Maiga shines for Mali
WHUFC.com
Modibo Maiga was the pick of West Ham United's international stars on
Saturday
07.09.2012
Modibo Maiga was on target for Mali on another busy afternoon for West Ham
United's internationals. The Hammers' new No11 scored the third for Mali as
they ran out 3-0 winners in Botswana in a 2013 African Nations Cup first-leg
final-round qualifier. Cheick Diabate's penalty and Mahamadou Ndiaye had
given Mali the lead before Maiga wrapped up the scoring with 20 minutes to
go. Meanwhile, Mohamed Diame (pictured) started for Senegal as they lost
their first-leg to the Ivory Coast 4-2. The match swung from end-to-end but
it was the hosts that eventually ran out winners at the Felix
Houphouet-Boigny Stadium in Adibjan, courtesy of goals from Salomon Kalou,
Gervinho, Didier Drogba and Max Gradel. Diame will be looking to overturn
their lead in the secon leg next month.
On Friday, Winston Reid led the way as he helped New Zealand get off to a
winning start in the final stage of the Oceania 2014 World Cup Qualifiers.
Shane Smeltz and Chris Wood scored the goals as the All Whites clinched a
2-0 win at New Caledonia. The Stade Numa Daly fixture saw Reid make his 11th
appearance for New Zealand in two years as he continues to be an integral
part of the side. Next up for the All Whites on Tuesday is a
top-of-the-table clash with the Soloman Islands, who also recorded a 2-0 win
against Oceania champions Tahiti.
Elsewhere, Yossi Benayoun was a second-half substitute in Israel's 1-1 draw
with Azerbaijan. The on-loan Chelsea player, now in his second spell with
West Ham United, came on in the 73rd minute for Itay Shechter. Bebars Natcho
opened the scoring for Israel but Azerbaijan hit back and equalised through
Ruslan Abbasov in the 65th minute.
Joey O'Brien was an unused substitute as the Republic of Ireland snatched a
2-1 win away to Kazakhstan. The home side had outplayed their opponents for
much of the game and grabbed a deserved lead in the 38th minute when Kairat
Nurdauletov nodded home. Defeat seemed all but sealed until Robbie Keane
slotted in an 89th minute penalty that seemingly earned a draw. But there
was to be more drama as Kevin Doyle volleyed home just a minute later to
grab a 2-1 win
James Collins' first appearance for Wales in 18 months ended in
disappointment as the centre back was sent off for a strong tackle after 26
minutes as they lost 2-0 in Belgium. Barclays Premier League duo Vincent
Kompany and Jan Vertonghen scored either side of half time as Wales
struggled to find a foothold with ten men. Gareth Bale almost levelled the
tie with a superb free-kick but Athletico Madrid keeper Thibault Courtois
was able to tip it round the post.
Meanwhile, Blair Turgott made his England Under-19 debut as a second-half
substitute as the Young Lions lost 3-1 to Germany in Hamburg. Turgott came
on in the 75th minute for Liverpool's Adam Morgan but it was another of the
Reds starlets who stole the show. Summer signing Samed Yesil scored a superb
double, opening the scoring after just two minutes, showing fine trickery in
the box before smashing the ball home. After Yesil's opener the Under-19s
rallied and drew level on 31 minutes when Nick Powell expertly chipped
Odisseas Vlachodimos. But Yesil once again put the hosts in front when
Jordan Pickford was only able to palm the youngster's initial effort
straight back at him and he tapped the ball into the empty net two minutes
into the second half. SC Freiburg's Sebastian Kerk completed the scoring,
slotting the ball calmly past Pickford to ensure that there was no way back
for England. Daniel Potts was also part of the squad but was an unable to
play after picking up a minor injury in training on Wednesday. Both Turgott
and Potts will be hoping to be part of the Under-19s squad for the UEFA
European Championship qualifiers against the Faroe Islands, Ukraine and
Estonia later this month.
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'There's Only One Stevie Bacon'
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's long-serving club photographer has recently released his
entertaining autobiography
08.09.2012
To all West Ham United supporters, 'There's Only One Stevie Bacon' - and now
it's official! The Hammers' official club photographer for more than 30
years, Steve Bacon has had unique view on goings on at the Boleyn Ground.
Now, he has put his memories down on paper in his new autobiography,
entitled 'There's Only One Stevie Bacon' in honour of the famous terrace
chant. The book is now on sale at the Stadium Superstore. Speaking at a book
signing on the opening day of the 2012/13 season, Bacon revealed his delight
at releasing his autobiography in the same month that the club had returned
to the Barclays Premier League. "My book has now been released and luckily
it has coincided with our return to the Premier League, which was always a
hope of mine," said Bacon. "It was a very good August for me. "The first day
back against Aston Villa was fantastic. It was a lovely day and an even
better result. I wasn't working because I had a knee operation two weeks
prior but it was good to be out and see the supporters."
The book has been an on-going project for Bacon who revealed it was the
perfect time to write and publish his personal memoirs. "I did a book of
photographs in 1996, but people have often said 'You must have a good story
to tell and we would love to hear it'. I'm now 60 so this was the perfect
time to do it. "I spoke to the author Kirk Blows, who is another West Ham
United supporter, and between us we sat down and wrote the book which I am
delighted with."
The book contains many touching anecdotes from Bacon's time as club
photographer, but he was able to pinpoint one particularly comedic memory,
while paying tribute to a 'special' personal favourite. "It is probably some
of the memories I have from the Lou Macari era because, although he may not
have been that popular at the time, we really clicked. "John Lyall was also
another very special person who was totally unique, but in terms of comedy
it would have to be Lou. We went to Ireland one year and were playing all
kinds of pranks on each other and we got fogged in which has never happened
before in the airport's entire history!"
This isn't the end for Bacon as a snapper, however, as he hopes to return
from his knee operation to the club in a matter of weeks. "I had to miss the
end of last season which was a shame but it simply became too painful.
Thankfully I have had it fixed now and hopefully I will be back at the club
within a matter of weeks."
One matchday food outlet has even named a dish in Bacon's name - the 'Steve
Bacon Burger' - and the man himself admitted he cherishes his relationship
with the club and all who are a part of it. "I am very flattered and often
very embarrassed by it. I put it down to longevity. If you are in the same
place for long enough, you are always going to become part of the furniture.
"I am a local lad who still lives ten minutes from the ground, so to become
so heavily involved with the fans and the club is something very close to my
heart."
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Sir Geoff Hurst backs West Ham's bid to lease Olympic Stadium
BBC.co.uk
Sir Geoff Hurst believes former club West Ham must move to London's Olympic
Stadium to fulfil their ambitions of becoming a "top" Premier League side.
The Hammers are one of four bidders under consideration to lease the £486m
stadium after the Paralympics. "In the long term [moving] is far more
beneficial," Hurst, 70, told BBC Sportsweek. "The future of the club, I
think, should be in the Olympic Park." "I feel strongly that is where we
have got to go," added the World Cup winner.
West Ham won the backing of Olympic executives ahead of Premier League
rivals Tottenham to lease the stadium, before the deal was scrapped last
year amid legal wrangling.
Olympic Stadium timeline
November 2010: West Ham and Tottenham named as preferred bidders
February 2011: West Ham win backing of Olympic bosses
April 2011: Spurs and Leyton Orient launch legal bids over decision
October 2011: Government confirms Hammers' bid collapses
December 2011: Olympic bosses relaunch tender process
March 2012: Four bidders submit new proposals
Jul-Aug 2012: Stadium hosts Olympic and Paralympic Games
October 2012: Decision expected on successful bidders
2014: Stadium will reopen with new tenants
The Hammers, who have played at current home Upton Park since 1904,
submitted another proposal in March after the bidding process was restarted.
League One side Leyton Orient and the UCFB College of Football Business have
also tabled bids, while a plan to turn part of the stadium into a Formula 1
track is another under consideration by the London Legacy Development
Corporation. Hurst, the only man to score a World Cup final hat-trick after
his heroics for England against West Germany in 1966, says he is "1,000%" in
favour of West Ham moving to Stratford. The Olympic Stadium, which currently
has an 80,000 capacity, will be reduced to 60,000 post-Games, while Upton
Park only holds 35,000 fans. "Nobody has a greater feeling about West Ham
United at Upton Park than I have," said Hurst, who scored 248 goals in 499
matches spanning 13 years for the Hammers. "We want to be in a big stadium
with more access, we want to be a top Premier League club. With the support
we've got, which is fantastic, we should be mid-table and above in the
Premier League. "We don't want to be yo-yoing up and down as we have been
doing."
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Upton Mark: West Ham keen for fan favourite Noble to sign new contract
The Mirror
West Ham have opened talks with Mark Noble over a new contract. The midfield
player's current deal expires at the end of this season. If there is no
agreement about an extension, then the club could lose the 25-year-old on a
free transfer next June. Noble – a graduate from the club's famed academy –
has played a crucial role in the Hammers' impressive start to the season
which has brought six points from the the first three games with victories
over Aston Villa and Fulham. He has excelled in his new role as the
deep-lying midfield player protecting the back four and figures prominently
in manager Sam Allardyce's plans. Noble is hugely popular with the fans,
too. He was voted the club's Player of the Year when they gained promotion
back to the Premier League in May. Now West Ham want to ensure his long-term
future lies at Upton Park. The indications are that he will be offered an
extension to his contract that will keep him at West Ham for the next five
years.
Fulham were strongly linked with Noble during the summer as they looked for
a replacement for Danny Murphy who moved to Blackburn. But Noble stayed –
and West Ham now want to ensure that his future his secured by the January
transfer window.
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'DADDY' SAM ALLARDYCE IS TOPS FOR RAY WINSTONE
Daily Star
9th September 2012 By Tony Stenson
HARD-MAN actor Ray Winstone is backing West Ham boss Sam Allardyce to
breathe life back into his favourite team. "He's the daddy. I don't want to
fade and die any more," he said, referring to the Hammers' famous signature
tune, 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles'. Winstone, 55, an East Ender and
life-long Hammers fan, was impressed with Andy Carroll's swashbuckling debut
last week and believes Big Sam should get the credit for his snatch of the
day. And Winstone whose remake of The Sweeney is set to become a box office
smash, said: "Sam has done well. He has brought steel and heart to the
dressing room. "We are going to need that if we are to do well in the
Premier League. "We look all right. There are one or two teams in the league
who don't look all right and that's great for us. "Survival in the Premier
League is obviously what we want. "I was very worried at the end of the last
one. "We were very lucky to come up in the Play-Off Final.Blackpool were the
better side but thank God they couldn't finish! "We did it. We had some
dodgy moments and some draws at home we could have done without. "But the
thing I loved about the side was that they had heart. "I think that had been
missing for a few years. I am not talking about players like Mark Noble –
who would die for the club – but some others."
Winstone knows a decent start to the campaign is vital and said: "The first
games of the season are very important. If we can give ourselves a platform
going into the tough period, we will do all right. "We are not going to win
any medals this year and I don't expect us to. But I think we will stay up
and winning the FA Cup would do me fine."
Winstone is full of praise for co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold and
the job they have done since taking the helm. "Their record speaks for
itself," he added. "Since coming here they have been very tough about
balancing the books. "We are not Liverpool or Man United but we are a big
club – we won the World Cup by the way! "We are a brand that hasn't realised
its full potential yet. But the club is in very good hands."
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Sunday, September 9
Saturday, September 8
Daily WHUFC News - 8th September 2012
Turgott makes Under-19 bow
WHUFC.com
Blair Turgott made his England Under-19 debut on Thursday in a 3-1 defeat in
Germany
07.09.2012
Blair Turgott made his England Under-19 debut as a second-half substitute as
the Young Lions lost 3-1 to Germany in Hamburg. Turgott came on in the 75th
minute for Liverpool's Adam Morgan but it was another of the Reds starlets
who stole the show. Summer signing Samed Yesil scored a superb double,
opening the scoring after just two minutes, showing fine trickery in the box
before smashing the ball home. After Yesil's opener the Under-19s rallied
and drew level on 31 minutes when Nick Powell expertly chipped Odisseas
Vlachodimos. But Yesil once again put the hosts in front when Jordan
Pickford was only able to palm the youngster's initial effort straight back
at him and he tapped the ball into the empty net two minutes into the second
half. SC Freiburg's Sebastian Kerk completed the scoring, slotting the ball
calmly past Pickford to ensure that there was no way back for England.
Daniel Potts was also part of the squad but was an unable to play after
picking up a minor injury in training on Wednesday. Both Turgott and Potts
will be hoping to be part of the Under-19s squad for the UEFA European
Championship qualifiers against the Faroe Islands, Ukraine and Estonia later
this month.
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Joey ready for national service
WHUFC.com
Proud Irishman Joey O'Brien is looking forward to representing his country
in Kazakhstan on Friday
07.09.2012
For proud Irishman Joey O'Brien, pulling on the emerald green shirt of his
country is a feeling like no other. The West Ham United player was
considered to be one of Ireland's brightest young prospects when he broke
into the senior national side just two weeks after his 20th birthday, only
for a series of serious knee injuries to see his international prospects
seemingly disappear forever. To O'Brien's immense credit, he battled and
worked his way back to fitness. On 15 August the 26-year-old made his fourth
appearance for Ireland in a goalless friendly international draw in Serbia,
nearly five years after earning his third cap in a 2008 UEFA European
Championship qualifier with Cyprus. He may have been on the pitch for just
eleven minutes in Belgrade, but for O'Brien they were among the best eleven
minutes of his life. "It was brilliant," he confirmed. "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." "I didn't expect to come on as a
substitute, so I was delighted to get on the pitch and I think we played
really well and got a good result."
O'Brien is hoping to earn his fifth cap in Friday's opening 2014 FIFA World
Cup Group C qualifier in Kazakhstan and pick up his sixth in next Tuesday's
international friendly with Oman at Craven Cottage. "We play Kazakhstan on
Friday and we're playing Oman on Tuesday and, please God, I'll be involved
in both matches. Hopefully we'll pick up three points in Kazakhstan and make
a good start to our World Cup qualifying campaign. "We played well over in
Serbia in our last friendly match, so hopefully we'll go over there and get
three points. "The last World Cup qualifier I played in was against Cyprus,
which was a long time ago, so obviously it would be great to play my part in
the qualifying campaign and our aim is to try to qualify. "I've been asked
hundreds of times about my injuries but those are in the past now and for me
it's all about looking forward and playing games now."
Ireland are, of course, aiming to qualify for their second major
championship in succession after reaching the 2012 UEFA European
Championship finals. There, Giovanni Trapattoni's side were beaten by
Croatia, eventual winners Spain and runners-up Italy to go out at the group
stage. To qualify, the Boys in Green must finish in the top two of a group
that also contains Germany, Sweden, Austria and Faroe Islands, but O'Brien
is confident that they can do just that - regardless of the relatively small
size of the Irish population and pool of available players. "The lads did
unbelievably well to qualify for the EUROs and I think the achievement of
getting there was taken away by the results over there, but at the end of
the day we got beaten by two of the countries who made it to the final. "We
do unbelievably well for the size of our country. We've got a great track
record for producing players who go onto the world stage. "The first time we
ever qualified for anything was back in 1988, which isn't that long ago. To
be able to produce players and qualify and do well in tournaments is some
achievement. "Even this time, we have a hard group but we'll be looking to
qualify and that's a great way to be - it's great to be going out and
knowing we can qualify."
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Ginge's World Cup dream
WHUFC.com
James Collins wants to help Wales qualify for their first FIFA World Cup
finals in 56 years
07.09.2012
James Collins is dreaming of helping Wales to qualify for their first FIFA
World Cup finals in more than half a century. The West Ham United defender
has not played for Wales since March 2011 but is expected to start for his
country when they begin their Brazil 2014 qualifying campaign by facing
Belgium in Cardiff on Friday evening. Wales, who are in Group A alongside
the Belgians, Serbia, Croatia, Scotland and FYR Macedonia, have not reached
the FIFA World Cup finals since their only previous appearance in 1958.
Collins knows the likes of Barclays Premier League stars Eden Hazard,
Vincent Kompany, Marouane Fellaini and Moussa Dembele will not make it easy
to change that record, but he is confident Chris Coleman's men can build on
the foundations left by the late Gary Speed. "I can't wait to play for Wales
again as it really has been too long," he told whufc.com "I have had to pull
out of the last few squads with little niggles so I am delighted to be fully
fit and I am really looking forward to it. "The key even when Speedo took
over was to qualify for a major tournament, particularly the 2014 World Cup
in Brazil, and that is what we are going to try to do. "We begin with two
very tough games, starting with Belgium on Friday. If you look at their
squad they have a great team. We will have to be at our best and then we
face another difficult game out in Serbia next Tuesday."
While Belgian football is undoubtedly on the rise, Collins believes the fact
so many of their players ply their trade in the Barclays Premier League will
aid Wales' cause.
"I think that around 90 per cent of the Belgium squad play in the Premier
League, so we will have a good understanding of how they play. "That will
help us and, if our players perform how we know they can, there is no reason
why we can't come away with a positive result. We can beat anyone on our
day."
Collins admitted that the last year had been a difficult one for the Welsh
squad following the death of Speed and insisted the best way to honour his
memory would be to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. "It's been very
tough, particularly because the circumstances were so horrendous. He was a
great man and he is sorely missed, but the lads now have to move on. He put
in place a plan to qualify for Brazil and that is what we hope to do in the
way he set out."
With the international break following Saturday's 3-0 home win over Fulham,
Collins left for national duty on a high following his disappointing
performance in the 3-0 defeat at Swansea City. "It was good being at home,
getting the three points and putting the disappointment of the previous
weekend behind us. Nobody was happy with the result against Swansea, myself
more than anyone, so to bounce back and win 3-0 was great. "I think the
disappointment of losing 3-0 really spurred us on. We knew no-one was good
enough at Swansea and that individual errors cost us the game so we were
focused from the start."
Collins also paid tribute to the work done by Sam Allardyce and the club
during the final days of the Transfer Window in adding Andy Carroll and his
former West Ham team-mate Yossi Benayoun. "We have made some terrific
signings with Andy and Yossi coming and I think they have really given
everyone a boost. I think we had a great squad already when I arrived, so to
add a few more top-quality players is great, it has given everyone a lift
and I think it showed on the pitch."
Collins played alongside Benayoun previously between 2005 and 2007, reaching
the FA Cup final and staving off relegation in amazing style, and the
Welshman believes the Israel captain can play a huge part over the course of
the season. "To have Yossi back is great. The first time he was here he was
a fantastic player. I have kept in contact with him over the years and when
I spoke to him he couldn't wait to get back. "Yossi would be great in any
team - we have seen that since he left the club with Liverpool, Chelsea and
last season with Arsenal. To have him playing for West Ham United again is
fantastic."
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Moore than just a footballer
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 7th September 2012
By: Staff Writer
A new book is calling for West Ham United legend Bobby Moore to be
posthumously knighted. Former Fulham manager Bobby Campbell - who managed
the Cottagers during Moore's brief stint at the club in the mid-1970s -
calls for the former England captain to receive the ultimate honour in 'The
Centurions: England's 100 Club', which is published next week. "I don't
believe that he received the accolade and credit that he deserved," says
Campbell. "He should have been knighted.
"Tell me this, if any player captained England to a World Cup triumph in the
future, do you think they would be knighted? I am sure that they would. So
why wasn't Bobby knighted? "In fact, it's not too late. He should be
knighted posthumously."
Moore, who was capped 108 times between 1962 and 1973 is one of only five
players to have made more than 100 appearances for England; the others being
Billy Wright, Bobby Charlton, Peter Shilton and David Beckham. At the end of
1966 he was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the
British Empire), the second-lowest of the five orders of chivalry - but no
further honours until his passing in 1993. Bobby Charlton - a team mate of
Moore's in that 1966 World Cup-winning team - was knighted for his services
to football in 1994. Geoff Hurst, another of the 1966 team and a team mate
of Moore's at West Ham was also knighted four years later. Yet as of now,
the captain of the team, the only Englishman to lift the World Cup and the
player considered by many to be the greatest English footballer of all time
is yet to have received that ultimate accolade.
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The West Ham Academy Graduates Key in England's 0-5 Victory Over Moldova
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
West Ham's 'Golden Generation' continue to provide the back bone of the
current England team, with Glen Johnson, Micheal Carrick, Frank Lampard and
Jermaine Defoe all featuring in the 0-5 victory over Moldova. You could
even, at a push, technically include John Terry in that list, Terry having
started his football career in the West Ham Academy. With Lampard grabbing a
brace and Defoe weighing in with one of the other goals, they were obviously
crucial to securing such an emphatric away victory.
Of that much celebrated stable of ex-Hammers Academy graduates, only Rio
Ferdinand and Joe Cole seem to have acquired ex-England international
status. Since leaving West Ham all of the Academy graduates have gone on to
join the 'bigger' PL clubs (with perhaps the exception of Defoe at Spurs!)
and have won trophies. Yet, the greatest dissappointment must be that their
club success has not been replicated with England at international level.
Ideally, this very talented group of players should surely have formed the
back bone of a victorious England team at a European Championship or World
Cup competition.
At club level, the majority of them played at the highest level and won the
biggest prizes, so that success cannot be challenged. However, when looking
at their individual development since leaving the club, I have always felt
that some aspects of their outstanding early promise were not realised. Rio
Ferdinand developed in to one of the best central defenders in club
football. At Leeds Utd and Man Utd, Ferdinand perfected the art of defensive
play, but arguably did not similiarly develop his early ability to carry the
ball out of defence in the manner of Bobby Moore. Glen Johnson was
introduced to the West Ham first team in the ill fated 2002-03 season, to
universal acclaim. He was undoubtedly one of the best right-back prospects
that English football has produced, showing equal proficiency defensively
and in supporting the attack down the right flank. A subsequent ill-fated
move to Chelsea disrupted that promise and arguably set back his early
progress. It is only more recently at Liverpool, via a period at Portsmouth,
that he has now started to actualise that exceptional early promise and has
taken it forward at international level. Time is stll on his side, being the
youngest of the group, and he may yet fulfill his full promise.
Micheal Carrick was richly talented young midfielder whose passing ability
was often compared to Glen Hoddle's. At West Ham, he also showed potential
as a midfielder, who could not only orchastrate the play with his passing
ability, but also find the back of the net. After leaving West Ham, he
developed in to a deeper lying midfielder, who used that passing ability to
good effect. However, the 'opportunity cost' of that was that he did not
really develop his goal scoring ability to a level that once seemed
possible. At international level, Carrick has not received the number of
caps for England that his talent merited and that is a great pity. Joe Cole
was seen as the most naturally talented of the lot, a creative midfielder
who possessed great technical ability and sublime skill on the ball. Cole
won trophies at Chelsea, but he was another who suffered during his time at
Stamford Bridge, being 'in and out' of the first team and often played out
of position. He still became a top midfielder, but can we say, 'hand on
heart,' that he has fulfilled his original potential? Jermaine Defoe is a
natural born goal scorer, who has done the business for both club and
country. However, his achievements at Spurs have not matched those of his
fellow Academy graduates, at club-level, and he has had a strangely
chequered career for England, even being excluded from the final Squad of 23
for the 2006 World Cup.
Much as it pains me to say it, the player that has probably exceeded all
expectations is Frank Lampard Jnr. His talent was evident at West Ham,
including his invaluable ability to consistently score goals from midfield.
He has been a consistent goal scorer throughout his club career and has
largely replicated that at international level as well. He has also
subsequently developed in to a fitter, industrious and more complete
midfielder.
From our perspective, there is natural disappointment that these Academy
players did win their trophies at West Ham. Can you imagine what we could
have achieved if we had kept them together and additionally, had the
financial resources to bring in the extra players quality to supplement and
show case their talents. After leaving West Ham, there is an argument that
successive England managers have failed to best exploit the talent that they
brought to the national team. However, did the players themselves also
develop every aspect of their early game to its full potential? In some
cases, and in some respects, as expounded above, I feel not. It is probably
a minority viewpoint I know, but it is one that I have held for some
considerable time.
SJ. Chandos.
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Karren Brady's football diary – Keep privates private
By KARREN BRADY
Published: 07th September 2012
The Sun
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
WE beat the 11pm deadline by three seconds to submit deal paperwork which
gives you an extension until 1am to fully complete a transfer. And I use the
extra time to tie up a loan deal with Chelsea for Yossi Benayoun. At
12.59am after a small hiccup it's all registered and I can sense our manager
Sam Allardyce smiling down the phone.The Israeli captain comes back to us
almost under the radar as, in the excitement of Andy Carroll's signing,
there is little fuss over his return. Half a day later West Ham play
beautifully to beat Fulham. Andy's injury means he will be out for a maximum
of six weeks — but the physio will try anything and everything to reduce
that length of time.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
SAM sends an email thanking me for being so supportive with our 11 summer
transfers. My board has made a statement of intent and I'm dreaming of 40
points by March when Robin van Persie scores Man U's winner.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
PAOLO DI CANIO is a crazy Italian and West Ham fans love him for it. His
words will have bosses cheering, too, after Swindon keeper Wes Foderingham's
strop.
Paolo called him arrogant and unprofessional — and today announces
Foderingham apologised.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
AVRAM GRANT has chosen Clint Eastwood as the actor he would like to portray
his life. I dread to think the film would be entitled Dirty Avram. In the
same survey, Mick McCarthy fancies Brad Pitt playing his part. I love Mick's
sense of humour. For me, the smartest choice is Alex McLeish for look-alike
David Caruso, from TV series CSI Miami. But for some reason not one of the
30-or-so went for Danny DeVito.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
A PREMIER LEAGUE house-warming party in a £20million-plus mansion in Central
London proves to be a great place to be if you are into football, business
and media.
One chairman describes himself as being in the fabric business. As my other
Premier League friend whispers in my ear, he's on his third wife, he used to
be in the underwear business!
It's not as crazy as the last Premier League house-warming I went to when
the new and very drunk wife of a very respected club chairman told me in
graphic detail about her recent plastic surgery. I thought nose or possibly
chest, but she had actually been in Los Angeles having 'vaginoplasty' —
trust me, you really do not want to know and I know I certainly didn't. She
told me she had it done in LA as she did not want anyone in London seeing
her privates. As another chairman's wife pointed out, half of London had
seen it anyway — and not just the male half! At least my eyebrows raised.
The rest of them are botoxed!
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
RAUL MEIRELES' move to Turkish side Fenerbahce leaves both the Premier
League and Chelsea with one bad haircut fewer. Roberto Di Matteo probably
has a year in which to prove he is more than just a Champions' League
winner. And he's acting like AVB on speed, scattering internationals to the
wind while changing the playing style. As a new Roman empire rises so there
are victims. The latest is Florent Malouda — but sadly he didn't want to
come to West Ham, so I have little sympathy for him.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
I HAPPEN to be chatting with a QPR director who tells me the story, warts 'n
all, of the Paddy Kenny phone rant insulting former Hammers keeper Robert
Green.
It reminded me of one call I had myself, although it was not from eejit
Paddy. A voice on a withheld number called me "a f***ing bitch" and things a
lot less flattering and a lot more menacing. I rang the police who found the
culprit pretty quickly. It was a player who had been on loan at my club, but
sent home after a lacklustre performance. The next morning the player had
his collar felt or, rather, his training top, because the police tackled him
on the pitch at his training ground. Do it again and you'll be in court, he
was told.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham record-signing Matt Jarvis could be back in action after the
international break for the trip to Norwich.
TalkSport
The £10.75million arrival from Wolves, who made his debut in the defeat at
Swansea, missed the 3-0 win over Fulham because of a thigh injury, but is
expected to resume training ahead of the televised clash at Carrow Road.
Midfielder Jack Collison has been sidelined by a knee injury, but the
23-year-old hopes to be back in action soon. He said: "I'm pretty much there
or thereabouts. I just need to get some minutes under my belt."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham Focus - Who is Mobido Maiga?
Adifferentleague.co.uk
By Sam Carleton
Friday 07 September 2012
West Ham have a predominantly tried and tested squad for the Premier League
this season which many will see as a benefit, but manager Sam Allardyce has
brought in someone less well-known to bolster his options, and that is
Modibo Maiga.
Maiga, who turned 25 this week, is a Mali-born striker who made a name for
himself in France with Sochaux. He scored at a rate of almost a goal every
two games over a period of two years with the club, a goal record that
should not be sniffed at in any domestic European league.
He signed for West Ham during the summer transfer window for an undisclosed
fee, and while he has only a couple of appearances in the claret and blue so
far he has whet the appetites of the fans at this early stage. Maiga came
off the bench in the opening game win over Aston Villa and almost scored
moments after his arrival on the pitch - he then went one better in the
League Cup victory against Crewe Alexandra, scoring the second in a 2-0 win
as the Hammers progressed to the next round.
Also a regular for his Mali, Maiga will enjoy the presence of Andy Carroll
in the side. Allardyce would benefit from two strikers linking up well, and
when he decides to play a five-man midfield and a lone forward to be a
little more conservative, he will be spoiled for choice up top.
Maiga though has a history of being part of a lethal strike force with his
last team - he and Adeye Brown scored 30 goals between them in the 2010-2011
campaign, bagging 15 apiece.
Twice Maiga was on the verge of joining Newcastle, and after he was refused
a move to the Toon in August, he had said he would never play for Sochaux
again. The deal collapsed and he was forced to backtrack. In January the
move was rekindled, but after the two clubs agreed fees Maiga was once again
left frustrated as he failed a medical.
Now finally in the Premier League where he so longed to play, but at West
Ham instead, Maiga is desperate to prove his worth and show exactly why he
deserved his big move to England.
With new boy Carroll out for up to six weeks, Maiga may get his chance
sooner than expected. West Ham go to Norwich next and soon that is soon
followed by games against Sunderland and Queens Park Rangers. Maiga will be
hoping he can help his team come through those games with a flourish and
hopefully put himself on the map in the Premier League.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Blair Turgott made his England Under-19 debut on Thursday in a 3-1 defeat in
Germany
07.09.2012
Blair Turgott made his England Under-19 debut as a second-half substitute as
the Young Lions lost 3-1 to Germany in Hamburg. Turgott came on in the 75th
minute for Liverpool's Adam Morgan but it was another of the Reds starlets
who stole the show. Summer signing Samed Yesil scored a superb double,
opening the scoring after just two minutes, showing fine trickery in the box
before smashing the ball home. After Yesil's opener the Under-19s rallied
and drew level on 31 minutes when Nick Powell expertly chipped Odisseas
Vlachodimos. But Yesil once again put the hosts in front when Jordan
Pickford was only able to palm the youngster's initial effort straight back
at him and he tapped the ball into the empty net two minutes into the second
half. SC Freiburg's Sebastian Kerk completed the scoring, slotting the ball
calmly past Pickford to ensure that there was no way back for England.
Daniel Potts was also part of the squad but was an unable to play after
picking up a minor injury in training on Wednesday. Both Turgott and Potts
will be hoping to be part of the Under-19s squad for the UEFA European
Championship qualifiers against the Faroe Islands, Ukraine and Estonia later
this month.
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Joey ready for national service
WHUFC.com
Proud Irishman Joey O'Brien is looking forward to representing his country
in Kazakhstan on Friday
07.09.2012
For proud Irishman Joey O'Brien, pulling on the emerald green shirt of his
country is a feeling like no other. The West Ham United player was
considered to be one of Ireland's brightest young prospects when he broke
into the senior national side just two weeks after his 20th birthday, only
for a series of serious knee injuries to see his international prospects
seemingly disappear forever. To O'Brien's immense credit, he battled and
worked his way back to fitness. On 15 August the 26-year-old made his fourth
appearance for Ireland in a goalless friendly international draw in Serbia,
nearly five years after earning his third cap in a 2008 UEFA European
Championship qualifier with Cyprus. He may have been on the pitch for just
eleven minutes in Belgrade, but for O'Brien they were among the best eleven
minutes of his life. "It was brilliant," he confirmed. "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." "I didn't expect to come on as a
substitute, so I was delighted to get on the pitch and I think we played
really well and got a good result."
O'Brien is hoping to earn his fifth cap in Friday's opening 2014 FIFA World
Cup Group C qualifier in Kazakhstan and pick up his sixth in next Tuesday's
international friendly with Oman at Craven Cottage. "We play Kazakhstan on
Friday and we're playing Oman on Tuesday and, please God, I'll be involved
in both matches. Hopefully we'll pick up three points in Kazakhstan and make
a good start to our World Cup qualifying campaign. "We played well over in
Serbia in our last friendly match, so hopefully we'll go over there and get
three points. "The last World Cup qualifier I played in was against Cyprus,
which was a long time ago, so obviously it would be great to play my part in
the qualifying campaign and our aim is to try to qualify. "I've been asked
hundreds of times about my injuries but those are in the past now and for me
it's all about looking forward and playing games now."
Ireland are, of course, aiming to qualify for their second major
championship in succession after reaching the 2012 UEFA European
Championship finals. There, Giovanni Trapattoni's side were beaten by
Croatia, eventual winners Spain and runners-up Italy to go out at the group
stage. To qualify, the Boys in Green must finish in the top two of a group
that also contains Germany, Sweden, Austria and Faroe Islands, but O'Brien
is confident that they can do just that - regardless of the relatively small
size of the Irish population and pool of available players. "The lads did
unbelievably well to qualify for the EUROs and I think the achievement of
getting there was taken away by the results over there, but at the end of
the day we got beaten by two of the countries who made it to the final. "We
do unbelievably well for the size of our country. We've got a great track
record for producing players who go onto the world stage. "The first time we
ever qualified for anything was back in 1988, which isn't that long ago. To
be able to produce players and qualify and do well in tournaments is some
achievement. "Even this time, we have a hard group but we'll be looking to
qualify and that's a great way to be - it's great to be going out and
knowing we can qualify."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ginge's World Cup dream
WHUFC.com
James Collins wants to help Wales qualify for their first FIFA World Cup
finals in 56 years
07.09.2012
James Collins is dreaming of helping Wales to qualify for their first FIFA
World Cup finals in more than half a century. The West Ham United defender
has not played for Wales since March 2011 but is expected to start for his
country when they begin their Brazil 2014 qualifying campaign by facing
Belgium in Cardiff on Friday evening. Wales, who are in Group A alongside
the Belgians, Serbia, Croatia, Scotland and FYR Macedonia, have not reached
the FIFA World Cup finals since their only previous appearance in 1958.
Collins knows the likes of Barclays Premier League stars Eden Hazard,
Vincent Kompany, Marouane Fellaini and Moussa Dembele will not make it easy
to change that record, but he is confident Chris Coleman's men can build on
the foundations left by the late Gary Speed. "I can't wait to play for Wales
again as it really has been too long," he told whufc.com "I have had to pull
out of the last few squads with little niggles so I am delighted to be fully
fit and I am really looking forward to it. "The key even when Speedo took
over was to qualify for a major tournament, particularly the 2014 World Cup
in Brazil, and that is what we are going to try to do. "We begin with two
very tough games, starting with Belgium on Friday. If you look at their
squad they have a great team. We will have to be at our best and then we
face another difficult game out in Serbia next Tuesday."
While Belgian football is undoubtedly on the rise, Collins believes the fact
so many of their players ply their trade in the Barclays Premier League will
aid Wales' cause.
"I think that around 90 per cent of the Belgium squad play in the Premier
League, so we will have a good understanding of how they play. "That will
help us and, if our players perform how we know they can, there is no reason
why we can't come away with a positive result. We can beat anyone on our
day."
Collins admitted that the last year had been a difficult one for the Welsh
squad following the death of Speed and insisted the best way to honour his
memory would be to qualify for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. "It's been very
tough, particularly because the circumstances were so horrendous. He was a
great man and he is sorely missed, but the lads now have to move on. He put
in place a plan to qualify for Brazil and that is what we hope to do in the
way he set out."
With the international break following Saturday's 3-0 home win over Fulham,
Collins left for national duty on a high following his disappointing
performance in the 3-0 defeat at Swansea City. "It was good being at home,
getting the three points and putting the disappointment of the previous
weekend behind us. Nobody was happy with the result against Swansea, myself
more than anyone, so to bounce back and win 3-0 was great. "I think the
disappointment of losing 3-0 really spurred us on. We knew no-one was good
enough at Swansea and that individual errors cost us the game so we were
focused from the start."
Collins also paid tribute to the work done by Sam Allardyce and the club
during the final days of the Transfer Window in adding Andy Carroll and his
former West Ham team-mate Yossi Benayoun. "We have made some terrific
signings with Andy and Yossi coming and I think they have really given
everyone a boost. I think we had a great squad already when I arrived, so to
add a few more top-quality players is great, it has given everyone a lift
and I think it showed on the pitch."
Collins played alongside Benayoun previously between 2005 and 2007, reaching
the FA Cup final and staving off relegation in amazing style, and the
Welshman believes the Israel captain can play a huge part over the course of
the season. "To have Yossi back is great. The first time he was here he was
a fantastic player. I have kept in contact with him over the years and when
I spoke to him he couldn't wait to get back. "Yossi would be great in any
team - we have seen that since he left the club with Liverpool, Chelsea and
last season with Arsenal. To have him playing for West Ham United again is
fantastic."
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Moore than just a footballer
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 7th September 2012
By: Staff Writer
A new book is calling for West Ham United legend Bobby Moore to be
posthumously knighted. Former Fulham manager Bobby Campbell - who managed
the Cottagers during Moore's brief stint at the club in the mid-1970s -
calls for the former England captain to receive the ultimate honour in 'The
Centurions: England's 100 Club', which is published next week. "I don't
believe that he received the accolade and credit that he deserved," says
Campbell. "He should have been knighted.
"Tell me this, if any player captained England to a World Cup triumph in the
future, do you think they would be knighted? I am sure that they would. So
why wasn't Bobby knighted? "In fact, it's not too late. He should be
knighted posthumously."
Moore, who was capped 108 times between 1962 and 1973 is one of only five
players to have made more than 100 appearances for England; the others being
Billy Wright, Bobby Charlton, Peter Shilton and David Beckham. At the end of
1966 he was awarded the OBE (Officer of the Most Excellent Order of the
British Empire), the second-lowest of the five orders of chivalry - but no
further honours until his passing in 1993. Bobby Charlton - a team mate of
Moore's in that 1966 World Cup-winning team - was knighted for his services
to football in 1994. Geoff Hurst, another of the 1966 team and a team mate
of Moore's at West Ham was also knighted four years later. Yet as of now,
the captain of the team, the only Englishman to lift the World Cup and the
player considered by many to be the greatest English footballer of all time
is yet to have received that ultimate accolade.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The West Ham Academy Graduates Key in England's 0-5 Victory Over Moldova
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
West Ham's 'Golden Generation' continue to provide the back bone of the
current England team, with Glen Johnson, Micheal Carrick, Frank Lampard and
Jermaine Defoe all featuring in the 0-5 victory over Moldova. You could
even, at a push, technically include John Terry in that list, Terry having
started his football career in the West Ham Academy. With Lampard grabbing a
brace and Defoe weighing in with one of the other goals, they were obviously
crucial to securing such an emphatric away victory.
Of that much celebrated stable of ex-Hammers Academy graduates, only Rio
Ferdinand and Joe Cole seem to have acquired ex-England international
status. Since leaving West Ham all of the Academy graduates have gone on to
join the 'bigger' PL clubs (with perhaps the exception of Defoe at Spurs!)
and have won trophies. Yet, the greatest dissappointment must be that their
club success has not been replicated with England at international level.
Ideally, this very talented group of players should surely have formed the
back bone of a victorious England team at a European Championship or World
Cup competition.
At club level, the majority of them played at the highest level and won the
biggest prizes, so that success cannot be challenged. However, when looking
at their individual development since leaving the club, I have always felt
that some aspects of their outstanding early promise were not realised. Rio
Ferdinand developed in to one of the best central defenders in club
football. At Leeds Utd and Man Utd, Ferdinand perfected the art of defensive
play, but arguably did not similiarly develop his early ability to carry the
ball out of defence in the manner of Bobby Moore. Glen Johnson was
introduced to the West Ham first team in the ill fated 2002-03 season, to
universal acclaim. He was undoubtedly one of the best right-back prospects
that English football has produced, showing equal proficiency defensively
and in supporting the attack down the right flank. A subsequent ill-fated
move to Chelsea disrupted that promise and arguably set back his early
progress. It is only more recently at Liverpool, via a period at Portsmouth,
that he has now started to actualise that exceptional early promise and has
taken it forward at international level. Time is stll on his side, being the
youngest of the group, and he may yet fulfill his full promise.
Micheal Carrick was richly talented young midfielder whose passing ability
was often compared to Glen Hoddle's. At West Ham, he also showed potential
as a midfielder, who could not only orchastrate the play with his passing
ability, but also find the back of the net. After leaving West Ham, he
developed in to a deeper lying midfielder, who used that passing ability to
good effect. However, the 'opportunity cost' of that was that he did not
really develop his goal scoring ability to a level that once seemed
possible. At international level, Carrick has not received the number of
caps for England that his talent merited and that is a great pity. Joe Cole
was seen as the most naturally talented of the lot, a creative midfielder
who possessed great technical ability and sublime skill on the ball. Cole
won trophies at Chelsea, but he was another who suffered during his time at
Stamford Bridge, being 'in and out' of the first team and often played out
of position. He still became a top midfielder, but can we say, 'hand on
heart,' that he has fulfilled his original potential? Jermaine Defoe is a
natural born goal scorer, who has done the business for both club and
country. However, his achievements at Spurs have not matched those of his
fellow Academy graduates, at club-level, and he has had a strangely
chequered career for England, even being excluded from the final Squad of 23
for the 2006 World Cup.
Much as it pains me to say it, the player that has probably exceeded all
expectations is Frank Lampard Jnr. His talent was evident at West Ham,
including his invaluable ability to consistently score goals from midfield.
He has been a consistent goal scorer throughout his club career and has
largely replicated that at international level as well. He has also
subsequently developed in to a fitter, industrious and more complete
midfielder.
From our perspective, there is natural disappointment that these Academy
players did win their trophies at West Ham. Can you imagine what we could
have achieved if we had kept them together and additionally, had the
financial resources to bring in the extra players quality to supplement and
show case their talents. After leaving West Ham, there is an argument that
successive England managers have failed to best exploit the talent that they
brought to the national team. However, did the players themselves also
develop every aspect of their early game to its full potential? In some
cases, and in some respects, as expounded above, I feel not. It is probably
a minority viewpoint I know, but it is one that I have held for some
considerable time.
SJ. Chandos.
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Karren Brady's football diary – Keep privates private
By KARREN BRADY
Published: 07th September 2012
The Sun
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 1
WE beat the 11pm deadline by three seconds to submit deal paperwork which
gives you an extension until 1am to fully complete a transfer. And I use the
extra time to tie up a loan deal with Chelsea for Yossi Benayoun. At
12.59am after a small hiccup it's all registered and I can sense our manager
Sam Allardyce smiling down the phone.The Israeli captain comes back to us
almost under the radar as, in the excitement of Andy Carroll's signing,
there is little fuss over his return. Half a day later West Ham play
beautifully to beat Fulham. Andy's injury means he will be out for a maximum
of six weeks — but the physio will try anything and everything to reduce
that length of time.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 2
SAM sends an email thanking me for being so supportive with our 11 summer
transfers. My board has made a statement of intent and I'm dreaming of 40
points by March when Robin van Persie scores Man U's winner.
MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 3
PAOLO DI CANIO is a crazy Italian and West Ham fans love him for it. His
words will have bosses cheering, too, after Swindon keeper Wes Foderingham's
strop.
Paolo called him arrogant and unprofessional — and today announces
Foderingham apologised.
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 4
AVRAM GRANT has chosen Clint Eastwood as the actor he would like to portray
his life. I dread to think the film would be entitled Dirty Avram. In the
same survey, Mick McCarthy fancies Brad Pitt playing his part. I love Mick's
sense of humour. For me, the smartest choice is Alex McLeish for look-alike
David Caruso, from TV series CSI Miami. But for some reason not one of the
30-or-so went for Danny DeVito.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 5
A PREMIER LEAGUE house-warming party in a £20million-plus mansion in Central
London proves to be a great place to be if you are into football, business
and media.
One chairman describes himself as being in the fabric business. As my other
Premier League friend whispers in my ear, he's on his third wife, he used to
be in the underwear business!
It's not as crazy as the last Premier League house-warming I went to when
the new and very drunk wife of a very respected club chairman told me in
graphic detail about her recent plastic surgery. I thought nose or possibly
chest, but she had actually been in Los Angeles having 'vaginoplasty' —
trust me, you really do not want to know and I know I certainly didn't. She
told me she had it done in LA as she did not want anyone in London seeing
her privates. As another chairman's wife pointed out, half of London had
seen it anyway — and not just the male half! At least my eyebrows raised.
The rest of them are botoxed!
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 6
RAUL MEIRELES' move to Turkish side Fenerbahce leaves both the Premier
League and Chelsea with one bad haircut fewer. Roberto Di Matteo probably
has a year in which to prove he is more than just a Champions' League
winner. And he's acting like AVB on speed, scattering internationals to the
wind while changing the playing style. As a new Roman empire rises so there
are victims. The latest is Florent Malouda — but sadly he didn't want to
come to West Ham, so I have little sympathy for him.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 7
I HAPPEN to be chatting with a QPR director who tells me the story, warts 'n
all, of the Paddy Kenny phone rant insulting former Hammers keeper Robert
Green.
It reminded me of one call I had myself, although it was not from eejit
Paddy. A voice on a withheld number called me "a f***ing bitch" and things a
lot less flattering and a lot more menacing. I rang the police who found the
culprit pretty quickly. It was a player who had been on loan at my club, but
sent home after a lacklustre performance. The next morning the player had
his collar felt or, rather, his training top, because the police tackled him
on the pitch at his training ground. Do it again and you'll be in court, he
was told.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham record-signing Matt Jarvis could be back in action after the
international break for the trip to Norwich.
TalkSport
The £10.75million arrival from Wolves, who made his debut in the defeat at
Swansea, missed the 3-0 win over Fulham because of a thigh injury, but is
expected to resume training ahead of the televised clash at Carrow Road.
Midfielder Jack Collison has been sidelined by a knee injury, but the
23-year-old hopes to be back in action soon. He said: "I'm pretty much there
or thereabouts. I just need to get some minutes under my belt."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham Focus - Who is Mobido Maiga?
Adifferentleague.co.uk
By Sam Carleton
Friday 07 September 2012
West Ham have a predominantly tried and tested squad for the Premier League
this season which many will see as a benefit, but manager Sam Allardyce has
brought in someone less well-known to bolster his options, and that is
Modibo Maiga.
Maiga, who turned 25 this week, is a Mali-born striker who made a name for
himself in France with Sochaux. He scored at a rate of almost a goal every
two games over a period of two years with the club, a goal record that
should not be sniffed at in any domestic European league.
He signed for West Ham during the summer transfer window for an undisclosed
fee, and while he has only a couple of appearances in the claret and blue so
far he has whet the appetites of the fans at this early stage. Maiga came
off the bench in the opening game win over Aston Villa and almost scored
moments after his arrival on the pitch - he then went one better in the
League Cup victory against Crewe Alexandra, scoring the second in a 2-0 win
as the Hammers progressed to the next round.
Also a regular for his Mali, Maiga will enjoy the presence of Andy Carroll
in the side. Allardyce would benefit from two strikers linking up well, and
when he decides to play a five-man midfield and a lone forward to be a
little more conservative, he will be spoiled for choice up top.
Maiga though has a history of being part of a lethal strike force with his
last team - he and Adeye Brown scored 30 goals between them in the 2010-2011
campaign, bagging 15 apiece.
Twice Maiga was on the verge of joining Newcastle, and after he was refused
a move to the Toon in August, he had said he would never play for Sochaux
again. The deal collapsed and he was forced to backtrack. In January the
move was rekindled, but after the two clubs agreed fees Maiga was once again
left frustrated as he failed a medical.
Now finally in the Premier League where he so longed to play, but at West
Ham instead, Maiga is desperate to prove his worth and show exactly why he
deserved his big move to England.
With new boy Carroll out for up to six weeks, Maiga may get his chance
sooner than expected. West Ham go to Norwich next and soon that is soon
followed by games against Sunderland and Queens Park Rangers. Maiga will be
hoping he can help his team come through those games with a flourish and
hopefully put himself on the map in the Premier League.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Friday, September 7
Daily WHUFC News - 7th September 2012
Reid ready for World Cup duty
WHUFC.com
Winston Reid will play his part in New Zealand's 2014 FIFA World Cup
qualifying campaign on Friday
06.09.2012
Winston Reid is hoping his fantastic form for West Ham United can boost New
Zealand's chances of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Reid, who
memorably scored the Kiwis' first goal at the 2010 tournament in South
Africa, returns to international duty when the All Whites take on New
Caledonia on Friday. The centre-back jumped on a plane hours after helping
West Ham to defeat Fulham 3-0 in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday
before boarding further flights from Melbourne to Auckland and the New
Zealand capital to the Pacific island. Having missed the OFC Nations Cup -
where New Caledonia knocked the All Whites out at the quarter-final stage -
and the London 2012 Olympic Games, the 24-year-old is keen to start the
third round of Oceania World Cup qualifying with a victory. "It's a football
game like all others. We have to go out and win, we have to go out and win
all our games," Reid told TV New Zealand's ONE News at Auckland Airport
before boarding the plane to Noumea. "No game is easy, whether it's playing
against France or New Caledonia or whatever, so we're going to have to be
ready and we'll have to do our best and we have to win all our games because
we have to go back to another World Cup."
Reid is expected to partner Queens Park Rangers centre-back Ryan Nelsen
against New Caledonia and again in next Tuesday's qualifier with Solomon
Islands in Auckland. The Hammers No2 is hoping his domestic form and the
strong competition for places at the Boleyn Ground will stand him in good
stead when he represents his country again. "I've had a full campaign in the
Championship and luckily enough I've been able to start this season as well
and it's going well and I'm looking forward to it and just enjoying my
football at the moment. "I'm more mature in my all-round game, there were
decisions before that were not too good, but now I'm making better
decisions. "You have to play for your place every week and at training as
well. There's nothing granted and if you have a couple of bad games you know
you might be on the bench so that's how football is."
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Dev Squad to take on Dev's squad
WHUFC.com
The Development Squad will face Alan Devonshire's Braintree Town in a
friendly on Monday evening
06.09.2012
West Ham United's Development Squad will face Alan Devonshire's Braintree
Town in a friendly on Monday evening. Ian Hendon's side will make the short
trip to Essex to face the Blue Square Bet Premier team at Cressing Road
Stadium, with kick-off at 7.45pm. The Development Squad have made an
encouraging start to the 2012/13 season, winning two of their opening three
Barclays U21 Premier League matches. Braintree, meanwhile, go into the
weekend eleventh in the Blue Square Bet Premier table and on a three-match
unbeaten run. After defeating Woking and Tamworth and drawing with
Kidderminster Harriers in their previous three league matches, the Iron
travel to Macclesfield Town on Saturday.
Former Hammers and England midfielder Devonshire has been a revelation since
taking charge at Braintree in the summer of 2011. Last season, despite
working with one of the smallest budgets in the division, the Essex club
finished 12th in the table. West Ham's squad for the game is expected to
feature senior players in need of game-time and a host of young
professionals, including recent first-team debutants George Moncur and
Matthias Fanimo. One-time Braintree loanee Dominic Vose could also be
involved.
Monday's game will not be all ticket. Tickets will not be available for sale
prior to the game and spectators should pay at turnstiles 1-4, with all
Adult tickets priced £10, OAP/Under-16s tickets priced £5 and Under-11s
tickets priced £3.
Limited parking is available at the ground. priced at £2 per car, with no
vehicles allowed entry into the car park after 6.30pm to avoid congestion.
For directions to Cressing Road Stadium, click here.
For further information, please contact Braintree Town FC on 01376 345617.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Turgott ready to take next step
WHUFC.com
Promising winger Blair Turgott should make his England Under-19 debut in
Germany on Thursday
06.09.2012
Blair Turgott feels ready to take the next step for club and country. The
West Ham United winger is set to make his England Under-19 debut in an
international friendly in Germany on Thursday, continuing his record of
having played for his country at every age-group level. At the same time,
after impressing for the Hammers first-team in pre-season, the 18-year-old
is targeting a maiden appearance for Sam Allardyce's side before too long.
This afternoon, Turgott is hoping to feature alongside West Ham colleague
Dan Potts when England take on Germany in Hamburg in a warmup game for their
UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifying round fixtures with Estonia,
Faroe Islands and Ukraine at the end of September. "It's obviously good to
be called-up by the Under-19s for the first time," he told whufc.com "I got
called-up by the Under-16s when I was younger and you hope that it isn't
going to be a one-off and thankfully it wasn't "It is always great to
represent your country at any level, so it'll be good to keep that run
going. I've played at every level and I just want to go all the way. "It is
very pleasing to be called-up, because I haven't played any first-team
football yet. People say Under-19s is a hard squad to get into because that
is when players start to break into first teams for their clubs, but
hopefully I can show what I can do with England and my chance will come at
West Ham. "The European Under-19 Championship is the big one. We'll be
looking forward to that come the end of the season, if we qualify, and
obviously there are a lot of games between now and then where I can stake a
claim to be in the squad. I can only work hard when I go away and keep
playing well for West Ham."
The teenager showed why he is rated so highly by producing eye-catching
performances in the pre-season fixtures at Oxford United. Rot-Weiss Erfurt
and Energie Cottbus - setting up a goal for Ricardo Vaz Te at Erfurt. While
Turgott was not involved in the Capital One Cup second-round win over Crewe
Alexandra, he believes his form in those pre-season matches and in
Development Squad wins over Reading and Everton have given him an
opportunity to push his way into Sam Allardyce's plans. Having trained and
played with the club's established first-team stars on a regular basis,
Turgott belieevs he possesses the attributes to go all the way to the top -
providing he keeps up the hard work and commitment that have served him so
well in his career to date. "I would like to think I am in the manager's
thoughts. It was obviously good to get the call-up to go to Germany and that
was a great experience for me to be around the boys and see what the manager
wants from the squad. "I've got to keep playing well for the Development
Squad and then I might go out on loan this season and hopefully I'll get
some first-team football. We have started the season well by winning our
opening two matches. "I am still only 18 but I feel ready for the Premier
League. I was watching Southampton the other day on TV and there is a boy
there, James Ward-Prowse, who I have played with for England. Being an
English player, it is great growing up seeing the Premier League because it
makes you want to be the best player you can be. "It's the best place to be
and I don't see why I can't play in the Premier League. I don't feel out of
place when I train with the first-team squad. I'm quite a confident player,
so when I train with them I don't look at names. You can't see it like that.
You just have to play your football."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Jack's back: West Ham midfielder Collison close to return from knee injury
The Mirror
Jamie McDonald
West Ham midfielder Jack Collison hopes to return to the first team after
the international break having finally recovered from a long-term knee
injury. The 23-year-old Wales international missed the start of the season
with the problem, which has afflicted him for the last two years. "I'm
pretty much there or thereabouts," said Collison, who played a big part in
helping the Hammers return to the Premier League. "I just need to get some
minutes under my belt."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
More to come?
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 6th September 2012
By: Reece Bateman
So latest rumours suggest Andy Carroll is out until mid-October, at least.
Terrible news for us fans after watching him make a huge impact on his debut
against Fulham.
Obviously it is bad news, but it could work in the favour of both Carlton
Cole and Modibo Maiga who will now get their chances in the starting XI.
Having watched Carroll's display they may be motivated to go that extra
15-20 per cent to ensure that Big Sam has a difficult decision to make once
Carroll returns.
It may also work in the favour of young Rob Hall who, after making his
Premier League debut against Fulham, will surely be looking to prove to the
management he is also more than capable of pushing for a starting spot in
Big Andy's absence. I think Carlton Cole will be the favourite to replace
Carroll initially but I expect Maiga to play a big role over the coming
weeks.
We're currently linked with ex-Sunderland and Lyon centre half John Mensah.
He is available on a free transfer so can still but signed, however his
appearances since he signed for Lyon in 2008 have been limited to say the
least.
He joined Sunderland on loan in 2009, eventually leaving at the end of the
2011 season, and made 34 league appearances across two seasons. At Lyon he
has appeared just 13 times, incredibly making just 47 league appearances for
both clubs since 2008.
He is an experienced defender, he impressed hugely in the 2010 World Cup
where he captained Ghana to the quarter-finals, however his injury record
alone should be enough to deter us from making an offer, unless it's on a
pay-as-you-play basis.
Over the last few seasons we have had more than our share of injury prone
players who have drained the club of money, we should have learned by now
that the risk simply isn't worth taking. Perhaps this is why West Ham never
made a move for Michael Owen, who has just recently signed for Stoke after
being released by Manchester United.
At the beginning of the summer, when Owen was first available, Hammers
favourite Tony Cottee said West Ham should snap him up suggesting that 'you
know he guarantees reaching double figures in goals, which would take the
pressure off the rest of the players.' Did Sam and the board miss a trick by
not signing Owen up on a contract for just one season? If you think about
it, we could have had Owen feeding off Andy Carroll's knock downs and flick
on's, it could have been quite a potent partnership.
I don't know whether it is possible to bring any more players in, free
agents or not, as the club has confirmed their squad list for the first half
of the season, I'm unsure on Premier League rules regarding this. Free
agents currently linked to the club, like Nigel Reo-Coker and James McFadden
along with Mensah, may have to wait slightly longer for their chance in the
Premier League again.
Does the West Ham squad need its ranks bolstering with a few freebies? Is
there room for strengthening still, or would we simply be signing players
just to get our squad list up to 25 players?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carroll is Wanted More at West Ham, Claims Hammers Chairman
David Gold hints that Carroll was left to feel unwanted at Liverpool
By ADRIAN BACK: Subscribe to Adrian's RSS feed
September 6, 2012 3:23 PM GMT
Ibtimes.co.uk
West Ham United chairman David Gold believes that Andy Carroll will find it
easier to adapt to life at Upton Park as he will be immediately accepted by
everyone involved at the club. Carroll endured a difficult spell on
Merseyside as he struggled to win a place in the starting line-up in his 18
month spell with the club. The expectation placed on Carroll after his
£35million transfer fee did not make it easy for the England forward and it
was decided by manager Brendan Rodgers that he was no longer needed at the
club this season. Having been subsequently sent on a season-long loan to
West Ham, Carroll impressed on his debut as he helped the Hammers secure a
3-0 win over Fulham. While he received rave reviews for his performance,
Liverpool were criticised for allowing the striker to leave without a
replacement arriving. The lack of a striker was emphasised as Liverpool
were beaten 2-0 at home by Arsenal last Sunday in a game in which they could
do very little to change the game with a lack of attacking options on the
bench. Carroll's debut was a far cry from a player who underperformed at
Liverpool and Gold believes the major difference if that he is wanted by
everyone involved with the club. "[sic] The manager of WHU [West Ham United]
wants AC [Andy Carroll] the players want him, the captain wants him, the
fans want him, the owners want him. That's the difference," tweeted Gold.
The 23-year-old picked up a hamstring injury on his West Ham debut and will
now miss the England's World Cup qualifying games against Moldova and
Ukraine after being ruled out for around six weeks.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Collison desperate for West Ham return
By talkSPORT | Thursday, September 6, 2012
West Ham midfielder Jack Collison is hoping to make a first-team return
after the international break after finally recovering from a long-term knee
injury. The 23-year-old has been forced to miss the start of the season
after failing to recover from the problem which has affected him for the
last two years. The Wales international played a major role in helping the
club gain promotion into the Premier League and is desperate to play in the
top flight. Collison has now resumed training and hopes to be back in action
by the end of September. The Hammers midfielder said: "I'm pretty much there
or thereabouts myself now. I just need to get some minutes under my belt and
then try to give the manager a few headaches. "If the boys continue to play
like they did against Fulham then it's going to be hard to get back into the
team. It's a challenge I'm looking forward to."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Winston Reid will play his part in New Zealand's 2014 FIFA World Cup
qualifying campaign on Friday
06.09.2012
Winston Reid is hoping his fantastic form for West Ham United can boost New
Zealand's chances of qualifying for the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Reid, who
memorably scored the Kiwis' first goal at the 2010 tournament in South
Africa, returns to international duty when the All Whites take on New
Caledonia on Friday. The centre-back jumped on a plane hours after helping
West Ham to defeat Fulham 3-0 in the Barclays Premier League on Saturday
before boarding further flights from Melbourne to Auckland and the New
Zealand capital to the Pacific island. Having missed the OFC Nations Cup -
where New Caledonia knocked the All Whites out at the quarter-final stage -
and the London 2012 Olympic Games, the 24-year-old is keen to start the
third round of Oceania World Cup qualifying with a victory. "It's a football
game like all others. We have to go out and win, we have to go out and win
all our games," Reid told TV New Zealand's ONE News at Auckland Airport
before boarding the plane to Noumea. "No game is easy, whether it's playing
against France or New Caledonia or whatever, so we're going to have to be
ready and we'll have to do our best and we have to win all our games because
we have to go back to another World Cup."
Reid is expected to partner Queens Park Rangers centre-back Ryan Nelsen
against New Caledonia and again in next Tuesday's qualifier with Solomon
Islands in Auckland. The Hammers No2 is hoping his domestic form and the
strong competition for places at the Boleyn Ground will stand him in good
stead when he represents his country again. "I've had a full campaign in the
Championship and luckily enough I've been able to start this season as well
and it's going well and I'm looking forward to it and just enjoying my
football at the moment. "I'm more mature in my all-round game, there were
decisions before that were not too good, but now I'm making better
decisions. "You have to play for your place every week and at training as
well. There's nothing granted and if you have a couple of bad games you know
you might be on the bench so that's how football is."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dev Squad to take on Dev's squad
WHUFC.com
The Development Squad will face Alan Devonshire's Braintree Town in a
friendly on Monday evening
06.09.2012
West Ham United's Development Squad will face Alan Devonshire's Braintree
Town in a friendly on Monday evening. Ian Hendon's side will make the short
trip to Essex to face the Blue Square Bet Premier team at Cressing Road
Stadium, with kick-off at 7.45pm. The Development Squad have made an
encouraging start to the 2012/13 season, winning two of their opening three
Barclays U21 Premier League matches. Braintree, meanwhile, go into the
weekend eleventh in the Blue Square Bet Premier table and on a three-match
unbeaten run. After defeating Woking and Tamworth and drawing with
Kidderminster Harriers in their previous three league matches, the Iron
travel to Macclesfield Town on Saturday.
Former Hammers and England midfielder Devonshire has been a revelation since
taking charge at Braintree in the summer of 2011. Last season, despite
working with one of the smallest budgets in the division, the Essex club
finished 12th in the table. West Ham's squad for the game is expected to
feature senior players in need of game-time and a host of young
professionals, including recent first-team debutants George Moncur and
Matthias Fanimo. One-time Braintree loanee Dominic Vose could also be
involved.
Monday's game will not be all ticket. Tickets will not be available for sale
prior to the game and spectators should pay at turnstiles 1-4, with all
Adult tickets priced £10, OAP/Under-16s tickets priced £5 and Under-11s
tickets priced £3.
Limited parking is available at the ground. priced at £2 per car, with no
vehicles allowed entry into the car park after 6.30pm to avoid congestion.
For directions to Cressing Road Stadium, click here.
For further information, please contact Braintree Town FC on 01376 345617.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Turgott ready to take next step
WHUFC.com
Promising winger Blair Turgott should make his England Under-19 debut in
Germany on Thursday
06.09.2012
Blair Turgott feels ready to take the next step for club and country. The
West Ham United winger is set to make his England Under-19 debut in an
international friendly in Germany on Thursday, continuing his record of
having played for his country at every age-group level. At the same time,
after impressing for the Hammers first-team in pre-season, the 18-year-old
is targeting a maiden appearance for Sam Allardyce's side before too long.
This afternoon, Turgott is hoping to feature alongside West Ham colleague
Dan Potts when England take on Germany in Hamburg in a warmup game for their
UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualifying round fixtures with Estonia,
Faroe Islands and Ukraine at the end of September. "It's obviously good to
be called-up by the Under-19s for the first time," he told whufc.com "I got
called-up by the Under-16s when I was younger and you hope that it isn't
going to be a one-off and thankfully it wasn't "It is always great to
represent your country at any level, so it'll be good to keep that run
going. I've played at every level and I just want to go all the way. "It is
very pleasing to be called-up, because I haven't played any first-team
football yet. People say Under-19s is a hard squad to get into because that
is when players start to break into first teams for their clubs, but
hopefully I can show what I can do with England and my chance will come at
West Ham. "The European Under-19 Championship is the big one. We'll be
looking forward to that come the end of the season, if we qualify, and
obviously there are a lot of games between now and then where I can stake a
claim to be in the squad. I can only work hard when I go away and keep
playing well for West Ham."
The teenager showed why he is rated so highly by producing eye-catching
performances in the pre-season fixtures at Oxford United. Rot-Weiss Erfurt
and Energie Cottbus - setting up a goal for Ricardo Vaz Te at Erfurt. While
Turgott was not involved in the Capital One Cup second-round win over Crewe
Alexandra, he believes his form in those pre-season matches and in
Development Squad wins over Reading and Everton have given him an
opportunity to push his way into Sam Allardyce's plans. Having trained and
played with the club's established first-team stars on a regular basis,
Turgott belieevs he possesses the attributes to go all the way to the top -
providing he keeps up the hard work and commitment that have served him so
well in his career to date. "I would like to think I am in the manager's
thoughts. It was obviously good to get the call-up to go to Germany and that
was a great experience for me to be around the boys and see what the manager
wants from the squad. "I've got to keep playing well for the Development
Squad and then I might go out on loan this season and hopefully I'll get
some first-team football. We have started the season well by winning our
opening two matches. "I am still only 18 but I feel ready for the Premier
League. I was watching Southampton the other day on TV and there is a boy
there, James Ward-Prowse, who I have played with for England. Being an
English player, it is great growing up seeing the Premier League because it
makes you want to be the best player you can be. "It's the best place to be
and I don't see why I can't play in the Premier League. I don't feel out of
place when I train with the first-team squad. I'm quite a confident player,
so when I train with them I don't look at names. You can't see it like that.
You just have to play your football."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Jack's back: West Ham midfielder Collison close to return from knee injury
The Mirror
Jamie McDonald
West Ham midfielder Jack Collison hopes to return to the first team after
the international break having finally recovered from a long-term knee
injury. The 23-year-old Wales international missed the start of the season
with the problem, which has afflicted him for the last two years. "I'm
pretty much there or thereabouts," said Collison, who played a big part in
helping the Hammers return to the Premier League. "I just need to get some
minutes under my belt."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
More to come?
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 6th September 2012
By: Reece Bateman
So latest rumours suggest Andy Carroll is out until mid-October, at least.
Terrible news for us fans after watching him make a huge impact on his debut
against Fulham.
Obviously it is bad news, but it could work in the favour of both Carlton
Cole and Modibo Maiga who will now get their chances in the starting XI.
Having watched Carroll's display they may be motivated to go that extra
15-20 per cent to ensure that Big Sam has a difficult decision to make once
Carroll returns.
It may also work in the favour of young Rob Hall who, after making his
Premier League debut against Fulham, will surely be looking to prove to the
management he is also more than capable of pushing for a starting spot in
Big Andy's absence. I think Carlton Cole will be the favourite to replace
Carroll initially but I expect Maiga to play a big role over the coming
weeks.
We're currently linked with ex-Sunderland and Lyon centre half John Mensah.
He is available on a free transfer so can still but signed, however his
appearances since he signed for Lyon in 2008 have been limited to say the
least.
He joined Sunderland on loan in 2009, eventually leaving at the end of the
2011 season, and made 34 league appearances across two seasons. At Lyon he
has appeared just 13 times, incredibly making just 47 league appearances for
both clubs since 2008.
He is an experienced defender, he impressed hugely in the 2010 World Cup
where he captained Ghana to the quarter-finals, however his injury record
alone should be enough to deter us from making an offer, unless it's on a
pay-as-you-play basis.
Over the last few seasons we have had more than our share of injury prone
players who have drained the club of money, we should have learned by now
that the risk simply isn't worth taking. Perhaps this is why West Ham never
made a move for Michael Owen, who has just recently signed for Stoke after
being released by Manchester United.
At the beginning of the summer, when Owen was first available, Hammers
favourite Tony Cottee said West Ham should snap him up suggesting that 'you
know he guarantees reaching double figures in goals, which would take the
pressure off the rest of the players.' Did Sam and the board miss a trick by
not signing Owen up on a contract for just one season? If you think about
it, we could have had Owen feeding off Andy Carroll's knock downs and flick
on's, it could have been quite a potent partnership.
I don't know whether it is possible to bring any more players in, free
agents or not, as the club has confirmed their squad list for the first half
of the season, I'm unsure on Premier League rules regarding this. Free
agents currently linked to the club, like Nigel Reo-Coker and James McFadden
along with Mensah, may have to wait slightly longer for their chance in the
Premier League again.
Does the West Ham squad need its ranks bolstering with a few freebies? Is
there room for strengthening still, or would we simply be signing players
just to get our squad list up to 25 players?
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carroll is Wanted More at West Ham, Claims Hammers Chairman
David Gold hints that Carroll was left to feel unwanted at Liverpool
By ADRIAN BACK: Subscribe to Adrian's RSS feed
September 6, 2012 3:23 PM GMT
Ibtimes.co.uk
West Ham United chairman David Gold believes that Andy Carroll will find it
easier to adapt to life at Upton Park as he will be immediately accepted by
everyone involved at the club. Carroll endured a difficult spell on
Merseyside as he struggled to win a place in the starting line-up in his 18
month spell with the club. The expectation placed on Carroll after his
£35million transfer fee did not make it easy for the England forward and it
was decided by manager Brendan Rodgers that he was no longer needed at the
club this season. Having been subsequently sent on a season-long loan to
West Ham, Carroll impressed on his debut as he helped the Hammers secure a
3-0 win over Fulham. While he received rave reviews for his performance,
Liverpool were criticised for allowing the striker to leave without a
replacement arriving. The lack of a striker was emphasised as Liverpool
were beaten 2-0 at home by Arsenal last Sunday in a game in which they could
do very little to change the game with a lack of attacking options on the
bench. Carroll's debut was a far cry from a player who underperformed at
Liverpool and Gold believes the major difference if that he is wanted by
everyone involved with the club. "[sic] The manager of WHU [West Ham United]
wants AC [Andy Carroll] the players want him, the captain wants him, the
fans want him, the owners want him. That's the difference," tweeted Gold.
The 23-year-old picked up a hamstring injury on his West Ham debut and will
now miss the England's World Cup qualifying games against Moldova and
Ukraine after being ruled out for around six weeks.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Collison desperate for West Ham return
By talkSPORT | Thursday, September 6, 2012
West Ham midfielder Jack Collison is hoping to make a first-team return
after the international break after finally recovering from a long-term knee
injury. The 23-year-old has been forced to miss the start of the season
after failing to recover from the problem which has affected him for the
last two years. The Wales international played a major role in helping the
club gain promotion into the Premier League and is desperate to play in the
top flight. Collison has now resumed training and hopes to be back in action
by the end of September. The Hammers midfielder said: "I'm pretty much there
or thereabouts myself now. I just need to get some minutes under my belt and
then try to give the manager a few headaches. "If the boys continue to play
like they did against Fulham then it's going to be hard to get back into the
team. It's a challenge I'm looking forward to."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Thursday, September 6
Daily WHUFC News - 6th September 2012
Jack on the box
WHUFC.com
Jack Collison swapped the dressing room for the Sky Sports studio for
Saturday's victory over Fulham
05.09.2012
Jack Collison swapped his claret and blue kit for a smart suit and tie as he
made his debut as a Sky Sports pundit for Saturday's 3-0 Barclays Premier
League victory over Fulham. The West Ham United No10 joined former Chelsea
and England midfielder Ray Wilkins in the studio at the Boleyn Ground to
cast his eye over the Hammers' second straight home win to start the 2012/13
season. Collison, who hopes to return from a knee problem soon, said he
enjoyed his time in front of the cameras, but would not be looking to
exchange the pitch for an analyst's chair on a permanent basis for some time
yet.
"Being injured at the moment, I had the opportunity to try something else
out and it was good fun," explained Collison, who is a regular contributor
to West Ham TV. "Luckily they looked after me in the studio and Ray Wilkins
was really good helping me out. It was a fantastic result for the boys and I
thought they were magnificent.
"Fortunately the boys were magnificent right through from Andy Carroll
having a brilliant debut to Jussi [Jaaskelainen] making three or four
crucial saves at the end of the game. Long may it continue!" "When the
cameras come out, I always like a go and I thought 'I'm not playing so why
not?'. I trained in the morning and then came over to the stadium and had a
chance to give the boys a bit of abuse on the TV!"
While he is itching to get back to playing, Collison clearly enjoys
discussing the game he loves and admitted he would like to follow the likes
of Wilkins, Gary Neville and Jamie Redknapp into the media when his career
is at an end. I think any way I can stay in the game after I finish playing
would be great. Speaking to Ray Wilkins, he said other than football working
on TV is the second best thing you can do because you are travelling round
watching games and giving your opinion.
"I thoroughly enjoyed it on Saturday but fingers crossed it is a long way
off yet before I am doing that as my job!"
Collison was able to give a glowing report of his team-mates' comprehensive
win over the Cottagers and, having played a starring role in helping West
Ham to get promoted last season, the Wales international cannot wait to pull
on his boots in the Barclays Premier League again. "It was hard getting over
a long-term injury but I got lots of minutes last year which I really
enjoyed. I loved playing every minute of last season and I'm desperate to
get out there now, especially while we're back in the Premier League. "I
think, first and foremost, we've got to make sure we're stable in the
Premier League. If we can get to that 40-point barrier as soon as possible
it would give us so much confidence. If we can carry on our home form and
get it going away, we're going to be a tough team to beat and hopefully we
can push on.
"I'm pretty much there or thereabouts myself now. I just need to get some
minutes under my belt and then try to give the manager a few headaches. If
the boys continue to play like they did against Fulham then it's going to be
hard to get back into the team. It's a challenge I'm looking forward to."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham striker Andy Carroll ruled out with hamstring injury
BBC.co.uk
West Ham striker Andy Carroll has been ruled out for between five and six
weeks with a hamstring injury. The 23-year-old withdrew from England's World
Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine after limping off 68 minutes into
his debut against Fulham. A scan has revealed that Carroll's hamstring
injury is serious, ruling him out of one Capital One Cup and four Premier
League games. Carroll joined the Hammers on loan from Liverpool last
Thursday. The former Newcastle United forward now faces a race to be fit for
England's next World Cup qualifying double-header, against San Marino and
Poland, in early October. England start their qualifying campaign at the
Zimbru Stadium in Moldova on Friday, before facing Ukraine at Wembley next
Tuesday. Carroll played a key role in two of West Ham's goals in Saturday's
3-0 win over Fulham. "We were ready to bring him off and unfortunately on
that last jump he got hit by Brede Hangeland," said Hammers boss Sam
Allardyce.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Julian Dicks joins KUMB.com
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 5th September 2012
By: Staff Writer
It's with great pleasure that we at KUMB.com announce our newest recruit to
the team - West Ham United FC legend Julian Dicks. Dicks, who was a huge
fans' favourite during two spells at the Boleyn Ground in the 1980s and
1990s is joining us as a regular columnist and will be sharing his thoughts
on all things West Ham with the readers of KUMB.com on a weekly basis.
Starting from tomorrow, Julian will be taking a no-holds-barred look at the
latest comings and goings at the Boleyn Ground. Topics under discussion this
week include the transfer window, new signing Andy Carroll and the Olympic
Stadium. Naturally we're very excited to have Julian joining us here on
KUMB.com, and can't wait to see the way his column takes shape over the next
few months. In the meantime, we're already proud to boast a terrific team of
writers here on KUMB.com but there is always room to add more talent. If
you would like the opportunity to join Julian and the rest of the team of
writers here at KUMB.com why not drop us a line by contacting the editor at
editor@kumb.com to see how you too can have your work published on the web's
leading West Ham United website.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Catch 22
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 5th September 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have named just 22 players in their Premier League squad for
the first half of the 2012/13. With each club entitled to name up to 25
players over the age of 21, the Hammers first team squad - which Sam
Allardyce will be able to select from until 1st January 2013 - is three
short of its full quota. Speaking to KUMB.com recently, Allardyce confirmed
that his squad was likely to fall short of its maximum size. "Our signings
make us a strong squad and the numbers on the board align," he said. "I
don't think we'll be able to fill to the 25-man squad that you can register
in the Premier League - but I think we'll get 20 players and three
goalkeepers."
And whilst Allardyce was just one player out - although John Mensah remains
a possible signing, as revealed here on KUMB last month - West Ham's current
third choice goalkeeper is summer signing Raphael Spiegel, who at the age of
just 19 does not have to be named in the squad list. Starting from this
season, all Premier League clubs have to name a minimum of eight "homegrown"
players who have been registered to play in either England or Wales for
three years leading up to their 21st birthday.
The only player over 21 not listed in the squad is Freddie Piquionne,
leading to speculation that the French striker will be moving elsewhere
shortly.
West Ham's full squad list is as follows:
Goalkeepers (2): Stephen Henderson; Juusi Jaaskelainen.
Defenders (7): James Collins; Guy Demel; George McCartney; Joey O'Brien;
Winston Reid; Jordan Spence; James Tomkins.
Midfielders (9): Yossi Benayoun; Jack Collison; Mohamed Diame; Alou Diarra;
Matt Jarvis; Mark Noble; Kevin Nolan; Gary O'Neil; Matt Taylor.
Forwards (4): Andy Carroll; Carlton Cole; Modibo Maiga; Ricardo Vaz Te.
Under-21 squad members not listed above include:
Raphael Spiegel; Robert Hall; Danny Potts; Matthias Fanimo; Callum Driver;
George Moncur; Paul McCallum.
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Carroll facing six weeks out
Gold says mid-October return would be 'worst case scenario' for striker
Last Updated: September 5, 2012 2:38pm
SSN
West Ham loanee Andy Carroll could be facing as long as six weeks on the
sidelines with a hamstring injury, according to co-owner David Gold.
Carroll, 23, was forced to withdraw from England's 2014 World Cup qualifiers
against Moldova and Ukraine after the on-loan Liverpoolstriker limped off in
the second half of his debut against Fulham. The Premier League club are yet
to confirm reports that scans have shown the problem to be more severe than
first suspected. However, co-owner David Gold responded to questions on his
official Twitter account suggesting the player being back by mid-October
would be the "worst case scenario". Carroll is now certainly expected to
miss the resumption of the domestic season at Norwich next weekend, as well
as the Capital One Cup tie against Wigan.
Asset
The Irons host Arsenal on October 6th, by which time if the striker is not
back towards match fitness, he would also be a major doubt for the next
round of World Cup qualifiers with San Marino at Wembley and in Poland the
following week. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is in no doubt Carroll, who
played a key role in two of his side's goals in the 3-0 win over Fulham, can
be a major asset. He said: "If Andy scores between ten and 15 goals, it is
going to give us a great chance to be out of the relegation zone. "If Andy
gets 15 to 20 goals, we can get in the top ten because all we have to do
there is to produce enough clean sheets to make sure we get points on the
board with the goals that he scores."
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Yet More Signings or Just More Paper Talk?
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die
By Reece Bateman
Rumours today suggest Andy Carroll is out until mid October at least.
Terrible news for us fans after watching him make a huge impact on his debut
against Fulham. Obviously it is bad news, but it could work in the favour of
both Carlton Cole and Modibo Maiga who will now get their chances in the
starting XI. Having watched Carroll's display they may be motivated to go
that extra 15-20% to ensure that Big Sam has a difficult decision to make
once Carroll returns. It may also work in the favour of young Rob Hall who,
after making his Premier League debut against Fulham, will surely be looking
to prove to the management he is also more than capable of pushing for a
starting spot in Big Andy's absence. I think Carlton Cole will be the
favourite to replace Carroll initially but I expect Maiga to play a big role
over the coming weeks.
We're currently linked with ex Sunderland and Lyon centre half Big John
Mensah. He is available on a free transfer so can still but signed however
his appearances since he signed for Lyon in 2008 have been limited to say
the least. He joined Sunderland on loan in 2009, eventually leaving at the
end of the 2011 season, and made 34 league appearances across two seasons.
At Lyon he has appeared just 13 times, incredibly making just 47 league
appearances for both clubs since 2008. He is an experienced defender, he
impressed hugely in the 2010 World Cup where he captained Ghana to the
quarter finals, however his injury record alone should be enough to deter us
from making an offer, unless it's on a pay-as-you-play basis. Over the last
few seasons we have had more than our share of injury prone players who have
drained the club of money, we should have learned by now that the risk
simply isn't worth taking. Perhaps this is why West Ham never made a move
for Michael Owen, who has just recently signed for Stoke after being
released by Manchester United. At the beginning of the summer, when Owen was
first available, Hammers favourite Tony Cottee said West Ham should snap him
up suggesting that 'you know he guarantees reaching double figures in goals,
which would take the pressure off the rest of the players.' Did Sam and the
board miss a trick by not signing Owen up on a contract for just one season?
If you think about it, we could have had Owen feeding off Andy Carroll's
knock downs and flick on's, it could have been quite a potent partnership.
I don't know whether it is possible to bring any more players in, free
agents or not, as the club has confirmed their squad list for the first half
of the season, I'm unsure on Premier League rules regarding this. Free
agents currently linked to the club, like Nigel Reo-Coker and James McFadden
along with Mensah, may have to wait slightly longer for their chance in the
Premiership again. Does the West Ham squad need its ranks bolstering with a
few freebies? Is there room for strengthening still, or would we simply be
signing players just to get our squad list up to 25 players?
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Hammers' Carroll bill
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Last Updated: 06th September 2012
WEST HAM could be almost £740,000 out of pocket unless striker Andy Carroll
can make a speedy recovery from his hamstring injury. Hammers joint-chairman
David Gold last night admitted the £100,000-a-week loanee will be out for
six weeks in the 'worst-case scenario'. And that will mean a massive bill
for a club battling huge debts while the England ace is nursed back to full
fitness. Carroll lasted 68 minutes in his debut against Fulham on Saturday.
If his injury goes the full distance that is £600,000 in wages. And West Ham
have paid Liverpool a season-loan fee of £1million — that breaks down to
£138,500 over six weeks. That works out as almost £11,000 for every minute
he has played for the Hammers. Joint-chairman David Sullivan pulled off one
of the biggest deals for West Ham in years by persuading Carroll to sign on
at Upton Park.
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Campbell: Moore deserves knighthood
September 5, 2012
ESPN
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent
Bobby Moore is deserving of a posthumous knighthood, according to Bobby
Campbell. Campbell, who was Moore's manager at Fulham, claims in the
soon-to-be-released book England Centurions that the defender should be
rewarded with title Sir Bobby. Even though a statue of the World Cup-winning
captain has pride of place at the new Wembley stadium, Campbell believes
Moore hasn't received the recognition he is due. In the book, which details
Moore's life and honours his 100 caps, Campbell argues: "I don't believe
that he received the accolade and credit that he deserved. He should have
been moved straight to the FA when he finished playing in just the same way
the German FA embraced the Kaiser [Franz Beckenbauer]. "He should have been
knighted. Tell me this, if any player captained England to a World Cup
triumph in the future, do you think they would be knighted? I am sure that
they would. So why wasn't Bobby knighted? In fact, it's not too late. He
should be knighted posthumously."
The vastly experienced Campbell, who also had George Best under his command
during his managerial career, said: "I have managed some formidable players
in my time, but Bobby Moore was the best professional I ever managed. "To be
Bobby Moore's manager and mentor for the time that I managed at Fulham, when
he was a player there, I can safely say that he was the best professional I
ever managed. If you told him there was a game in Outer Mongolia on
Christmas Eve, kick off two o'clock, he would be there at one o'clock boots
in hand. He was never late. "Everything he ever did was immaculate, whether
that was in training or in a match - it didn't matter to him. That's the way
he was both on and off the field."
Moore, who died of cancer in 1993, was well known for his polite nature,
even when he was alleged to have stolen items from a jeweller's in Bogota,
Colombia, prior to the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. The defender was detained
by police for four days, and was eventually cleared of any wrong doing. "His
manner and his character were top class and he represented West Ham and
England as the ultimate pro. He even wiped his hand before shaking the
Queen's hand before he received the World Cup trophy and he dealt with the
so called 'stealing of the watch' with such dignity. "As for reaching 100
caps, that in itself is such a wonderful milestone and anyone who makes it
to 100 caps deserves to have done so, and that includes David Beckham,
another great player. Let's face it David Beckham hasn't done football any
harm at all."
• England Centurions is published on September 11, launched at Wembley
Stadium before the England/Ukraine World Cup qualifier. £1 from every book
sold will be donated to the Bobby Moore foundation. Booby's widow, Stephanie
Moore, has a message in the book about bowel cancer awareness.
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Young West Ham striker looking for first-team Hall of residence
London 24
Dave Evans, West Ham Correspondent
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
5:00 PM
There were a few surprised faces at Upton Park on Saturday when it was Rob
Hall and not Modibo Maiga who was called off the bench for the last 12
minutes against Fulham. One of them was Rob Hall himself as he explained:
"When I saw the goals flying in during the first half, I thought actually I
might well be able to get on here," said the 18-year-old striker. "But then
we had a couple of injuries, I saw James Collins get a knock and then Andy
had to come off as well. "I thought, maybe not today, but then I saw Guy
Demel get a knock and the boss was brave enough to put me on and I just had
to try and take my opportunity."
He certainly did that and it stems from his substitute appearance last
Tuesday against Crewe Alexandra in the Capital One Cup, where he lit up the
last 25 minutes and almost grabbed his first senior goal for the club he has
been a part of since the age of seven. "The boss and Neil McDonald are very
experienced so they know how to treat young players," said Hall. "After
Tuesday's game they just told me to keep going because the hard work starts
now. "It is hard getting your foot in the door, but once you have, maybe
that is when you start needing to work harder and harder."
It is a philosophy that has been programmed into West Ham's youngsters by
Academy director Tony Carr and it is one that is set to reap dividends again
as Hall put in a fearless display in both Hammers games in the last week.
There are a lot of young players who are good, but it is the mental side of
things that is vital. "I was in a very good team when I was younger. Even in
the reserves a lot of us have been here since we were seven, so we have
helped each other along the way," he said.
"It is hard to adjust when you are the best in your school and then you move
on and you are equal to everyone else. You have to adapt and work harder,
but you can only keep learning along the way."
It is that work ethic that is bearing fruit for the England under-18
international. The day after the Crewe game he was back on the training
pitch trying to impress and it seems to have done the trick. "Friday was
hectic because I didn't know whether I would make the bench, I knew I was in
the squad, but with players coming in I was quite nervous," said Hall.
"Luckily the manager was brave enough to keep me in and now I have made my
Premier League debut I am over the moon."
So what next for the youngster? That first goal would be nice. "On Tuesday I
had two chances and I should definitely have hit the target with at least
one of them," said the youngster. "Against Fulham my shot got blocked, but I
just have to keep on shooting and try not to get nervous out there.
"Whatever the manager says goes, so hopefully I can keep working hard on the
training pitch and try and keep in his plans." With displays like the last
two, that looks increasingly likely.
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Its kind of a long 'ball' story - Andy Carroll signing gives West Ham
'boo-boys' amunition
Here is The City
by Mathew Nash
@MathewNash89
After the signing of Andy Carroll could Sam Allardyce receive further
criticism from fans unhappy at a long ball game? If so is that tag even
appropriate to Big Sam?
Last season Sam Allardyce lead West Ham to a 3rd place finish in the
Championship only finishing short of automatic promotion due to the
outstanding seasons produced by Southampton and Reading. Despite being far
ahead of the castaway teams in the playoffs West Ham had to conquer
Blackpool at Wembley in order to rightfully gain their position in the
Premier League. Now the former Bolton manager is ready to fight for Premier
League survival and has been busy in the transfer window replacing departing
Robert Green with the experienced Jussi Jaaskelainen; James Collins shores
up defence; whilst Diarra, Diame and Maiga have all also arrived to
contribute. But his biggest coup is bringing Andy Carroll to the club on
loan from Liverpool. As the England forward trudged off injured at Upton
Park this weekend the ever exuberant West Ham faithful voiced their
appreciation at his efforts with a deserved standing ovation and the
overwhelming consensus is one of joy at the Geordie boy's arrival on the
East End.
However are any Hammers fans not pleased to see his face?
Last season Sam Allardyce received some stick from sections of his support
about his perceived direct style of play. That isn't the West Ham way you
see; they are more inclined toward a fast paced attacking style complete
with zippy passing and counter attack abilities.
Now with Carroll leading the line the undoubted urge is to announce it is a
full on return to Big Sam's successful long ball tactics at Bolton
Wanderers. Do any West Ham fans feel the signing is against the West Ham
grain?
If they do I can't honestly disagree with them more. Big Sam does adopt a
direct style when necessary but toward the end of his Bolton tenure he had
adopted a far more sleek game with players such as Nicolas Anelka in the
line-up. Against Fulham they only went long just as much as Arsenal did
toward Olivier Giroud at Anfield the following day. Usually any long ball
came after delightful build up from the impressive Mark Noble and the
overlooked assurance of Mohamed Diame. Collins punted it a few times but why
not with a man as potent as Andy Carroll up top, with the instinctive
qualities of Kevin Nolan, Ricardo Vaz Te and Matty Taylor around him it was
a devastating tactic that Fulham struggled to deal with.
Irons fans should be pleased with the acquisition of Carroll as they looked
unplayable during that first half display on Saturday. As Big Sam himself
once said about the tag of a long ball specialist being so intrinsically
attached to his name ...
"It is a tag that has followed me around for a long time and one I'm never
going to be able to shift. I can't do anything about that but I can win
football matches."
And if he continues to win matches, I doubt we will hear the boo-boys when
the long ball to Carroll gets played every now and again.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Jack Collison swapped the dressing room for the Sky Sports studio for
Saturday's victory over Fulham
05.09.2012
Jack Collison swapped his claret and blue kit for a smart suit and tie as he
made his debut as a Sky Sports pundit for Saturday's 3-0 Barclays Premier
League victory over Fulham. The West Ham United No10 joined former Chelsea
and England midfielder Ray Wilkins in the studio at the Boleyn Ground to
cast his eye over the Hammers' second straight home win to start the 2012/13
season. Collison, who hopes to return from a knee problem soon, said he
enjoyed his time in front of the cameras, but would not be looking to
exchange the pitch for an analyst's chair on a permanent basis for some time
yet.
"Being injured at the moment, I had the opportunity to try something else
out and it was good fun," explained Collison, who is a regular contributor
to West Ham TV. "Luckily they looked after me in the studio and Ray Wilkins
was really good helping me out. It was a fantastic result for the boys and I
thought they were magnificent.
"Fortunately the boys were magnificent right through from Andy Carroll
having a brilliant debut to Jussi [Jaaskelainen] making three or four
crucial saves at the end of the game. Long may it continue!" "When the
cameras come out, I always like a go and I thought 'I'm not playing so why
not?'. I trained in the morning and then came over to the stadium and had a
chance to give the boys a bit of abuse on the TV!"
While he is itching to get back to playing, Collison clearly enjoys
discussing the game he loves and admitted he would like to follow the likes
of Wilkins, Gary Neville and Jamie Redknapp into the media when his career
is at an end. I think any way I can stay in the game after I finish playing
would be great. Speaking to Ray Wilkins, he said other than football working
on TV is the second best thing you can do because you are travelling round
watching games and giving your opinion.
"I thoroughly enjoyed it on Saturday but fingers crossed it is a long way
off yet before I am doing that as my job!"
Collison was able to give a glowing report of his team-mates' comprehensive
win over the Cottagers and, having played a starring role in helping West
Ham to get promoted last season, the Wales international cannot wait to pull
on his boots in the Barclays Premier League again. "It was hard getting over
a long-term injury but I got lots of minutes last year which I really
enjoyed. I loved playing every minute of last season and I'm desperate to
get out there now, especially while we're back in the Premier League. "I
think, first and foremost, we've got to make sure we're stable in the
Premier League. If we can get to that 40-point barrier as soon as possible
it would give us so much confidence. If we can carry on our home form and
get it going away, we're going to be a tough team to beat and hopefully we
can push on.
"I'm pretty much there or thereabouts myself now. I just need to get some
minutes under my belt and then try to give the manager a few headaches. If
the boys continue to play like they did against Fulham then it's going to be
hard to get back into the team. It's a challenge I'm looking forward to."
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West Ham striker Andy Carroll ruled out with hamstring injury
BBC.co.uk
West Ham striker Andy Carroll has been ruled out for between five and six
weeks with a hamstring injury. The 23-year-old withdrew from England's World
Cup qualifiers against Moldova and Ukraine after limping off 68 minutes into
his debut against Fulham. A scan has revealed that Carroll's hamstring
injury is serious, ruling him out of one Capital One Cup and four Premier
League games. Carroll joined the Hammers on loan from Liverpool last
Thursday. The former Newcastle United forward now faces a race to be fit for
England's next World Cup qualifying double-header, against San Marino and
Poland, in early October. England start their qualifying campaign at the
Zimbru Stadium in Moldova on Friday, before facing Ukraine at Wembley next
Tuesday. Carroll played a key role in two of West Ham's goals in Saturday's
3-0 win over Fulham. "We were ready to bring him off and unfortunately on
that last jump he got hit by Brede Hangeland," said Hammers boss Sam
Allardyce.
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Julian Dicks joins KUMB.com
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 5th September 2012
By: Staff Writer
It's with great pleasure that we at KUMB.com announce our newest recruit to
the team - West Ham United FC legend Julian Dicks. Dicks, who was a huge
fans' favourite during two spells at the Boleyn Ground in the 1980s and
1990s is joining us as a regular columnist and will be sharing his thoughts
on all things West Ham with the readers of KUMB.com on a weekly basis.
Starting from tomorrow, Julian will be taking a no-holds-barred look at the
latest comings and goings at the Boleyn Ground. Topics under discussion this
week include the transfer window, new signing Andy Carroll and the Olympic
Stadium. Naturally we're very excited to have Julian joining us here on
KUMB.com, and can't wait to see the way his column takes shape over the next
few months. In the meantime, we're already proud to boast a terrific team of
writers here on KUMB.com but there is always room to add more talent. If
you would like the opportunity to join Julian and the rest of the team of
writers here at KUMB.com why not drop us a line by contacting the editor at
editor@kumb.com to see how you too can have your work published on the web's
leading West Ham United website.
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Catch 22
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 5th September 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have named just 22 players in their Premier League squad for
the first half of the 2012/13. With each club entitled to name up to 25
players over the age of 21, the Hammers first team squad - which Sam
Allardyce will be able to select from until 1st January 2013 - is three
short of its full quota. Speaking to KUMB.com recently, Allardyce confirmed
that his squad was likely to fall short of its maximum size. "Our signings
make us a strong squad and the numbers on the board align," he said. "I
don't think we'll be able to fill to the 25-man squad that you can register
in the Premier League - but I think we'll get 20 players and three
goalkeepers."
And whilst Allardyce was just one player out - although John Mensah remains
a possible signing, as revealed here on KUMB last month - West Ham's current
third choice goalkeeper is summer signing Raphael Spiegel, who at the age of
just 19 does not have to be named in the squad list. Starting from this
season, all Premier League clubs have to name a minimum of eight "homegrown"
players who have been registered to play in either England or Wales for
three years leading up to their 21st birthday.
The only player over 21 not listed in the squad is Freddie Piquionne,
leading to speculation that the French striker will be moving elsewhere
shortly.
West Ham's full squad list is as follows:
Goalkeepers (2): Stephen Henderson; Juusi Jaaskelainen.
Defenders (7): James Collins; Guy Demel; George McCartney; Joey O'Brien;
Winston Reid; Jordan Spence; James Tomkins.
Midfielders (9): Yossi Benayoun; Jack Collison; Mohamed Diame; Alou Diarra;
Matt Jarvis; Mark Noble; Kevin Nolan; Gary O'Neil; Matt Taylor.
Forwards (4): Andy Carroll; Carlton Cole; Modibo Maiga; Ricardo Vaz Te.
Under-21 squad members not listed above include:
Raphael Spiegel; Robert Hall; Danny Potts; Matthias Fanimo; Callum Driver;
George Moncur; Paul McCallum.
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Carroll facing six weeks out
Gold says mid-October return would be 'worst case scenario' for striker
Last Updated: September 5, 2012 2:38pm
SSN
West Ham loanee Andy Carroll could be facing as long as six weeks on the
sidelines with a hamstring injury, according to co-owner David Gold.
Carroll, 23, was forced to withdraw from England's 2014 World Cup qualifiers
against Moldova and Ukraine after the on-loan Liverpoolstriker limped off in
the second half of his debut against Fulham. The Premier League club are yet
to confirm reports that scans have shown the problem to be more severe than
first suspected. However, co-owner David Gold responded to questions on his
official Twitter account suggesting the player being back by mid-October
would be the "worst case scenario". Carroll is now certainly expected to
miss the resumption of the domestic season at Norwich next weekend, as well
as the Capital One Cup tie against Wigan.
Asset
The Irons host Arsenal on October 6th, by which time if the striker is not
back towards match fitness, he would also be a major doubt for the next
round of World Cup qualifiers with San Marino at Wembley and in Poland the
following week. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is in no doubt Carroll, who
played a key role in two of his side's goals in the 3-0 win over Fulham, can
be a major asset. He said: "If Andy scores between ten and 15 goals, it is
going to give us a great chance to be out of the relegation zone. "If Andy
gets 15 to 20 goals, we can get in the top ten because all we have to do
there is to produce enough clean sheets to make sure we get points on the
board with the goals that he scores."
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Yet More Signings or Just More Paper Talk?
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die
By Reece Bateman
Rumours today suggest Andy Carroll is out until mid October at least.
Terrible news for us fans after watching him make a huge impact on his debut
against Fulham. Obviously it is bad news, but it could work in the favour of
both Carlton Cole and Modibo Maiga who will now get their chances in the
starting XI. Having watched Carroll's display they may be motivated to go
that extra 15-20% to ensure that Big Sam has a difficult decision to make
once Carroll returns. It may also work in the favour of young Rob Hall who,
after making his Premier League debut against Fulham, will surely be looking
to prove to the management he is also more than capable of pushing for a
starting spot in Big Andy's absence. I think Carlton Cole will be the
favourite to replace Carroll initially but I expect Maiga to play a big role
over the coming weeks.
We're currently linked with ex Sunderland and Lyon centre half Big John
Mensah. He is available on a free transfer so can still but signed however
his appearances since he signed for Lyon in 2008 have been limited to say
the least. He joined Sunderland on loan in 2009, eventually leaving at the
end of the 2011 season, and made 34 league appearances across two seasons.
At Lyon he has appeared just 13 times, incredibly making just 47 league
appearances for both clubs since 2008. He is an experienced defender, he
impressed hugely in the 2010 World Cup where he captained Ghana to the
quarter finals, however his injury record alone should be enough to deter us
from making an offer, unless it's on a pay-as-you-play basis. Over the last
few seasons we have had more than our share of injury prone players who have
drained the club of money, we should have learned by now that the risk
simply isn't worth taking. Perhaps this is why West Ham never made a move
for Michael Owen, who has just recently signed for Stoke after being
released by Manchester United. At the beginning of the summer, when Owen was
first available, Hammers favourite Tony Cottee said West Ham should snap him
up suggesting that 'you know he guarantees reaching double figures in goals,
which would take the pressure off the rest of the players.' Did Sam and the
board miss a trick by not signing Owen up on a contract for just one season?
If you think about it, we could have had Owen feeding off Andy Carroll's
knock downs and flick on's, it could have been quite a potent partnership.
I don't know whether it is possible to bring any more players in, free
agents or not, as the club has confirmed their squad list for the first half
of the season, I'm unsure on Premier League rules regarding this. Free
agents currently linked to the club, like Nigel Reo-Coker and James McFadden
along with Mensah, may have to wait slightly longer for their chance in the
Premiership again. Does the West Ham squad need its ranks bolstering with a
few freebies? Is there room for strengthening still, or would we simply be
signing players just to get our squad list up to 25 players?
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Hammers' Carroll bill
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Last Updated: 06th September 2012
WEST HAM could be almost £740,000 out of pocket unless striker Andy Carroll
can make a speedy recovery from his hamstring injury. Hammers joint-chairman
David Gold last night admitted the £100,000-a-week loanee will be out for
six weeks in the 'worst-case scenario'. And that will mean a massive bill
for a club battling huge debts while the England ace is nursed back to full
fitness. Carroll lasted 68 minutes in his debut against Fulham on Saturday.
If his injury goes the full distance that is £600,000 in wages. And West Ham
have paid Liverpool a season-loan fee of £1million — that breaks down to
£138,500 over six weeks. That works out as almost £11,000 for every minute
he has played for the Hammers. Joint-chairman David Sullivan pulled off one
of the biggest deals for West Ham in years by persuading Carroll to sign on
at Upton Park.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Campbell: Moore deserves knighthood
September 5, 2012
ESPN
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent
Bobby Moore is deserving of a posthumous knighthood, according to Bobby
Campbell. Campbell, who was Moore's manager at Fulham, claims in the
soon-to-be-released book England Centurions that the defender should be
rewarded with title Sir Bobby. Even though a statue of the World Cup-winning
captain has pride of place at the new Wembley stadium, Campbell believes
Moore hasn't received the recognition he is due. In the book, which details
Moore's life and honours his 100 caps, Campbell argues: "I don't believe
that he received the accolade and credit that he deserved. He should have
been moved straight to the FA when he finished playing in just the same way
the German FA embraced the Kaiser [Franz Beckenbauer]. "He should have been
knighted. Tell me this, if any player captained England to a World Cup
triumph in the future, do you think they would be knighted? I am sure that
they would. So why wasn't Bobby knighted? In fact, it's not too late. He
should be knighted posthumously."
The vastly experienced Campbell, who also had George Best under his command
during his managerial career, said: "I have managed some formidable players
in my time, but Bobby Moore was the best professional I ever managed. "To be
Bobby Moore's manager and mentor for the time that I managed at Fulham, when
he was a player there, I can safely say that he was the best professional I
ever managed. If you told him there was a game in Outer Mongolia on
Christmas Eve, kick off two o'clock, he would be there at one o'clock boots
in hand. He was never late. "Everything he ever did was immaculate, whether
that was in training or in a match - it didn't matter to him. That's the way
he was both on and off the field."
Moore, who died of cancer in 1993, was well known for his polite nature,
even when he was alleged to have stolen items from a jeweller's in Bogota,
Colombia, prior to the 1970 World Cup in Mexico. The defender was detained
by police for four days, and was eventually cleared of any wrong doing. "His
manner and his character were top class and he represented West Ham and
England as the ultimate pro. He even wiped his hand before shaking the
Queen's hand before he received the World Cup trophy and he dealt with the
so called 'stealing of the watch' with such dignity. "As for reaching 100
caps, that in itself is such a wonderful milestone and anyone who makes it
to 100 caps deserves to have done so, and that includes David Beckham,
another great player. Let's face it David Beckham hasn't done football any
harm at all."
• England Centurions is published on September 11, launched at Wembley
Stadium before the England/Ukraine World Cup qualifier. £1 from every book
sold will be donated to the Bobby Moore foundation. Booby's widow, Stephanie
Moore, has a message in the book about bowel cancer awareness.
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Young West Ham striker looking for first-team Hall of residence
London 24
Dave Evans, West Ham Correspondent
Wednesday, September 5, 2012
5:00 PM
There were a few surprised faces at Upton Park on Saturday when it was Rob
Hall and not Modibo Maiga who was called off the bench for the last 12
minutes against Fulham. One of them was Rob Hall himself as he explained:
"When I saw the goals flying in during the first half, I thought actually I
might well be able to get on here," said the 18-year-old striker. "But then
we had a couple of injuries, I saw James Collins get a knock and then Andy
had to come off as well. "I thought, maybe not today, but then I saw Guy
Demel get a knock and the boss was brave enough to put me on and I just had
to try and take my opportunity."
He certainly did that and it stems from his substitute appearance last
Tuesday against Crewe Alexandra in the Capital One Cup, where he lit up the
last 25 minutes and almost grabbed his first senior goal for the club he has
been a part of since the age of seven. "The boss and Neil McDonald are very
experienced so they know how to treat young players," said Hall. "After
Tuesday's game they just told me to keep going because the hard work starts
now. "It is hard getting your foot in the door, but once you have, maybe
that is when you start needing to work harder and harder."
It is a philosophy that has been programmed into West Ham's youngsters by
Academy director Tony Carr and it is one that is set to reap dividends again
as Hall put in a fearless display in both Hammers games in the last week.
There are a lot of young players who are good, but it is the mental side of
things that is vital. "I was in a very good team when I was younger. Even in
the reserves a lot of us have been here since we were seven, so we have
helped each other along the way," he said.
"It is hard to adjust when you are the best in your school and then you move
on and you are equal to everyone else. You have to adapt and work harder,
but you can only keep learning along the way."
It is that work ethic that is bearing fruit for the England under-18
international. The day after the Crewe game he was back on the training
pitch trying to impress and it seems to have done the trick. "Friday was
hectic because I didn't know whether I would make the bench, I knew I was in
the squad, but with players coming in I was quite nervous," said Hall.
"Luckily the manager was brave enough to keep me in and now I have made my
Premier League debut I am over the moon."
So what next for the youngster? That first goal would be nice. "On Tuesday I
had two chances and I should definitely have hit the target with at least
one of them," said the youngster. "Against Fulham my shot got blocked, but I
just have to keep on shooting and try not to get nervous out there.
"Whatever the manager says goes, so hopefully I can keep working hard on the
training pitch and try and keep in his plans." With displays like the last
two, that looks increasingly likely.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Its kind of a long 'ball' story - Andy Carroll signing gives West Ham
'boo-boys' amunition
Here is The City
by Mathew Nash
@MathewNash89
After the signing of Andy Carroll could Sam Allardyce receive further
criticism from fans unhappy at a long ball game? If so is that tag even
appropriate to Big Sam?
Last season Sam Allardyce lead West Ham to a 3rd place finish in the
Championship only finishing short of automatic promotion due to the
outstanding seasons produced by Southampton and Reading. Despite being far
ahead of the castaway teams in the playoffs West Ham had to conquer
Blackpool at Wembley in order to rightfully gain their position in the
Premier League. Now the former Bolton manager is ready to fight for Premier
League survival and has been busy in the transfer window replacing departing
Robert Green with the experienced Jussi Jaaskelainen; James Collins shores
up defence; whilst Diarra, Diame and Maiga have all also arrived to
contribute. But his biggest coup is bringing Andy Carroll to the club on
loan from Liverpool. As the England forward trudged off injured at Upton
Park this weekend the ever exuberant West Ham faithful voiced their
appreciation at his efforts with a deserved standing ovation and the
overwhelming consensus is one of joy at the Geordie boy's arrival on the
East End.
However are any Hammers fans not pleased to see his face?
Last season Sam Allardyce received some stick from sections of his support
about his perceived direct style of play. That isn't the West Ham way you
see; they are more inclined toward a fast paced attacking style complete
with zippy passing and counter attack abilities.
Now with Carroll leading the line the undoubted urge is to announce it is a
full on return to Big Sam's successful long ball tactics at Bolton
Wanderers. Do any West Ham fans feel the signing is against the West Ham
grain?
If they do I can't honestly disagree with them more. Big Sam does adopt a
direct style when necessary but toward the end of his Bolton tenure he had
adopted a far more sleek game with players such as Nicolas Anelka in the
line-up. Against Fulham they only went long just as much as Arsenal did
toward Olivier Giroud at Anfield the following day. Usually any long ball
came after delightful build up from the impressive Mark Noble and the
overlooked assurance of Mohamed Diame. Collins punted it a few times but why
not with a man as potent as Andy Carroll up top, with the instinctive
qualities of Kevin Nolan, Ricardo Vaz Te and Matty Taylor around him it was
a devastating tactic that Fulham struggled to deal with.
Irons fans should be pleased with the acquisition of Carroll as they looked
unplayable during that first half display on Saturday. As Big Sam himself
once said about the tag of a long ball specialist being so intrinsically
attached to his name ...
"It is a tag that has followed me around for a long time and one I'm never
going to be able to shift. I can't do anything about that but I can win
football matches."
And if he continues to win matches, I doubt we will hear the boo-boys when
the long ball to Carroll gets played every now and again.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Wednesday, September 5
Daily WHUFC News - 5th September 2012
The Big Interview - Kevin Nolan
WHUFC.com
Kevin Nolan on Saturday's win against Fulham, the transfer market and the
challenges ahead
03.09.2012
West Ham United captain Kevin Nolan led from the front in Saturday's
Barclays Premier League victory over Fulham - on and off the pitch. Nolan
fired the Hammers in front after just 53 seconds, setting them on their way
to a valuable 3-0 home win. Afterwards, the skipper spoke at length to the
national and international media.
The skipper talked about the fantastic win, bouncing back after the defeat
at Swansea City, the arrival of friend Andy Carroll and an encouraging start
to the 2012/13 campaign.
Kevin, a second Barclays Premier League home match, a second home win and
another goal - not a bad day for you?
KN - "Yes, it was a great win for us. I am absolutely delighted with how we
won it as well. For me to score again was great, the header on from Andy
(Carroll) and then Vaz geared me up and it was great to see it hit the back
of the net. We were very pleased to start off in such a way early on. It
settles the nerves and you have your game plan. So when it comes together
like that so early on, you can put it all into action. We were buzzing from
the off. I thought we were great from the first minute to the last - except
we may have got a bit sloppy near the end and have Jussi (Jaaskelainen) to
thank for the good saves he made at that time to ensure we kept a clean
sheet - although we did that to keep Jussi on his toes! After the
disappointment of losing away at Swansea we were determined to bounce back
straight away, which we have done with the Capital One Cup game midweek
against Crewe and now in the league, so we're delighted at that."
There seemed a sense of extra excitement around the Boleyn Ground for
Saturday's match and much of that was to do with the arrival of Andy
(Carroll) and other new faces. Was that felt in the dressing room as well?
KN - "You know, a lot went on before the Fulham game, with the transfer
deadline - not only Andy coming in on the Thursday but getting Yossi
Benayoun really late
on Friday. Those signings gave all the lads a boost and I think you could
see that in our play. The way we started and went on to win was fantastic.
When we got the early goal, then the second and third, it was all about
making sure Fulham didn't get a sniff to get back into the game and we did
that. Our work off the ball was good, as was our ball retention - overall it
was a fantastic afternoon for us. There is a sense of excitement. Everyone
at the club is delighted that we have added top-quality players to what is
already a very strong squad. It is fantastic and hats off to the Gaffer and
the Joint-Chairmen who have worked hard in the transfer window. Praise must
also go to lads like Matt (Jarvis) and the boys brought in earlier in
pre-season, including Mo Diame, Alou Diarra, Modibo Maiga and then Ginge
(James Collins). We are all delighted and hopefully we can repay what the
Gaffer and the owners have done by winning games and putting in top
performances."
It seemed a long time coming, but West Ham finally have their man in Andy
Carroll. As you know him well off the pitch, how pleased are you to see him
in a Hammers shirt?
KN - "Obviously I know Andy well. We get on really well on and off the pitch
so when I knew he was coming down on Thursday night I was excited and really
chuffed about it. We have been lucky to get him, I think everyone knows that
and from the performance he put in on Saturday you can see he will be great
for us. I am delighted for him because he deserves to be playing every week.
How much was Andy looking forward to making his West Ham debut in front of
the home fans?
KN: "He was very excited. I told him before the game that he had nothing to
prove to anyone. We all know his capabilities and I am glad he showed what a
top striker he is in this league. Hopefully he can carry on performing and
put the ball in the back of the net for us this season."
A lot has been said about which style of play is suited to Andy but, with
the qualities he has, can he can fit into any team?
KN: "Absolutely. I don't know why people go on about our style of play or
that he supposedly suits us. The fact of the matter is simple, he is a top
striker and can score goals. Andy works his socks off and makes things
happen. If you put the ball in the box for him he will most probably get on
the end of it and put it in the back of the net. As a team I think the
performance against Fulham speaks for itself. We would be more than happy if
we can play like that every week and win 3-0!"
Three league games in, how are things looking in your opinion and are you
pleased with the squad's strength in depth?
KN: "You know I was confident when we came back for pre-season for the
campaign ahead. I thought we would strengthen and, like everyone else at the
club, I am delighted with who we have brought in. We hope that Andy's injury
is not too serious, but when he came off Carlton (Cole) came on and did his
bit which delighted me. It bodes well for us going into a long season that
we have quality in numbers, if we can all keep fit then we will do well. The
other highlight was that we also had youngsters like Rob Hall coming on and
we have another young lad in Dan Potts in the squad so we are confident
going into the next few games. We have the international break now and we
hope that all the lads do well for their respective countries and then
return to us fit and well. If that happens we will be standing in good stead
to face Norwich in our next game. I think I mentioned the other week that
when we win we won't get too carried away. We will take the confidence it
brings into the next game and, equally, when we lose we will look to bounce
back as we showed today. We can only look to work hard and do the best we
can and we will certainly be doing that."
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Hall targeting first-team role
WHUFC.com
Rob Hall is aiming to feature regularly after two impressive cameo
appearances last week
04.09.2012
Rob Hall has the appetite for first-team football after making his Barclays
Premier League debut in Saturday's 3-0 win over Fulham. Hall, who also
impressed as a substitute in last week's Capital One Cup second-round win
over Crewe Alexandra and made four first-team appearances last season, wants
to feature for Sam Allardyce's side on a regular basis. The 18-year-old, who
has been in sensational form for the Development Squad, is enjoying the
rewards after more than a decade working his way through the ranks at the
club. "I am very happy after making my Premier League debut," he told West
Ham TV. "The lads helped me through it and I also played last Tuesday in the
Capital One Cup. "We put in very professional performances in both games and
I am just grateful for the opportunites. It is also great for the other lads
in the youth set-up too see someone make the step up."
After an impressive cameo against Crewe, the Boleyn Ground crowd gave Hall a
stunning reception against Fulham and the young England Under-19 forward
thanked Hammers fans for their support. "It is very nice to receive such a
welcoming atmosphere. The crowd play their part well whether we play home or
away. On Saturday, I just wanted to get on and show them what I can do. "We
had to be very professional and see the game through and I thought we did
that well. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it is obviously nice to hear positive
things said about you after you come off the pitch."
Hall instantly caught the eye in both games with two rasping shots against
Crewe and another against Fulham, but a combination of good goalkeeping and
last-ditch defending mean he is still awaiting his first senior Hammers
goal. However, the No46 vowed to remain patient and insisted the goals will
come. "I think on Tuesday I had two chances, I should have hit the target
with at least one of them and on Saturday the shot I had was blocked. "I
just need to keep doing what I do and, if the ball comes to me, remain
composed. I will continue to work hard on the training ground and I am sure
it will happen."
Hall has been a part of West Ham for more than decade and he paid tribute to
all those he has worked with over the years for helping him develop into the
player he is today. "I was in a very good team when I was younger. Even in
the Development Squad, a lot of the lads have been here since we were as
young as seven, so we have helped each other along the way. "When we got to
youth-team age points started to matter and you get to see a side of the
game you don't when you are younger. We had a lot of positive results when
we were younger and it is definitely hard to adjust, but you have to adapt,
work harder and take everything as it comes."
After late deals secured the services of Andy Carroll and Yossi Benayoun,
Hall admitted he was unsure whether he would be handed another Barclays
Premier League opportunity in the near future but, after a small taster, he
is ready to do all he can to feature once more. "Last Friday was very hectic
due to it being Deadline Day, so I was not sure whether I would make the
bench. I knew I was in the squad but with players coming in I didn't know
what would happen. "Luckily the manager was brave enough to keep me on the
bench and gave me my Premier League debut which I am very happy about. Thank
God I have got here and now I have to keep pushing on and working hard."
Hall also believes that playing alongside the likes of Carroll, Benayoun and
Matt Jarvis will only have a positive effect on his game. "When I was
younger and I used to sit in the stand and watch so to be on the pitch makes
it all come into reality. You just need to take it all in and make sure you
do not get nervous. "We have definitely brought top players in. Yossi has
come back and I was really young the last time he was here so it is nice to
see him about. "It is also great to have Andy coming in. He is a very big
striker and I hope he and Carlton do well. I am obviously small so I think I
can work well playing off them. Playing and training with them will only
help me to develop my game."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carroll out for six weeks
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 4th September 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham's new signing Andy Carroll is going to be out of action until
mid-October after sustaining a hamstring injury on his debut. The
23-year-old forward, who joined West Ham on loan last week has been ruled
out for around six weeks after the extent of the damage to his hamstring was
revealed in tests. Carroll, who was due to join up with England yesterday
was injured after jumping for a header with Fulham's Brede Hangeland during
the second half of Saturday's 3-0 win over Fulham. It was initially hoped
that the damage to his thigh was minor - but KUMB understands this morning
that the club's worst fears have since been realised.
Meanwhile, the club's co-owner David Gold has responded to the confusion
regarding Carroll's contract situation - by muddying the waters even more.
Both West Ham and Liverpool reported on their respective websites last week
that the deal was a season-long loan. However Reds manager Brendan Rodgers,
speaking after his team's 2-0 home defeat against Arsenal on Sunday told the
BBC that he had the option to recall Carroll in January, should he so
desire. Having been bombarded by Tweets from supporters in the past 48 hours
David Gold finally responded to calls for clarification this morning - but
failed to give a definitive answer. "The exact terms of Andy Carroll's
year-long loan deal is subject to a confidentially agreement," he said, "but
we are hopeful he will be with us the whole season."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers want Carroll stay
Gold optimistic striker will not be recalled to Anfield
Last Updated: September 4, 2012 1:17pm
SSN
Liverpool are believed to have the option to recall Andy Carroll in January
but West Ham United are hopeful of keeping the England international until
the end of the campaign. The 23-year-old striker last week moved to Upton
Park on a season-long loan deal after Brendan Rodgers seemingly decided he
did not fit into his plans at Anfield. But Liverpool's striker crisis, which
has come as a result of a failure to sign anyone on transfer deadline, has
led to reports they will want Carroll back in the New Year. It is understood
the loan of the £35million January 2011 signing from Newcastle can be
cancelled, however, West Ham are optimistic that will not be the case.
Owen is an option
West Ham co-chairman David Gold said on Twitter: "The exact terms of
Carroll's year-long loan deal are subject to a confidentiality agreement but
we are hopeful he will be with us the whole season." With Carroll, who
injured his hamstring on his West Ham debut, gone until at least January and
no replacement signed before the transfer deadline passed, Rodgers has been
linked with a host of free agents. Although a move for former Anfield hero
Michael Owen now appears to be a non-starter, rumours still persist the
likes of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka could return to the Premier
League.
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Are the Hammers Closing in on the Bosman Signing of John Mensah?
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
Reports today suggest that West Ham are leading the chase to sign the
ex-Sunderland free agent, John Mensah. The Ghanan international centre-back
was released a year early from his 5 year contract with Lyons. As a free
agent, Mensah can move after the closure of the transfer window and it is
alleged that a number of other English clubs are interested. However, the
rumours on the football grape vine suggest that John Mensah, himself, is
keen to join West Ham. Obviously, 'money talks' and he could get a better
offer, but that should give us an advantage over our rivals for his
signarure.
Mensah is a hugely experienced centre-back and was did well in his previous
loan stints at Sunderland. Unfortunately, his more recent time in French
football has seen him suffer a succession of niggling injuries. The word is
that John Mensah is fit and keen to return to the PL. If so, he would be a
very good Bosman signing and, at only 29 years of age, he should be at his
peak as an experienced centre-back. Mensah, along with James Collins, will
bring substantial experience to the Hammers central defence and supplement
the more youthful ability of Tomkins and Reid. Taken together, the four
centre-backs will bring solid defensive experience and ability to the squad.
Some fans, however, will question whether we have the same type of cover in
the full-back positions? Sam Allardyce obviously feels that Demel, O'Brien
and Spence, at right-back, and McCartney, Taylor and Potts, at left-back,
provides us with sufficient quality and strength-in-depth. And with Driver
and Faminio emerging from the development squad, there is an argument that
we have enough there. Others will point to the relative lack of pace in our
first choice full-backs, McCartney, Demel and O'Brien, together with their
recent injury problems. Prior to the season commencing there were dark fan
predictions that Demel and McCartney would get run ragged by the classy and
pacy wide men in the PL. While acknowledging that is still a distinct
possibility, I also feel that that under-estimates their ability, positional
sense and experience. Personally, I think I would have gone with McCartney,
Potts and Taylor at left-back, but would have recruited another good,
promising right-back like Nathan Clyne from Palace or Chris Solly from
Charlton. That would naturally would have depended upon the state of
readiness of Jordan Spence to step up at right-back, when needed. Although
it is not yet clear whether Spence's best position is right-back or
centre-back, the probability is that his best chance of first team football
this season is currently at right full-back.
Is John Mensah a good potential Bosman signing? With his addition, would we
be far stronger at centre-back than full-back and coud this make us
vulnerable against the best quality PL wide men? Or do we have sufficient
quality and cover at full-back and might the general set up of the team by
Allardyce provide them with cover against the best wingers?
SJ. Chandos.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
No returns: Hammers want to keep Carroll for season despite Anfield striker
crisis
The Mirror
West Ham have made it clear they want to keep on-loan striker Andy Carroll
for the whole season although his parent club Liverpool are believed to have
an option to recall him in January. The 23-year-old England international
moved to Upton Park on a season-long loan deal last week. Liverpool paid
£35million for Carroll in January 2011 but the former Newcastle forward
struggled for form at Anfield. He has now moved to West Ham and impressed on
his debut against Fulham on Saturday before suffering a hamstring injury.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers had hoped to sign a new forward before the
transfer window closed but no deals materialised, sparking suggestions he
could be forced to recall Carroll. It is understood Liverpool can cancel the
loan agreement in January but West Ham co-owner David Gold took to Twitter
to say he wants Carroll to stay for the entire campaign. His Tweet read:
"The exact terms of Carroll's year-long loan deal are subject to a
confidentiality agreement but we are hopeful he will be with us the whole
season."
With Carroll gone until at least the new year and no replacement signed
before the transfer deadline passed, Rodgers has been linked with a host of
free agents to fill the void left by Carroll's departure. Although a move
for former Anfield hero Michael Owen now appears to be a non-starter - with
a deal at Stoke imminent - rumours still persist that the likes of Didier
Drogba and Nicolas Anelka could return to the Premier League.
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West Ham's 25-man Premier League squad: Find out who's in... and who's out
The Mirror
These are the players you'll be cheering on over the coming months...
Premier League clubs are naming their 25-man squads for league games up to
January 1. Only players over the age of 21 count (clubs can use as many
players under that age as the like). Clubs also have to name at least eight
homegrown players (ie one who has been registered with an English or Welsh
club for at least three years prior to them turning 21).
The names on the squad list (excluding U-21s) are as follows:
Yossi Benayoun
Andy Carroll
Carlton Cole
James Collins
Jack Collison
Guy Demel
Mohamed Diame
Alou Diarra
Stephen Henderson
Juusi Jaaskelainen
Matt Jarvis
Modibo Maiga
George McCartney
Mark Noble
Kevin Nolan
Joey O'Brien
Gary O'Neil
Winston Reid
Matt Taylor
James Tomkins
Ricardo Vaz Te
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CRAIG GORDON TARGET FOR ASTON VILLA, CELTIC, WEST HAM AND UDINESE
Wednesday September 5,2012
By Daily Express Reporter
GOALKEEPER Craig Gordon is a target for Aston Villa, Celtic, West Ham and
Italian club Udinese. Sunderland broke the British record for the highest
fee for a keeper in 2007 when former boss Roy Keane paid Hearts £9million
for the Scotland international. But Gordon made just 95 appearances in five
years at the Stadium of Light due to a succession of injuries and is now a
free agent.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Kevin Nolan on Saturday's win against Fulham, the transfer market and the
challenges ahead
03.09.2012
West Ham United captain Kevin Nolan led from the front in Saturday's
Barclays Premier League victory over Fulham - on and off the pitch. Nolan
fired the Hammers in front after just 53 seconds, setting them on their way
to a valuable 3-0 home win. Afterwards, the skipper spoke at length to the
national and international media.
The skipper talked about the fantastic win, bouncing back after the defeat
at Swansea City, the arrival of friend Andy Carroll and an encouraging start
to the 2012/13 campaign.
Kevin, a second Barclays Premier League home match, a second home win and
another goal - not a bad day for you?
KN - "Yes, it was a great win for us. I am absolutely delighted with how we
won it as well. For me to score again was great, the header on from Andy
(Carroll) and then Vaz geared me up and it was great to see it hit the back
of the net. We were very pleased to start off in such a way early on. It
settles the nerves and you have your game plan. So when it comes together
like that so early on, you can put it all into action. We were buzzing from
the off. I thought we were great from the first minute to the last - except
we may have got a bit sloppy near the end and have Jussi (Jaaskelainen) to
thank for the good saves he made at that time to ensure we kept a clean
sheet - although we did that to keep Jussi on his toes! After the
disappointment of losing away at Swansea we were determined to bounce back
straight away, which we have done with the Capital One Cup game midweek
against Crewe and now in the league, so we're delighted at that."
There seemed a sense of extra excitement around the Boleyn Ground for
Saturday's match and much of that was to do with the arrival of Andy
(Carroll) and other new faces. Was that felt in the dressing room as well?
KN - "You know, a lot went on before the Fulham game, with the transfer
deadline - not only Andy coming in on the Thursday but getting Yossi
Benayoun really late
on Friday. Those signings gave all the lads a boost and I think you could
see that in our play. The way we started and went on to win was fantastic.
When we got the early goal, then the second and third, it was all about
making sure Fulham didn't get a sniff to get back into the game and we did
that. Our work off the ball was good, as was our ball retention - overall it
was a fantastic afternoon for us. There is a sense of excitement. Everyone
at the club is delighted that we have added top-quality players to what is
already a very strong squad. It is fantastic and hats off to the Gaffer and
the Joint-Chairmen who have worked hard in the transfer window. Praise must
also go to lads like Matt (Jarvis) and the boys brought in earlier in
pre-season, including Mo Diame, Alou Diarra, Modibo Maiga and then Ginge
(James Collins). We are all delighted and hopefully we can repay what the
Gaffer and the owners have done by winning games and putting in top
performances."
It seemed a long time coming, but West Ham finally have their man in Andy
Carroll. As you know him well off the pitch, how pleased are you to see him
in a Hammers shirt?
KN - "Obviously I know Andy well. We get on really well on and off the pitch
so when I knew he was coming down on Thursday night I was excited and really
chuffed about it. We have been lucky to get him, I think everyone knows that
and from the performance he put in on Saturday you can see he will be great
for us. I am delighted for him because he deserves to be playing every week.
How much was Andy looking forward to making his West Ham debut in front of
the home fans?
KN: "He was very excited. I told him before the game that he had nothing to
prove to anyone. We all know his capabilities and I am glad he showed what a
top striker he is in this league. Hopefully he can carry on performing and
put the ball in the back of the net for us this season."
A lot has been said about which style of play is suited to Andy but, with
the qualities he has, can he can fit into any team?
KN: "Absolutely. I don't know why people go on about our style of play or
that he supposedly suits us. The fact of the matter is simple, he is a top
striker and can score goals. Andy works his socks off and makes things
happen. If you put the ball in the box for him he will most probably get on
the end of it and put it in the back of the net. As a team I think the
performance against Fulham speaks for itself. We would be more than happy if
we can play like that every week and win 3-0!"
Three league games in, how are things looking in your opinion and are you
pleased with the squad's strength in depth?
KN: "You know I was confident when we came back for pre-season for the
campaign ahead. I thought we would strengthen and, like everyone else at the
club, I am delighted with who we have brought in. We hope that Andy's injury
is not too serious, but when he came off Carlton (Cole) came on and did his
bit which delighted me. It bodes well for us going into a long season that
we have quality in numbers, if we can all keep fit then we will do well. The
other highlight was that we also had youngsters like Rob Hall coming on and
we have another young lad in Dan Potts in the squad so we are confident
going into the next few games. We have the international break now and we
hope that all the lads do well for their respective countries and then
return to us fit and well. If that happens we will be standing in good stead
to face Norwich in our next game. I think I mentioned the other week that
when we win we won't get too carried away. We will take the confidence it
brings into the next game and, equally, when we lose we will look to bounce
back as we showed today. We can only look to work hard and do the best we
can and we will certainly be doing that."
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Hall targeting first-team role
WHUFC.com
Rob Hall is aiming to feature regularly after two impressive cameo
appearances last week
04.09.2012
Rob Hall has the appetite for first-team football after making his Barclays
Premier League debut in Saturday's 3-0 win over Fulham. Hall, who also
impressed as a substitute in last week's Capital One Cup second-round win
over Crewe Alexandra and made four first-team appearances last season, wants
to feature for Sam Allardyce's side on a regular basis. The 18-year-old, who
has been in sensational form for the Development Squad, is enjoying the
rewards after more than a decade working his way through the ranks at the
club. "I am very happy after making my Premier League debut," he told West
Ham TV. "The lads helped me through it and I also played last Tuesday in the
Capital One Cup. "We put in very professional performances in both games and
I am just grateful for the opportunites. It is also great for the other lads
in the youth set-up too see someone make the step up."
After an impressive cameo against Crewe, the Boleyn Ground crowd gave Hall a
stunning reception against Fulham and the young England Under-19 forward
thanked Hammers fans for their support. "It is very nice to receive such a
welcoming atmosphere. The crowd play their part well whether we play home or
away. On Saturday, I just wanted to get on and show them what I can do. "We
had to be very professional and see the game through and I thought we did
that well. I thoroughly enjoyed it and it is obviously nice to hear positive
things said about you after you come off the pitch."
Hall instantly caught the eye in both games with two rasping shots against
Crewe and another against Fulham, but a combination of good goalkeeping and
last-ditch defending mean he is still awaiting his first senior Hammers
goal. However, the No46 vowed to remain patient and insisted the goals will
come. "I think on Tuesday I had two chances, I should have hit the target
with at least one of them and on Saturday the shot I had was blocked. "I
just need to keep doing what I do and, if the ball comes to me, remain
composed. I will continue to work hard on the training ground and I am sure
it will happen."
Hall has been a part of West Ham for more than decade and he paid tribute to
all those he has worked with over the years for helping him develop into the
player he is today. "I was in a very good team when I was younger. Even in
the Development Squad, a lot of the lads have been here since we were as
young as seven, so we have helped each other along the way. "When we got to
youth-team age points started to matter and you get to see a side of the
game you don't when you are younger. We had a lot of positive results when
we were younger and it is definitely hard to adjust, but you have to adapt,
work harder and take everything as it comes."
After late deals secured the services of Andy Carroll and Yossi Benayoun,
Hall admitted he was unsure whether he would be handed another Barclays
Premier League opportunity in the near future but, after a small taster, he
is ready to do all he can to feature once more. "Last Friday was very hectic
due to it being Deadline Day, so I was not sure whether I would make the
bench. I knew I was in the squad but with players coming in I didn't know
what would happen. "Luckily the manager was brave enough to keep me on the
bench and gave me my Premier League debut which I am very happy about. Thank
God I have got here and now I have to keep pushing on and working hard."
Hall also believes that playing alongside the likes of Carroll, Benayoun and
Matt Jarvis will only have a positive effect on his game. "When I was
younger and I used to sit in the stand and watch so to be on the pitch makes
it all come into reality. You just need to take it all in and make sure you
do not get nervous. "We have definitely brought top players in. Yossi has
come back and I was really young the last time he was here so it is nice to
see him about. "It is also great to have Andy coming in. He is a very big
striker and I hope he and Carlton do well. I am obviously small so I think I
can work well playing off them. Playing and training with them will only
help me to develop my game."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carroll out for six weeks
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 4th September 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham's new signing Andy Carroll is going to be out of action until
mid-October after sustaining a hamstring injury on his debut. The
23-year-old forward, who joined West Ham on loan last week has been ruled
out for around six weeks after the extent of the damage to his hamstring was
revealed in tests. Carroll, who was due to join up with England yesterday
was injured after jumping for a header with Fulham's Brede Hangeland during
the second half of Saturday's 3-0 win over Fulham. It was initially hoped
that the damage to his thigh was minor - but KUMB understands this morning
that the club's worst fears have since been realised.
Meanwhile, the club's co-owner David Gold has responded to the confusion
regarding Carroll's contract situation - by muddying the waters even more.
Both West Ham and Liverpool reported on their respective websites last week
that the deal was a season-long loan. However Reds manager Brendan Rodgers,
speaking after his team's 2-0 home defeat against Arsenal on Sunday told the
BBC that he had the option to recall Carroll in January, should he so
desire. Having been bombarded by Tweets from supporters in the past 48 hours
David Gold finally responded to calls for clarification this morning - but
failed to give a definitive answer. "The exact terms of Andy Carroll's
year-long loan deal is subject to a confidentially agreement," he said, "but
we are hopeful he will be with us the whole season."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers want Carroll stay
Gold optimistic striker will not be recalled to Anfield
Last Updated: September 4, 2012 1:17pm
SSN
Liverpool are believed to have the option to recall Andy Carroll in January
but West Ham United are hopeful of keeping the England international until
the end of the campaign. The 23-year-old striker last week moved to Upton
Park on a season-long loan deal after Brendan Rodgers seemingly decided he
did not fit into his plans at Anfield. But Liverpool's striker crisis, which
has come as a result of a failure to sign anyone on transfer deadline, has
led to reports they will want Carroll back in the New Year. It is understood
the loan of the £35million January 2011 signing from Newcastle can be
cancelled, however, West Ham are optimistic that will not be the case.
Owen is an option
West Ham co-chairman David Gold said on Twitter: "The exact terms of
Carroll's year-long loan deal are subject to a confidentiality agreement but
we are hopeful he will be with us the whole season." With Carroll, who
injured his hamstring on his West Ham debut, gone until at least January and
no replacement signed before the transfer deadline passed, Rodgers has been
linked with a host of free agents. Although a move for former Anfield hero
Michael Owen now appears to be a non-starter, rumours still persist the
likes of Didier Drogba and Nicolas Anelka could return to the Premier
League.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Are the Hammers Closing in on the Bosman Signing of John Mensah?
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
Reports today suggest that West Ham are leading the chase to sign the
ex-Sunderland free agent, John Mensah. The Ghanan international centre-back
was released a year early from his 5 year contract with Lyons. As a free
agent, Mensah can move after the closure of the transfer window and it is
alleged that a number of other English clubs are interested. However, the
rumours on the football grape vine suggest that John Mensah, himself, is
keen to join West Ham. Obviously, 'money talks' and he could get a better
offer, but that should give us an advantage over our rivals for his
signarure.
Mensah is a hugely experienced centre-back and was did well in his previous
loan stints at Sunderland. Unfortunately, his more recent time in French
football has seen him suffer a succession of niggling injuries. The word is
that John Mensah is fit and keen to return to the PL. If so, he would be a
very good Bosman signing and, at only 29 years of age, he should be at his
peak as an experienced centre-back. Mensah, along with James Collins, will
bring substantial experience to the Hammers central defence and supplement
the more youthful ability of Tomkins and Reid. Taken together, the four
centre-backs will bring solid defensive experience and ability to the squad.
Some fans, however, will question whether we have the same type of cover in
the full-back positions? Sam Allardyce obviously feels that Demel, O'Brien
and Spence, at right-back, and McCartney, Taylor and Potts, at left-back,
provides us with sufficient quality and strength-in-depth. And with Driver
and Faminio emerging from the development squad, there is an argument that
we have enough there. Others will point to the relative lack of pace in our
first choice full-backs, McCartney, Demel and O'Brien, together with their
recent injury problems. Prior to the season commencing there were dark fan
predictions that Demel and McCartney would get run ragged by the classy and
pacy wide men in the PL. While acknowledging that is still a distinct
possibility, I also feel that that under-estimates their ability, positional
sense and experience. Personally, I think I would have gone with McCartney,
Potts and Taylor at left-back, but would have recruited another good,
promising right-back like Nathan Clyne from Palace or Chris Solly from
Charlton. That would naturally would have depended upon the state of
readiness of Jordan Spence to step up at right-back, when needed. Although
it is not yet clear whether Spence's best position is right-back or
centre-back, the probability is that his best chance of first team football
this season is currently at right full-back.
Is John Mensah a good potential Bosman signing? With his addition, would we
be far stronger at centre-back than full-back and coud this make us
vulnerable against the best quality PL wide men? Or do we have sufficient
quality and cover at full-back and might the general set up of the team by
Allardyce provide them with cover against the best wingers?
SJ. Chandos.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
No returns: Hammers want to keep Carroll for season despite Anfield striker
crisis
The Mirror
West Ham have made it clear they want to keep on-loan striker Andy Carroll
for the whole season although his parent club Liverpool are believed to have
an option to recall him in January. The 23-year-old England international
moved to Upton Park on a season-long loan deal last week. Liverpool paid
£35million for Carroll in January 2011 but the former Newcastle forward
struggled for form at Anfield. He has now moved to West Ham and impressed on
his debut against Fulham on Saturday before suffering a hamstring injury.
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers had hoped to sign a new forward before the
transfer window closed but no deals materialised, sparking suggestions he
could be forced to recall Carroll. It is understood Liverpool can cancel the
loan agreement in January but West Ham co-owner David Gold took to Twitter
to say he wants Carroll to stay for the entire campaign. His Tweet read:
"The exact terms of Carroll's year-long loan deal are subject to a
confidentiality agreement but we are hopeful he will be with us the whole
season."
With Carroll gone until at least the new year and no replacement signed
before the transfer deadline passed, Rodgers has been linked with a host of
free agents to fill the void left by Carroll's departure. Although a move
for former Anfield hero Michael Owen now appears to be a non-starter - with
a deal at Stoke imminent - rumours still persist that the likes of Didier
Drogba and Nicolas Anelka could return to the Premier League.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's 25-man Premier League squad: Find out who's in... and who's out
The Mirror
These are the players you'll be cheering on over the coming months...
Premier League clubs are naming their 25-man squads for league games up to
January 1. Only players over the age of 21 count (clubs can use as many
players under that age as the like). Clubs also have to name at least eight
homegrown players (ie one who has been registered with an English or Welsh
club for at least three years prior to them turning 21).
The names on the squad list (excluding U-21s) are as follows:
Yossi Benayoun
Andy Carroll
Carlton Cole
James Collins
Jack Collison
Guy Demel
Mohamed Diame
Alou Diarra
Stephen Henderson
Juusi Jaaskelainen
Matt Jarvis
Modibo Maiga
George McCartney
Mark Noble
Kevin Nolan
Joey O'Brien
Gary O'Neil
Winston Reid
Matt Taylor
James Tomkins
Ricardo Vaz Te
:::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
CRAIG GORDON TARGET FOR ASTON VILLA, CELTIC, WEST HAM AND UDINESE
Wednesday September 5,2012
By Daily Express Reporter
GOALKEEPER Craig Gordon is a target for Aston Villa, Celtic, West Ham and
Italian club Udinese. Sunderland broke the British record for the highest
fee for a keeper in 2007 when former boss Roy Keane paid Hearts £9million
for the Scotland international. But Gordon made just 95 appearances in five
years at the Stadium of Light due to a succession of injuries and is now a
free agent.
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