Hammers, but he was
prepared to back Allardyce, who wanted Wolves winger Matt Jarvis to supply
the crosses for Carroll.

Perfect

"I can only talk about this because it has been put in the public domain
already," co-owner Sullivan told the Daily Mirror. "My manager wanted Andy
Carroll, so we backed him. "It was a terribly expensive deal with the loan
fee and with his wages, which were enormous - too much for a club like ours.
But, as the manager really wanted him, we were prepared to pay it." "Andy
was the perfect player for him and the style of football we play. "We play a
lot of high balls, a lot of crosses - quite exciting football, not just
humping it but clever crossing - and Sam wanted Jarvis to supply the crosses
because he is a fantastic crosser. "We had a deal in place with Liverpool to
borrow the player which automatically became a purchase if we stayed up. "We
hoped, as he had the same agent as our manager - a man we had done a lot of
business with - and he was very friendly with Kevin Nolan, our captain, that
Andy would want to come. "It was a terribly expensive deal with the loan fee
and with his wages, which were enormous - too much for a club like ours.
But, as the manager really wanted him, we were prepared to pay it. "But he
really wants to stay at Liverpool. He believes that he will get back into
the side by his performances - coming off the bench or for the reserves. He
believes the manager will have to put him back in the side. But it's wrong
to discuss what is in his mind. Only he knows that."

The England international is reported to favour a return to former club
Newcastle United, but Sullivan doubts Carroll will head back to St James'
Park. He added: "We were paying all of his wages and a huge loan fee.
Newcastle didn't even want to pay all of his wages. "This is what we are led
to believe. So Liverpool were not prepared to let him go to Newcastle. But
it may all change. Who knows?"

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Hammers' Jarvis move 'stuck'
Collins fit to face former club Villa; Collison struggling for opener
Last Updated: August 16, 2012 9:36pm
SSN

Sam Allardyce does not know if West Ham United will be able to agree a deal
with Wolverhampton Wanderers for winger Matt Jarvis. Sky Sports sources on
Thursday morning revealed the Hammers had failed in a third bid, believed to
be in the region of £9.5million, for the wide-man. Reports suggest Wolves
are holding out for £10m and it remains to be seen whether Jarvis will join
the likes of Alou Diarra and Mohamed Diame in moving to Upton Park. "It is
stuck - that's the answer," Allardyce said, speaking ahead of the season
opener against Aston Villa, when asked about the move for Jarvis. "I don't
know how that will pan out now. I think that we'll just have to wait and
see.

Backburner

"For me, it is on the backburner because Saturday is the most important
thing for me and then if it is to be done after Saturday we'll see where we
are. "We have got to try to agree something with Wolverhampton Wanderers.
That is the issue we have at the moment, before we get into what the player
wants or doesn't want." Allardyce has made no secret of his desire to add
more faces this month and he had been interested in Liverpool's Andy
Carroll, but for now he only wants a good result against Villa. "I think
there is a lot of excitement around the place, obviously because we're
getting closer and closer to kick-off," he said. "I think we have prepared
pretty well, I think the only slow process, as always, is (bringing) players
in. That has been the only slow process.

Hard work

"We have been working extremely hard at it, but to be able to complete the
signings has been very difficult indeed. "We are pleased with the players we
have brought in, but we're still waiting to bring a few more in before the
end of the window." One of the additions, James Collins, came from
Saturday's opponents Villa and is fit to face his former club after a groin
injury. However, Collins' fellow Wales international, Jack Collison,
continues to struggle with a knee injury. "James Collins will train tomorrow
fully with us and Jack Collison still hasn't trained with the first-team
squad since the play-off final," said Allardyce.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce gives up on Carroll
Hammers boss insists a deal was never agreed for Liverpool striker
Last Updated: August 16, 2012 7:55pm
SSN

West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce appears to have given up the pursuit
of signing Andy Carroll after claiming a deal was never agreed with
Liverpool for the striker. The Upton Park club's co-chairman, David
Sullivan, had on Wednesday announced England international Carroll had
snubbed a move to London.
But ahead of Saturday's Premier League season-opener against Aston Villa,
Allardyce insists no £17million fee had ever been agreed with Liverpool.
Anfield boss Brendan Rodgers is thought to be prepared to sell Carroll, who
was signed by Kenny Dalglish for £35m in January 2011, but the club want as
much money as possible. And Allardyce seems to think West Ham's interest is
dead in the water, as he said: "We never agreed with Liverpool any deal to
be able to speak to Andy Carroll to see if he would join us. "Whatever deal
we put forward to Liverpool was not agreed to by Liverpool. "He would have
been a massive signing for us and, like everything else, when you see an
opportunity you try to go for it. "Then you get onto negotiations and once
that is exhausted you move on, which was a lot sooner than people actually
talked about in the media. "The negotiations were over in a couple of weeks
or so regarding whether Andy was or wasn't going to come to West Ham."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carlton Cole Interview (Part 1): 'Why I Took a Pay Cut'
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Di e

The last time I interviewed any West Ham players was back in the mid 1990s,
when I spoke to Tony Cottee and Stan Lazirides. To be honest, I don't find
many footballers that interesting. Hanging around Upton Park hoping for a
brief word with a player has never been my idea of fun, and in six years I
have never interviewed a player for this site. So why start now? Well, I had
intended to interview Sam Allardyce, but then again so did everyone else. In
the end I decided that I'd stand aside and leave him to KUMB or OLAS as I
felt it might be interesting to talk to him later in the season rather than
now. The club then asked if I'd like to interview a player. Initially, I
thought I'd say no, but then I started thinking about Carlton Cole. I've
always found him to be a bit different to most footballers. He always seemed
to me to be a really nice guy, with a bit more about him. From his tweets
you can see he has quite a range of interests. So I thought, OK, let's see
if Carlton will do it. 'How long would you need' asked the press officer.
'At least 45 minutes,' I said. There was an audible gulp. Well, I said,
these sort of conversational interviews don't really work unless they are at
least 45 minutes long. And so it was, that I rolled up at Upton Park
yesterday lunchtime for an appointment at 1pm. Several of the players were
doing press stuff on the pitch, but by 2.15 I was starting to get a bit
twitchy. And then the moment came. 'Would you like to do the interview
pitchside?' I was asked. Not being one to look a gift horse in the mouth I
said yes, of course. So off we went, through the doors, and there it was,
the tunnel that the players walk through to get onto the pitch - home
dressing room on the right, away dressing room and media interview room on
the left. And so it was that for the first time in my life I emerged onto
the Upton Park pitch. What a feeling! Carlton was there in his white T shirt
and designer jeans, looking slightly smaller than I thought he would. And we
spent the next 45 minutes or so sat in the dugout on the Recaro seats
chatting about life, football and whatever else came into my mind. There
will be three or four parts to this interview. I hope you enjoy it.

ID: Have you been to any of the Olympic events?
CC: No, I haven't had a chance. We have been away a lot. I have been
watching it, though. It was a massive thing for East London, for the whole
community – schools, neighbourhoods. Everywhere got an upgrade. We've been
lucky to have it over here. I really enjoyed the athletics, and it was great
to see Mark Hunter get a medal [Mark Hunter was sitting a few yards away
from us talking to Kevin Nolan]. I'm not from Jamaica, but to see the
Jamaican 4x100 relay team get the world record was really exciting as well.
There's a massive Jamaican community here. I've also known Mo Farah since I
was at school. He's from the area where I grew up. It was great to see how
the crowd supported him and pulled him through.

ID: Have you been to the Olympic Stadium?
CC: Yes, before it was fully finished. It was still a construction site.
Scott Parker, Mark Noble and I got a tour around it before they put all the
fittings in.

ID: Do the players talk much about playing there?
CC: No. We haven't been discussing because nothing's been confirmed, so
we're just concentrating on our own little pitch here! [laughs and gestures
towards the pitch]. As players we're not really monitoring that situation.
We know it's a massive season for us so we are not really bothered with off
the field stuff at the moment.

ID: There's a lot of stuff in the press about how footballer could learn a
lot from the example set by our Olympic athletes. Do you think there's
anything footballers can learn from the way the athletes conducted
themselves?
CC: People say we don't give back to the community in any way, and we're
spoilt brats. I think that's unfair. A lot of footballers I know do huge
amounts of charity work and conduct themselves properly off the field. When
you're an athlete, you have four years to train just for that one moment. We
train for every Saturday. It's a different lifestyle. Yes, we do get paid
very well for what we do. I know how hard Mo Farah has worked, because I've
seen what he has done to get to where he is today. Sometimes these things do
work out in different ways money-wise, but that's just the way it is.

ID: Karren Brady said the other day that there are people working here in
the ticket office on £15,000 a year and players who earn double that in a
week, and she likes the players to mix with other staff so they don't lose
touch.
CC: I'm not into this big earning thing anyway. Obviously I want to have a
good lifestyle and provide for my family. If you look into the money side of
it, all people see is just the money instead of what you do as a profession.
Obviously to get me where I am today, football has treated me really well,
and I know I am privileged to be a footballer. The money bit is just a
bonus. I never concentrate on that too much. If you're driven by money, it's
a different scenario.

ID: When I asked my readers what I should ask you, several of them said:
"Can you thank him for taking a pay cut last season, because not many
footballers would have done that?"
CC: No one has to thank me for taking a pay cut. I felt I had to pay back a
bit because I had had a poor season. I can't take all the blame but I felt
responsible for what happened the season before. I was nearly driven to
Stoke as a makeweight, so I said, if I have to take a pay cut, I'll have to
take a pay cut. It would drive me on more to get us back in the Premiership.
There's no bigger reward than that, and in the fashion we did as well. I
just felt such a weight off my shoulders. It was a question of honour. I
believed in something and I went for it. I took a gamble and it paid off.

ID: When you thought you were going to Stoke, did you feel as if you were
being traded as a commodity rather than a human being? Because you clearly
didn't want to go.
CC: I can't join a football club if my heart's not really in it. I wouldn't
be happy. And to play the best football, I need to be happy. I need the
support of people and my family around me. I spoke to my family and they
said 'if you don't want to do it, don't go'. So I decided to just chill out
and work with what I had.

ID: You say you need to be happy to play good football. When Gianfranco Zola
was here he got the best out of you because he gave you more confidence. How
important is it for the manager to recognise he needs to give you confidence
to get the most out of you?
CC: It's always important but not just with me, with any player. If the fans
are on your back you can either go one way or the other. Some people will
cave in, with others it makes you stronger. You fight through it and
concentrate on what you've got to do and what is going to be best for the
team. As long as you put the team first in anything that you do, then you
can't go wrong. Obviously as a striker I have got to score goals. I have got
that added pressure on me. As long as we win the game, that's the most
important thing and if I haven't scored, then I haven't scored. If I have
contributed in the best way I could, whether it be a goal or an assist or
just being a nuisance up front, as long as we win that game, that's what
matters to me.

ID: I remember one game where you came on as a substitute and you actually
got booed before you'd even stepped onto the pitch. What goes through your
mind when you're standing there, waiting to go onto the pitch, and all you
can hear is people booing you?
CC: To be honest I don't know what to feel. I wouldn't have known, because I
am fully focussed on what I have to do. It's only afterwards when people say
'how come you got booed?' I say 'did I?' I just don't hear it as much. There
will be times when I'm getting booed and I'm not, it's a decision that's
gone against me. I don't notice it as much as people really think I do.

ID: Before you came here there was a player called Samassi Abou, and we'd
all shout 'Aboooooooo' and the TV commentators couldn't understand why we
were booing one of our own players.
CC; [laughs]. That's quite funny, that.

ID: Have you noticed a difference in the crowd response to you?
CC: Yes, definitely.

ID: I think people 'get' you as a player now in a way that they didn't a few
years ago.
CC: My sort of player is as more of a team player. Yes, I am here to score
goals but I am a team player. I've been criticised for that, which is a bit
strange. My team mates appreciate me. They get what I do. And so does the
manager. That's the most important thing. I might not be pleasing to the eye
for some fans, they might not like the way I play, but as long as I know
what I am in the team for, and I am doing my job I know the manager
appreciates what I am doing, and he needs my input for us to get the result.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carlton Cole Interview (Part 2): 'Zola Was Fantastic For Me But Avram Lost
The Dressing Room'
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die

ID: You've played under five different managers at West Ham. What's the
difference between Sam Allardyce and the others?
CC: Obviously Sam has got vast experience in the Premiership and he believes
in his way of playing. He believes that there's his way, but he believes in
going with the times as well. He will go the sports science way to prove
that you're not fit enough and that's why you're not going to play this
week. He really adapts to the times, he's been really impressive, and he's
open to suggestions as well. He knows where he wants to go. If you're not
achieving that, he'll tell you straight away. He'll sit you down. He's a
straight up guy. I think everyone knows that and if you don't like it,
you've just got to deal with it because he isn't going to change.

ID: There were a lot of games last season where we expected you to start,
but you didn't. Do you expect to start every game, or does the modern trend
for rotating a squad mean that you accept you won't start every time?
CC: I don't expect to start any game. If the manager sees fit to start with
another player that means he is fit for that game. He takes a lot of
pressure of me if I have another central striker up there. It means I can
rest, recharge my batteries and then go again. If that's the way he feels he
can get the best out of me then I am all for it. It's not that he's dropping
you, he wants the best for the team. I'll train midweek and the week after
and prove myself so I can get in the team. Competition is what you need
otherwise there's a danger you get comfortable and complacent.

ID: Is it true you can't play two games in a week.
CC: No, it's not. As long as I am managed properly. Say I play on a Saturday
and there's a game on the Tuesday, I'll probably play 70 minutes on the
Saturday, so I can recover in time. My injury hasn't been like Ledley King's
injury, it's been a bit more manageable, but at the start, when I was trying
to get used to it and my body was trying to adapt, it was a bit hard for me,
but now I've got the flow, I know what I'm doing, I know how much I can
train and how much I can't train, there's a balance there so I know my body.

ID: Are you ready for Saturday.
CC: Yeah, I'm raring to go! We had a training session today and all the lads
look sharp. We've been trying to get sharp in the matches we've had. We've
had a lot more friendlies this year in pre-season than we did last year. I
think we have had five or six more than last year. We have been trying to
get match-fit in the pre-season games. There's been a bit less training and
more matches.

ID: What's Madibo Maiga like as a player?
CC: He's a great talent, a great signing. As soon as he acclimatises, which
he is starting to do now. With the way we play, he will be a great asset to
have.

ID: Where exactly does he play?
CC: If he plays up front he would play along another striker, but in 4-5-1
or 4-3-3 he'd play on the wing. He can adapt to different positions and
that's what we need, players who can adapt and be a bit more versatile.

ID: When you read all the transfer speculation about Andy Carroll coming in,
do you think to yourself 'well, that's me done for?'
CC: I'm a central striker, we haven't got another big man up top, so what
happens if I get injured? We need someone else as well. I have already told
the manager that! [laughs]. If you want to improve yourself you have to have
competition for places. And that can only be healthy for West Ham.

ID: How important was Gianfranco Zola to you? He brought things out of you
that we hadn't seen in you before, didn't he? When he went, people wondered
how you would progress from there.
CC: Zola was fantastic for me personally. That's when I got my England
call-up and it was a turning point for me. Because he was a striker he
understood me, understood how I can play, and he believed in me. Curbs
always knew I was a good player but he just wanted me to be 100% all the
time and go at it, gung ho. But my type of striker, to be a Number 9, a hold
up player, you have to grow into it. That's what Zola found out that I
needed to do. He focussed on that in training.

ID: When you heard he had been sacked?
CC: I was obviously disappointed. I had played with him at Chelsea as well,
Steve Clarke too. So I knew him personally. These things happen, you know. I
was disappointed for him, but then again, you've got to look forward.
Forward to who was going to come in. That was obviously Avram, and I had to
try and work for him as well. I'm only a player, but I felt bad for Zola.

ID: What was it like under Avram Grant. People said that in the end he lost
the dressing room.
CC: [hesitates and laughs]. It was a weird season, a very weird season. It
was a tough season as well.

ID: Because you started on fire – was it 8 goals in 10 games? And then you
got injured for a long period. It could have been very different…
CC: Exactly. It happened. I'm not about the 'what ifs', I just focus on the
future and right now my future's with West Ham. The future's on Saturday and
I am predicting a win! I'm doing my mystic Meg!

ID: What did Scott Parker say in that half time team talk he did after we
were 3-0 down against West Brom?
CC: [laughs]. Do you know what? I actually played that up a bit too much. He
didn't really say too much but he said we had to do much better. He was
really emotional about it as well. But so was everybody else in the room. It
wasn't just about Scott Parker. It was everybody in the room. Everyone was
together. I just mentioned Scott Parker because it was the first thing that
came into my mind. But he was one of the real influences on that game.

ID: Didn't that sum up what had gone wrong under Avram Grant? That he had
lost it. It should have been him doing that rallying call, shouldn't it?
CC: Exactly, and that's one of the reasons I came out and said it. But you
had to read between the lines to understand what was going on.

ID: We all did! What formation do you prefer playing in? Obviously the way
Sam Allardyce plays is very different to what went before. Do you like a
smaller, Sam Baldock striker playing off you, or do you feel the 4-3-3 or
4-51 plays to your strength?
CC: Any of them play to my strength as I am always going to be the big guy,
but there's always going to be other players buzzing around me. As long as
there's support around me it doesn't matter whether it's 4-3-3 or 4-4-2.
It's up to players around me to get into effective positions.

ID: What did it mean to you to get an England call-up?
CC: Some players don't really care – as long as they give 100%, but if
you're an ambitious player, that's what you play for, it's the pinnacle and
it means you're doing something right for your club. Some players never get
an England callup but play brilliantly. Look how long it took Scott Parker
to get called up. Sometimes even if you're playing well at your club you
just don't get the call. Look at Nobby here [gestures over to Kevin Nolan,
who is nearby], a consistent Premiership player but I don't think he has
ever had an England call-up. Sometimes it doesn't work.

ID: Is there a bit of competition between you and Kevin Nolan. Last season
every time you scored, he seemed to. There was a point when we thought he
might overtake you!
CC: Do you know what it was? The manager gets into our heads as well. He
says 'Ah, Nobby's going to overtake you!' No way! He can't! Yes, there was a
bit of competition there, but it's all good. We've got other strikers doing
the same thing this year who will hopefully get double figures, so that can
only be a good thing for the club.

ID: Has Roy Hodgson given you a call? Do you think you are in his plans?
CC: No, we haven't been in touch. If it happens, it happens but I am not
really focussed on that right now. I am focussed on my form at club level.
That's what needs to gain me recognition, but if it doesn't that's cool.

ID: But you'll only just be 30 for the next World Cup in two years' time in
Brazil. That's got to be an aim for you?
CC: Yes, of course. You always have to have aims and targets. If I am doing
the business with West Ham, hopefully I would get the chance. There's a good
history of West Ham players playing for England!

Part Three will follow tomorrow.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
WOLVES REJECT WEST HAM'S BID FOR MATT JARVIS
Daily Express
Friday August 17,2012
By Daily Express reporter

WOLVES have rejected an improved £9.5m bid from West Ham for winger Matt
Jarvis, worth £6m up front and the remainder in add-ons.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 15th August 2012

Hammers Bid wins high-profile support
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's plegde for a lasting legacy for east London has received
some famous backing
14.08.2012

West Ham United's Bid to become anchor concessionaire of the Olympic Stadium
has received widespread support from a host of high-profile names who want
to see a lasting legacy delivered to east London. In an open letter to
Londoners, big names from the world of showbusiness, sport, politics,
community and business have lent their backing to West Ham United's pledge
to build on the fantastic platform the Olympic Games have provided to help
'Put east London on the map and keep it there'. The full letter, which fans
will also see in media in the coming week, can be seen below.

Dear Londoners,

We, the under-signed, are delighted to be backing West Ham United's Bid to
occupy the Olympic Stadium post-Games. We are offering our support as
community and business leaders, representatives of the arts and figureheads
from the sporting family. Some of us are also West Ham United supporters but
we all have one thing in common: a passionate interest in East London, its
community and its future direction.

The Games have given a mouth-watering taste of what this amazing venue could
offer to visitors week in week out. But the showcase must not stop there.
West Ham has promised to help deliver the legacy promises made by Lord Coe
in 2005: promises that would directly benefit the people of East London and
the rest of the nation as a whole. This would be done through the creation
of jobs, ensuring the Stadium is regularly used by the local community and
by making elite sport accessible and affordable to all.

Karren Brady on behalf of the club, has told us of their aspirations for the
Stadium and we know first-hand that she and her team have both the passion
and the desire to deliver them.

West Ham's bid, if accepted would turn the stadium into a truly multi-use
destination that serves its community - a world-class centre for athletics,
football and as a cultural and music destination of which the nation can
continue to be proud.

Nobody is better placed to deliver the legacy than West Ham United as they
have been delivering legacies for London since 1895. The club work hard to
serve their community, with over 500,000 of their supporters hailing from
the east end of London and the surrounding areas.

We support West Ham United's bid and hope you will join us by getting behind
the club's efforts to see the legacy promise delivered and help to really
put East London on the map and keep it there.

Email: passthebaton@westhamunited.co.uk
@whufc_official #PASSTHEBATON

Thank-you all and best wishes
James Corden - Actor
Ray Winstone - Actor
Mark Hunter - Olympic medallist
Lyn Brown MP - MP West Ham
Stephen Timms - MP East Ham
Jim Fitzpatrick - MP for Poplar and Limehouse
Ben Shepherd - TV presenter
Sally Gunnell - Olympic medallist
Tony Carr MBE - Academy Director
Kevin Murphy - CEO, Excel London
Kevin Jenkins OBE - Co-founder, Community Links
Perry Fenwick - Actor

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Big Interview: Momo Diame
WHUFC.com
New arrival Mohamed Diame talks Olympics, pre-season and the Barclays
Premier League
14.08.2012

West Ham United new boy Mohamed Diame has revealed his excitement ahead of
the new Barclays Premier League season. The Senegal international captained
his country in the London 2012 Olympic Games but has now returned and played
his second game for the Hammers in Friday's 1-1 draw with SC Braga in
Portugal. The all-action midfielder produced a fine display at the Estadio
Municipal, producing strong challenges and getting forward regularly to
support his team-mates.
Speaking to whufc.com ahead of the new season, Diame stated his intention to
give his all after an Olympic experience he will never forget.

Facing SC Braga on Friday was your second game for West Ham United. How do
you feel it went?

MD - "We worked hard. We had a good game and I think we played well. The
second half was difficult and but we did what we had to and got the
equaliser and we're ready for the next game against Aston Villa on Saturday
- our first in the Barclays Premier League."

You've been away for the majority of pre-season competing in the Olympics
for Senegal. Is it good to be back now with your new team mates?

MD - "I feel good. I left around a month ago so it's nice to get back. I
think the guys are ready as well and we all feel prepared for the start of
the Barclays Premier League season."

You made it to the quarter-final stage, so did you enjoy the experience or
were you frustrated to miss out on winning an Olympic medal?

MD - "I really enjoyed the experience of competing in the Olympic football.
For me I would just to say thank you to West Ham United for allowing me to
go as it was an experience I will never forget."

Are you excited for the start of the Barclays Premier League season?

MD - "Of course I'm very excited. I'm at a new club in West Ham and I'm
looking forward to the challenge."

Are you excited about playing in front of the West Ham United fans and what
do you know about them already?

MD - "I'm ready for that. I know the fans are behind the team and every time
they are looking for a win, so I will give my best on the pitch to ensure
they go home happy."

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Joey jumping at Ireland return
WHUFC.com
Joey O'Brien is itching to make his first Republic of Ireland appearance
since 2007 on Wednesday evening
14.08.2012

Joey O'Brien has revealed that he never gave up hope of making an
international return as he prepares to make his first Republic of Ireland
appearance since October 2007 on Wednesday evening. The West Ham United
player disappeared into the international wilderness after being withdrawn
at half-time in Ireland's 1-1 EURO 2008 qualifying draw with Cyprus in
Dublin, enduring a two-year injury nightmare. After battling back from
serious knee problems, O'Brien earned a two-year contract with the Hammers
in the summer of 2011 after impressing his former Bolton Wanderers manager
Sam Allardyce. The 26-year-old made 33 appearances last season to prove his
fitness and help West Ham to gain promotion to the Barclays Premier League,
catching the eye of Ireland manager Giovanni Trapattoni in the process.

Now, he has earned an international recall and could make his fourth senior
appearance in Wednesday's friendly with Serbia in Belgrade. The Irish start
their World Cup qualifying campaign in Kazakhstan on 7 September and the
Hammers No17 would love to be involved. "I've done so much rehab in a way
that football is the easy part," he told the Irish Times. "Once I'm on the
pitch, and I'm fit, I believe I'll be playing games and nothing else
matters. "Luckily for me, he (Big Sam) got the West Ham job at the right
time and told me I could go down there to train. I trained down there for
the whole of pre-season to try and earn a contract and thankfully I did."

O'Brien also thanked Big Sam for allowing him to join up with the Ireland
squad just a few days before the big Barclays Premier League kick-off
against Aston Villa at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday. "He knows how
patriotic I am, being an Irish person over here [in England]. He hears me
every day on the training ground. He wasn't going to be able to say
anything. I love playing for my country."

For the Dubliner, pulling on the green shirt of his country again is
something O'Brien has been dreaming of. Speaking to the Irish Sun, he
recalled the memory of being awarded his first Irish cap by the late FAI
coach Noel O'Reilly after making his debut against Sweden in March 2006. The
popular full-back also revealed that his faith had played a big part in his
successful recovery from majory surgery to have a piece of his kneecap
removed in 2008. "I love playing for my country, I've a picture in my flat
of Noel O'Reilly giving me my first cap — God rest him. I knew, and people
that matter to me, they knew what it meant for me to be playing for Ireland.
"I had trust in God that I was going to get back. There were many a prayer
and novena (act of religious devotion) that kept me going. I was always a
religious person. I was brought up in it by my ma and da, going to mass
every week. I think that without it, I would not be back."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mickey Thomas condemns Wales injury withdrawals
BBC.co.uk
WALES V BONSIA-HERCEGOVINA - FRIENDLY INTERNATIONAL
Venue: Parc y Scarlets, Llanelli Date: Wednesday, 15 August Kick-off: 19:45
BST
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Sport website, BBC Radio Wales & BBC Radio
Cymru. Highlights on BBC One Wales (22:45 BST)

Ex-Wales international Mickey Thomas has criticised West Ham United pair
James Collins and Jack Collison for withdrawing from Wales squad duty.
Defender Collins reported a groin injury and Collison a knee problem ahead
of Wednesday's friendly with Bosnia-Herzegovina in Llanelli. "Two players
withdrew again from the squad... Collins and Collison," Thomas told the
Radio Wales Sport programme. "They both drop out of the squad. Every time
it's the same two players." Wales manager Chris Coleman has called up
Huddersfield's Joel Lynch and Cardiff's Robert Earnshaw to replace the
Hammers pair as he prepares his side for 2014 World Cup qualifiers with
Belgium and Serbia in September.

"It's unfair, because Chris Coleman, it's his first campaign, and he wants
everyone available yet these two players yet again don't make the squad,"
Thomas added.
"If you don't want to play for Wales then why don't you just come out and be
brave enough and say it, because Chris Coleman has to prepare his team for
this massive campaign ahead."

The 23-year-old Collison has suffered a string of knee problems that began
with an initial injury in 2009, which includes the midfielder being
sidelined for 14 months after surgery and only returning to action at the
end of the 2010/11 season. Collins was not selected for the friendly against
Mexico in May and was left out of the match-day 19 against Costa Rica in
February despite having been named in the initial squad for the Gary Speed
Memorial Match. Before the Mexico game, Coleman had said: "James Collins has
lost his place with Ashley Williams really being the mainstay and Darcy
Blake has done well at international level. "They haven't done anything
wrong there. James has had a long hard season, he has had a few niggles. "I
know all about James. I'm not going to learn anything from James." Collins
had withdrawn from the friendly against Norway in November 2011 and was also
injured for the Euro 2012 qualifiers with Switzerland and Bulgaria the
previous month.

The 28-year-old was an unused substitute in the September 2011 defeat to
England and suspended for the previous game against Montenegro. The match
before that had been a friendly against Australia in August and Collins was
again an injury withdrawal before the 2-1 loss in Cardiff, while the
previous Nations Cup tournament also saw the defender absent with a groin
injury. Collins, who has won 39 Wales caps, last played for his country in
March 2011, when England won their Euro 2012 qualifier in Cardiff. Thomas'
fellow former Wales star Ian Walsh agreed that the withdrawals were likely
to hamper Coleman's preparations. "It's a great shame because James Collins
especially he's a very good centre-half, he's had a great move back to West
Ham," Walsh said. "Collison of course at West Ham, we saw West Ham beat
Cardiff City [in the Championship play-offs] and Collison scored two goals
at Cardiff City Stadium. "These players sometimes they do baffle everybody.
"It's going to be tough for Chris Coleman and the boys because it's a
strange time to have a game, when there's been hardly any league matches and
then all of a sudden you're going off to international duty."

Goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and midfielder David Vaughan are also missing
through injury for the Bosnia game at Parc y Scarlets.

Wales squad

Goalkeepers: Jason Brown (Aberdeen), Boaz Myhill (West Bromwich Albion),
Owain Fon Williams (Tranmere Rovers).
Defenders: Darcy Blake (Cardiff City), Chris Gunter (Reading), Adam Matthews
(Celtic), Sam Ricketts (Bolton Wanderers), Neil Taylor (Swansea City),
Ashley Williams (Swansea City), Joel Lynch (Huddersfield Town).
Midfielders: Joe Allen (Liverpool), Andrew Crofts (Brighton & Hove Albion),
David Edwards (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Joe Ledley (Celtic), Aaron Ramsey
(Arsenal), Gareth Bale (Tottenham Hotspur).
Strikers: Craig Bellamy (Cardiff City), Simon Church (Reading), Steve
Morison (Norwich City), Hal Robson-Kanu (Reading), Sam Vokes (Burnley), Rob
Earnshaw (Cardiff City).

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Allardyce viewing long-term stay
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 14th August 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United boss Sam Allardyce has admitted that he would like to remain
in charge of the club beyond his current two-year contract. Allardyce, 57 -
whose current contract expires at the end of the 2012/13 season - revealed
that he would be delighted to remain in charge of the club if and when
United receive the green light to move to the home of the hugely-successful
Olympic Games at Stratford. "I want to take the club into the Olympic
Stadium because I was inspired by it," he told KUMB.com today. "If any fans
had doubts about us moving there they should have been extinguished by the
atmosphere that was created [during the games] and the facility that is
there for this club - and only three miles down the road."

Although the decision over who will be awarded preferred bidder status for
tenancy of the stadium is not expected to be announced for several weeks,
Allardyce was in no doubt that it is a necessary move should West Ham wish
to progress and challenge the nation's most successful clubs. "If this club
wants to be great, it has to go," he insisted. "Unless you redevelop Upton
Park and make it a 60,000 all-seater state-of-the-art stadium. "If you
can't do that, you've got an unbelievable arena [at Stratford] that could
create a cauldron of noise - which is what the West Ham fans do, as they
showed at Wembley [against Blackpool]. "It could be the catalyst for the
next generation, the modern-day history of this football club."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Coleman defends absent duo
Wales manager says Collison and Collins are not fit to face Bosnia
Last Updated: August 14, 2012 4:23pm
SSN

Chris Coleman has shielded Jack Collison and James Collins from criticism
after the West Ham pair withdrew from the Wales squad. Midfielder Collison
(knee) and defender Collins (groin), a recent signing from Aston Villa, both
pulled out of Wednesday's clash against Bosnia-Herzegovina in Llanelli over
the weekend. Joel Lynch and Robert Earnshaw have been called up as
replacements but former Wales international Mickey Thomas has still labelled
the withdrawals of Collins and Collison as 'unfair' on Coleman ahead of his
first qualifying campaign. Coleman has leapt to the defence of the duo,
though, with Collison having been dogged by knee problems in recent seasons
and Collins having not played for his country since the Euro 2012 qualifying
defeat against England in March 2011. He said: "I have seen Mickey's
comments, he is paid to give his opinion but I don't agree. "Jack Collison
has had a serious knee problem, not for six months or 12 months, but for two
or three years. "He has got through games when maybe he shouldn't have
because he wants to play, and he has even come away with Wales when maybe he
shouldn't have. "But we know Jack very well, he has a lot of desire for
football, he loves to come and play for Wales and we love having him play
for Wales, but physically he cannot do it. "He has not kicked a ball since
the play-off final, where he ran himself into the ground and had a big
impact. He has not done a lot since and he needs a rest. "We left him out of
the Mexico game as he had the play-off final coming up and he had played a
lot of football, I think it was around 30 games for West Ham, and he is
always trying to maintain his knee problem. Now he needs a complete rest.

Responsibility

"I will take some of the responsibility for naming him in the squad and then
getting information on him. "But if he is not right and he cannot play for
West Ham, how can he play for us? "James Collins, we think, has a hernia
problem which may need surgery, he can't play. He limped off in a friendly
in Portugal for West Ham so he can't play. "They are two players who will
always be in my thoughts and be there or thereabouts when I am naming my
squad." Wednesday's fixture is the final chance for Coleman to prepare for
the World Cup qualifiers which begin against Belgium in Cardiff next month.
And the former Fulham boss believes the fixture is the ideal test for his
side before the serious business gets under way. "This is an important game
against a very good team," he said. "People say they have not won for five
games but look at the sides they have lost against. France, Mexico, Brazil,
these are some of the best sides they have been up against. "They are ranked
in the top 30 and it is a good game for us ahead of the Belgium game next
month."

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Is Matt Jarvis Really Worth £9 Million Or More?
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die

I'll be honest, until this pre-season, I had never heard of Matt Jarvis. He
was part of a Wolves team that got itself relegated, and relegated with
comparative ease. His teammate Steven Fletcher is said to be worth £12
million and Jarvis himself is rated at more than £10 million by the selling
club. For a winger with a career strike rate of one goal in eight games,
that's going some. But worse than that, statistics show that last season he
created only 4 assists, and 6 the season before. Admittedly, last season he
scored 9 in 39 appearances and it was his best season ever, but £9 million
is still an awful lot. Perhaps we should bear in mind that in Wolves'
promotion season he only scored 3 in 37. If we sign him. we should be very
wary of expecting too much too soon.

If speculation is to be believed, the players wants to move, but Wolves are
holding out for an improved offer from another team. West Ham have told
them, so we are informed, that if they don't accept an improved offer from
the Hammers by the end of the day, then the deal is off. If that happens
attention may well switch to Matt Phillips at Blackpool. He is the subject
of a bid from Southampton, but Ian Holloway has accused the Saints of
tapping up his player. So Blackpool may well look favourably on a bid from
us.

One final point on Matt Jarvis. It was said on the @Agent_WHU account
yesterday that Jarvis owns a house in East Sussex, but West Ham had offered
him a "living allowance" so he could have a flat in the East End. I have no
idea who is behind this Twitter account, but he does seem to have some sort
of inside information. If this is true, you have to ask why a player who
would be on a salary of in excess of £25k a week would need a further living
allowance. It's yet another example of how football finances are totally out
of control and out of kilter with the world the rest of us inhabit. As I
say, it may be fiction and hogwash, but the fact that it is eminently
believable, says it all.

UPDATE 9.27: It seems the Jarvis deal has fallen through tonight. According
to @Agent_WHU Wolves have tried to provoke a bidding war and the board have
told them where they can stick it. So Wolves have turned down bids totalling
£22 million for two players in a relegated team. Idiots.

UPDATE: 23.01 The Daily Mail is reporting that Clint Dempsey has turned down
a move to West Ham.

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Fazi-oh yes
Hammers like look of Federico
Published: 14th August 2012
The Sun

WEST HAM are poised to make a move for Sevilla defender Federico Fazio.
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is desperate to bring another central defender,
25, and the Argentine international fits the bill. Allardyce recently signed
James Collins from Aston Villa but he still feels they need more cover at
the back. He said: "We are trying to build a squad in quality terms and
strength in depth."

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Hammer blow: We'd have built a team around Carroll reveals Sullivan
Mirror.co.uk

David Sullivan has revealed the truth about West Ham's £17million bid to
sign Andy Carroll. The Mirror revealed last month that the east Londoners
were prepared to back Sam Allardyce by splashing out a staggering £100,000 a
week to lure Liverpool striker Carroll to Upton Park. Sullivan has confirmed
Big Sam was desperate to build his team for the new season around the
England striker. The West Ham co-owner also admits Big Sam wanted Wolves
winger Matt Jarvis - for whom the Hammers have had a £6million turned down -
to provide the ammunition for Carroll. Sullivan said: "I can only talk about
this because it has been put in the public domain already. "My manager
wanted Andy Carroll, so we backed him. "Andy was the perfect player for him
and the style of football we play. "We play a lot of high balls, a lot of
crosses - quite exciting football, not just humping it but clever crossing -
and Sam wanted Jarvis to supply the crosses because he is a fantastic
crosser. "We had a deal in place with Liverpool to borrow the player which
automatically became a purchase if we stayed up. "We hoped, as he had the
same agent as our manager - a man we had done a lot of business with - and
he was very friendly with Kevin Nolan, our captain, that Andy would want to
come. "But he really wants to stay at Liverpool. He believes that he will
get back into the side by his performances - coming off the bench or for the
reserves. He believes the manager will have to put him back in the side.
"But it's wrong to discuss what is in his mind. Only he knows that." Carroll
has been tipped for a move back to hometown club Newcastle, but Sullivan
said: "We were paying all of his wages and a huge loan fee. Newcastle didn't
even want to pay all of his wages. "This is what we are led to believe. So
Liverpool were not prepared to let him go to Newcastle. But it may all
change. Who knows?"

Sullivan has since snapped up midfielder Alou Diarra for around £3million
and admitted the funds earmarked for Carroll are now being used elsewhere.
He added: "It was a terribly expensive deal with the loan fee and with his
wages, which were enormous - too much for a club like ours. "But, as the
manager really wanted him, we were prepared to pay it. "Then there was a
huge transfer fee which would have blown our budget for several years. "So,
as we buy players, the door shuts."

West Ham new boy Alou Diarra could be one of the buys of the summer, claims
Hammers chief David Sullivan. The 31-year-old defensive midfielder, who has
won the French League with Lyon and Bordeaux and played for France at Euro
2012, penned a three-year deal last week. Signed for Liverpool by Gerard
Houllier, Diarra spent three years at the club from 2002 until 2005 but
never played a senior game - not even in the cups. Sullivan explained: "He
was a boy at Liverpool. A kid. He had not come to his strength and he didnt
play a game for Liverpool. "But he is a supreme professional, and I would be
very surprised if he doesn't turn out to maybe be one of the buys of the
summer."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Our house: Sullivan says West Ham deserve the Olympic Stadium
Mirror.co.uk

It is a venue that has given us some magnificent sporting memories in just
two weeks. And David Sullivan believes the Olympic Stadium is already more
iconic than the new Wembley. The arena played host to the stellar
achievements of Mo Farah, Jess Ennis, Greg Rutherford and – of course –
Usain Bolt among others. West Ham's co-owner is confident the east Londoners
can continue the feelgood factor by winning the race for the tenancy, set to
be announced in October. Days after Hammers manager Sam Allardyce warned the
stadium would go to rack and ruin if the club doesn't move in, Sullivan
said: "The Olympic Stadium is already more iconic than the new Wembley. With
Wembley you still think of the twin towers – the old Wembley. "The new
Wembley – much better stadium as it is – is not better than the old stadium
in terms of status. There were 80 years of memories with the old stadium.
That is hard to replace. "But the whole country has seen the Olympic Stadium
and shared in some special moments there. "Everyone has their own memory.
For me, I thought Mo Farah's 5,000m win was sensational. That last lap was
­absolutely incredible. "But to win three gold medals in an hour as we did
on the first weekend was incredible as well. That's how special the stadium
is already to people. "Imagine how people would be feeling now, after all
that, if it had already been predetermined it had to come down. "When we
play there – if we get lucky enough to be awarded it – I think away teams
will relish going there. "Under the rules I can't discuss our bid. But if we
are accepted as the anchor tenant then the legacy will continue. "I think
you might get 10,000 Wigan fans there – simply because they want to come to
the Olympic Stadium, or whatever it might be called."

The promoted Hammers face Aston Villa at Upton Park in their first Premier
League game of the new season on Saturday. Asked whether the Hammers would
struggle to recreate the atmosphere of the last two weeks, Sullivan said:
"For the big games you would have full houses, and near full houses for all
the other games. It would be wonderful. "The Olympics is something special.
It will be hard to recreate the atmosphere for the 100m final – lets not kid
ourselves. "But believe me when we're playing any of the top six or eight
teams in an important game there will be a wonderful atmosphere, just like
when we played in the play-off final at Wembley. "That atmosphere was
incredible. People have said to me it was the best day of their lives."

There are three other bids being considered by London's Legacy ­Development
Corporation – the ­University College of Football ­Business, which is an
affiliate of Bucks New University, the Intelligent ­Transport Service, who
want to build a Formula One track, and League One side Leyton Orient.
Sullivan continued: "You want to keep it for this huge iconic stadium that
can be multi-purpose. You'd have lots of different events – pop concerts,
football and athletics. "We believe West Ham will give a greater legacy than
anybody else. "We've a 900,000 email address list of supporters. We can use
all that to help promote the other events at the stadum - to help athletics.
"The World Athletics Championships is going to be in there in 2017 anyway.
"Us moving there will be wonderful for sport, and wonderful for the
country."

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Sam Allardyce: Part One
Filed: Tuesday, 14th August 2012
By: Staff Writer
KUMB.com

Just four days ahead the start of the 2012/13 Premier League campaign, with
West Ham United duly restored to the top flight of English football by
virtue of May's play-off Final win against Blackpool, we sat down with
current Hammers boss Sam Allardyce to look ahead to the new season. Firing
the questions on behalf of KUMB.com was Graeme Howlett...


KUMB: Sam: thanks for taking the time to talk to us. Last season you
achieved your goal at the first ask and it was ultimately a successful
season. What would you consider a success this year?

SA: I think it all depends on how we go in the first eight to ten games. We
have to look at the first group of fixtures and ask: "What can we achieve
from this group of fixtures?" Then at the end of that period I will know
about the strengths and weaknesses of my squad and I will have a better idea
about where we might be capable of finishing.

To try and predict at this stage of the season, being a newly-promoted
side... You think you've got this or you've got that, but until it gets
tested again in the Premier League... I've got a lot of Premier League
players who have played there before but they're all having to test
themselves yet again.

A lot of teams have spent a lot of money and obviously those teams are going
to be very difficult to play against, but we've got to make sure we're ready
to compete against anybody and to try and get a result out of every game
we're going to play. The first few games are critical; we'll see where we go
from there.

KUMB: Talking about those first few games, you might say the fixture list
has been relatively kind to us?

SA: I would agree with you; they are games we've got a chance of getting a
result and a few points out of.

In this league, I always say to the players: "Lads, you're all looking
forward to playing against Manchester United and Chelsea - and we're all
looking forward to playing at Stamford Bridge, Old Trafford and The Emirates
- but at the end of the day we should be looking forward to playing against
the teams we've got a better chance of winning against."

We should all be at our best for those games and if we do that, then we will
be a very strong Premier League outfit. You can play your very best against
Manchester United; Chelsea; Arsenal; Liverpool; Man City - you could play a
really good game - and still come off having lost 2-0, or 3-1.

You know that when you play your very best against somebody around you,
somebody around the same level as you, you're probably going to come out
with a win or at least a draw. That's the most important thing, the
mentality of the players to get the results where we're more capable of
getting [them] and not waiting to produce their best performance against the
top boys.

KUMB: You mentioned going to the Emirates there; I would imagine you're
fairly keen to reacquaint yourself with Mr Wenger and his team again? You
had a few battles with him back in the day when you were at Bolton?

SA: I was with Arsene yesterday, it was very relaxed! We were talking about
the referees in the Premier League and the media rights next season, the
responsibility of the players and the managers. We've a huge responsibility
to keep promoting this fantastic Barclays Premier League which has brought
in millions and millions of pounds.

Overseas rights have been bought by 86 countries as well as our own rights
domestically, so there's a huge demand on us managers and the players. But
with the millions it brings, we have to accept it. So we have to keep
promoting the Barclays Premier League in the right way whilst we have a
responsibility to tell our players to go out there, promote it and
entertain.

Obviously the most important thing for us is winning games of football but
[also] to look after what is a great brand. I think, listening to Arsene
yesterday, it'll be great to be challenging against [someone who has been] a
fantastic coach in this country all these years.

KUMB: Going back to last year, you'd talk frequently about the targets you'd
set the team. You talked about aiming for automatic promotion, you talked
about averaging two points from every game; is that something you'll be
doing again this time?

SA: Yeah. We've done our five phases; we've done what we need to do. The
players are clear that we work in each phase to try and do the best we
possibly can because there's a great tendency in players' minds to start a
season and say: "Oh well, we haven't won but there's 37 games left to go".

That's the most dangerous thing that can happen to one of your players. They
must say from the very start that the first three points are just as
important as the last. If you get that mode of thinking then you've got a
better chance of doing well.

Breaking the season up and saying we're going to be assessing [performances]
at the end of this group of games, we're going to be either praising it,
criticising it or both. We hope it's a massive "well done" but we can
improve on this and we can improve on that.

If it's not so good we've got to say: "Look lads, we've got the next phase
to move into and we must get better immediately". That's the key for me, to
sustain consistency throughout the season.

KUMB: In terms of you personally, when you arrived here last summer you
signed a two-year contract which obviously expires at the end of this
season. How long do you see yourself being at West Ham?

SA: Only as long as I continue to win is the answer to that, in today's
volatile world of football. For me to say anything other than that based on
the statistics would just be irresponsible of me because even if I signed a
five-year contract, if I lost the first ten games [of the season] I'd
probably be getting sacked.

KUMB: How far do you think you can take West Ham United?

SA: Well I want to take them into the Olympic Stadium because I was inspired
by it. I think that if any fans had doubts about us moving there they should
have been extinguished by the atmosphere that was created [during the games]
and the facility that is there for this club - and only three miles down the
road.

KUMB: So you see a move to the Olympic Stadium as key to the club's
progression?

SA: If this club wants to be great, it has to go. Unless you redevelop Upton
Park and make it a 60,000 all-seater state-of-the-art stadium, then fine.

KUMB: Which can't happen...

SA: Which can't happen. So if you can't do that you've got an unbelievable
arena that could create a cauldron of noise - which is what the West Ham
fans do, as they showed at Wembley. It could be the catalyst for the next
generation, the modern-day history of this football club.

KUMB: You were spotted singing 'Bubbles' at Wembley; you picked the words up
pretty quickly?

SA: [laughs] I've heard it that much I can't help it! Every time I ring the
Chairman - which is mostly David Sullivan, not David Gold - generally I have
to wait for him for a short while and on comes "I'm forever blowing
bubbles..." So it does become pretty infectious in the end, you know what I
mean!?

But I understand the culture and the history of this football club and how
much it means [to the fans]. I'm ingrained in it and I want to be successful
not just for myself, but for them too. Every manager does. And every group
of players here wants to be successful - obviously for themselves and their
families, but also for the football club and for the supporters.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dempsey rejects West Ham as Fulham's bid for Dnipro's Boateng falls short
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 22:45, 14 August 2012 | UPDATED: 01:03, 15 August 2012
Daily Mail

West Ham have failed to lure Clint Dempsey, 29, from Fulham, who have had a
bid for Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk's Derek Boateng, 29, rejected. American
international Dempsey is in demand but clubs have yet to come up with the
fee that Fulham believe is suitable for the 29-year-old. He was outstanding
last season but the fact he is training away from the first team reflects a
breakdown in his relationship with the club. His contract has 11 months to
run but Fulham have valued him at £9million. Liverpool have made no secret
of their desire to sign him and would offer players such as Charlie Adam but
the Scot is reluctant to leave Anfield.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham star: I thought Bolton would have given me a chance
Tuesday, August 14, 2012
5:20 PM
London 24

West Ham star Joey O'Brien thought he would have been given the chance by
Bolton and not released. Instead, Sam Allardyce came to the midfielder's
rescue by offering him the chance to train and then helped the Hammers by
lifting them back to the Premier League, at the Trotters' expense. "I
thought at the time when I got released by the manager, I thought I was
going to get kept on at Bolton," O'Brien told The Sun. "I always backed
myself that I was going to be good enough.
"Thankfully the boss at West Ham — whom I owe a lot to in my career anyway —
he gave me the opportunity to go down training when I was released by Bolton
when I had no offers. "But in the Championship, it is physically more
demanding than the Premier League. "I looked at high-intensity stats, the
out-of-possession stats and the physical stats, the physical stats are
higher in the Championship than in the Premier League."

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