Crest consultation update
WHUFC.com
West Ham United supporters have endorsed the idea of evolving the Club's crest
07.07.2014
Summary of key findings
• 77 per cent of respondents in favour of updating the crest
• 98 per cent say crossed hammers are most important
• In discussion of the castle's future, 86 per cent said they want to see it retired
• Nearly two thirds want a bolder and cleaner typeface
• Majority recognise the need for representation of the Club's future
• Fans in favour of adding London to the badge vs Olympic Stadium
• Due to positive nature of results, Club is working on final design, which will be put forward for final fan vote
• Club release Q+A to answer some of the most common queries
West Ham United supporters have overwhelmingly endorsed the idea of evolving the Club's crest. Seventy-seven per cent of the thousands of fans that participated in an independent SMG YouGov survey said they backed updating the crest to reflect the Club's history and heritage in a new era. After a detailed video about the history of the Club's crest, supporters were asked to state which elements of the existing crest they considered most important. Unsurprisingly, a massive 98 per cent confirmed that the crossed hammers were paramount, while the Boleyn Castle was judged the least significant. Respondents were also invited to make further comment on individual aspects of the crest. In discussion of the castle, a convincing 86 per cent thought it best it be retired altogether.
As for the crossed hammers, upward of 70 per cent think they should feature more boldly or prominently than on the current crest. The remainder argued for a more authentic or traditional design, paying homage to the rivet hammers used in the Thames Ironworks.
A 67 per cent majority were in agreement with the Club's rationale to combine the cross section of the Ironworks' HMS Warrior with the famous crest of the 1950/60s. Other, less popular, views put forward included calls for no shield at all and one using a circular template. A strong 65 per cent of respondents opted for a modernised, bolder and cleaner typeface to be displayed. Just five per cent wanted no typography whatsoever and a further five per cent supported the inclusion of the acronym WHUFC. Only three per cent of supporters, meanwhile, called for the addition of 1895.
Elsewhere, only 56 respondents thought any change of crest colours was necessary. Of comments made on the matter, there was universal agreement that claret and blue should remain.
Finally, the topic of London drew some debate, with the majority of fans recognising the need to include something forward looking, pointing to a new dawn in the West Ham story. General feeling suggested that the inclusion of the word 'London' would celebrate the Club's position in the capital, while also acknowledging the Hammers' provenance. Feedback included: 'I completely get the concept of including a strong reference to our location and that will be important in matching our ambition. London is an iconic city and must be among the most globally recognised of all. If we could find a way to make West Ham become synonymous with London, from a global perspective, then we will have stolen a march on the other London clubs.' Another remarked: 'I think it is a logical move…At the moment, I don't think West Ham is as well-known or as highly thought of internationally as it is at home.'
Only 347 of the thousands of respondents thought otherwise, questioning London's relevance and claiming that the Club has a stronger claim to Essex.
Other feedback included: 'I'm worried that sticking London in will cramp the crest and make it look cluttered.' Elsewhere, a significant number (some 36% of those that felt a representation of the Club's exciting future should be incorporated on the badge to mark the new era) felt the inclusion of the Olympic Stadium on the crest would be of benefit. Overall, however, fans were in favour of adding London to the badge rather than a depiction of the Olympic Stadium, with many recognising that it is a key part of the Club's identity both now and in the future. The Club would like to thank the thousands who participated and will now be carefully absorbing all of the feedback received. Due to the supportive results, the Club has now begun working with its designers to produce a proposed new version of the crest, which fans will then be asked to vote on.
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Crest consultation Q+A
WHUFc.com
Your questions answered on West Ham United's crest consultation
07.07.2014
Are you changing the Club's name or is this the first step towards changing the Club's name in the future?
No, absolutely not. We are not changing the Club's name. We are, and will always be, West Ham United.
Is this the right time to be considering changing the crest? With the move to the Olympic Stadium, is it too much too soon?
The one consistent message that has been fed back by supporter groups is that the success of the move and the Stadium will rest on its acceptance among fans as the home of West Ham United. The Board are 100 per cent committed to this and this principle is guiding everything we do at the Club.
As a result there will be a huge, multi million pound investment into the application of branding at the Olympic Stadium. The move offers an opportunity to work meticulously to get every detail right and that is what the team at the Club are working around the clock striving to do. So is it a case could be a case of never?
The Club first suggested the idea to the Supporter Advisory Board and have since conducted extensive consultation with the fans on the possibility of evolving the Club's crest as we look to the future in our new state of the art Stadium in the iconic Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park.
This is part of broader work the Club is carrying out, working with supporters to establish how to better communicate West Ham's values and how to best recognise, pay respect to and celebrate almost 120 years of history. The Club feels this is the right time to have this discussion as we look forward to a defining moment. We want to do something that really reflects our history, heritage and values while also setting out our ambitions for a bright future.
How long has the current crest been in use?
The Club's existing crest is now 15 years old. It is worth noting that, historically, the Club's crest has been updated roughly every ten years. By comparison, every Premier League club has updated their crest at least once since 1997, some on multiple occasions.
It was the Club's view, one that has now been endorsed by supporters, that the time may be right to mark a defining new era for the Club.
Are you looking to remove the Castle?
This is something we've considered from the outset and has the backing of the vast majority of supporters. Our view is that retiring the castle from our Club crest would be a fitting way to respectfully signal a departure from the Boleyn Ground. Fans are overwhelmingly in agreement that it does not make sense to have the Boleyn Castle in our Club crest when we no longer play at the Boleyn Ground.
Will the crossed hammers be in the new crest?
We believe that the hammers are the fundamental symbol/icon of our Club and should be the most prominent feature of any evolution of the Club's crest. This is the Club's proposal and, based on feedback, is wholeheartedly supported by the fanbase.
Can you assure fans the new crest will be claret and blue?
West Ham United has been synonymous with Claret and Blue since 1900. We have no intention of changing this in any evolution of the Club's crest and are confident the fans agree with us on this.
Can the new crest be displayed in different colours?
Absolutely. As with the existing crest, any evolution of the crest can be presented in different colour waves in line with the brand guidelines. For example, mono colours, such as white, coming off claret. However, to reiterate, as above, any new crest will be claret and blue.
Why are you considering adding London to the crest?
This appears to be the issue that has created most debate. Consultation shows that many supporters understand and back the Club's direction in this regard, while others question London's relevance, claiming that the Club has a stronger claim to Essex.
There is, however, no denying that the Club is located in London at present and the Club feels this should be celebrated as we move to a London icon.
West Ham United is our name and should be placed in prime position - it is the Club's view that any inclusion of London would be secondary in position and prominence to a bolder typographic representation of our name - West Ham United - on the crest. It will never be instead of, or on a par with, the Club name.
London, of course, is fundamentally rooted in our history. From our origins at the Thames Ironworks, who proudly displayed their London location on all their vessels, through to the golden era of West Ham teams sporting "West Ham United London" on pennants and rosettes when competing in European competition.
Our absolute goal is to return to those days of competing at the highest level on a European and global stage and therefore believe it is appropriate to sport our city on the crest.
The Club believe recognition of our London location would be a signal of our vision to compete at the highest level and enhance the Club's global standing. What's more, with increased international recognition, the Club will become a more attractive prospect to high-profile players.
This is all part of the virtuous cycle we are aiming to nurture with our move to the Olympic Stadium. The more fans we can attract, the more investment will go into the playing staff, the better our team will perform and this, in turn, feeds further revenues for investment… and so on.
Have you considered including 1895?
Yes, this is something that continues to be discussed, but interestingly the research has shown that supporters, on the whole, are not keen on its addition.
Feedback thus far has argued that many clubs were established in this era and West Ham was not the first hence the year itself need not have particular prominence on the crest? Additionally, many fans have made reference to the change of name to West Ham United in 1900.
Do the Club want to put the Olympic Stadium on the crest?
The Club has been clear throughout the process that this is not our preferred option. It is however an option we have discussed with supporter groups and has been a feature of consultation.
Though there is seemingly widespread support for a return to the confident simplicity of the crossed hammers, fans also recognise the need to include something forward-thinking, pointing to a new dawn in the West Ham story. Interestingly, some fans who objected to the inclusion of London were instead keen to see a representation of the Olympic Stadium.
The Club are seeking a crest that boldly displays all the best bits of the last 119 years, but one that also celebrates a move to such an iconic venue and what that can mean for our future prosperity.
The Olympic Stadium has witnessed huge success, which has been seen and admired the world over. No other Club is moving to London's iconic venue and to ignore that entirely, would, at the very least, be a missed opportunity.
The Club, however, think that incorporating London into the crest may be a favourable option to signify our future at Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. It remains the Club belief that West Ham United has too strong an identity to be wholly defined by any one Stadium past or present
If agreed, when and where will the new crest be used?
If agreed, a new crest won't become the official Club crest, nor appear on the playing shirt, until the 2016/17 season, our first in the Olympic Stadium. There is no suggestion, nor has there ever been, that the castle would be removed while still playing at the Boleyn Ground.
In the event that a new crest was agreeable to fans, the castle would be respectfully retired when the Club leave the Boleyn Ground.
Is this decision just about increasing sales and revenue overseas?
Absolutely not. At its core, this process has evolved through exploratory work with supporters to ensure that the Club do not miss this unique opportunity to best reflect our history in the new era and in a way that is acceptable to supporters.
The project had advanced with a core team, all of whom understand and feel great passion for West Ham, with the assistance and guidance of West Ham supporters willing to give their time to contribute and help to ensure the Club gets it right on behalf of the West Ham faithful.
The team have been meticulous in terms of staying true to the guiding principle that any evolution must suitably honour West Ham's rich heritage and be acceptable to supporters.
The process had been extensive in this regard while also seeking to embrace a new and thoroughly exciting era at the Olympic Stadium.
We do believe also that there is a strong case for evolving the Club's crest in a way that will also support our strategy to attract international star targets and help to engage new supporters all over the world, who we hope will develop the same love of West Ham that we possess.
So while this has never been the guiding principle, there is an opportunity that we believe merits serious consideration.
Will fans be given a say/vote in the design of the new crest?
Yes, supporters will absolutely be given a say. Online consultation in respect of the elements that matter most to supporters concluded on Friday 26 June 2014 and the outcomes of said consultation will naturally inform the Club's design choices.
That said, design is a subjective matter and the Club has entrusted a team of world-class designers and experts to work on this crucial piece of work and it will be they who produce the final crest, albeit taking into account all of the feedback received thus far for the fans' consideration.
The final design will reflect the feelings of all of the stakeholders and the fans alike.
If fans don't want the new crest, will you stick with the old one?
Yes. The Board have made it clear that any decision on the evolution of the crest will only be made with the fans' support so the fans will absolutely make the ultimate decision.
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Hard work continues in the gym
WHUFC.com
A modern day footballer has to undertake a rounded training schedule, including extensive gym work
07.07.2014
It is not just on the football pitch that West Ham United's players are expected to hone their skills ahead ot the start of the new campaign. Gym work also plays a key role in their ability to perform on the field, and the Club's fitness coaches have been putting the squad through their paces during their training camp in France. Following work on the football pitches in the evening, the afternoon focus has been on strength and core work, and Hammers fitness coach Eamon Swift explained the science behind the exercises. "As well as their pitch work, the players are also expected to do some gym work and the idea behind it is that we target specific areas or muscles to try and make them a bit more resistant and robust towards injury," he explained. "We accept that injuries are going to happen, but it's our responsibility as staff and their responsibility as players to do as much as we can to try and prevent that. "We've worked on some exercises for the hamstrings, the abductors, for the core specifically. The players will complete two or three sessions a week, alongside their pitch-based sessions."
Having just returned to pre-season, Swift outlined the need to build up the intensity of the players' work over a period of time. He continued: "It's important at this time of the year as they build up again, but it's also important that they start at the right level. The work we did on the first day was very much what we consider level one - body weight exercises and what we call isometric holds. That's us encouraging them to hold specific body shapes and positions. "We haven't put any external loads or heavy weights on them yet, because we understand that they've come from a big period of inactivity. Now, as well as their pitch sessions which involve much more twisting, turning and football actions, they also have to begin to work on their strength. "The balance has to be right between building up their fitness and tolerance for work, but in a careful way that we don't pick up any injuries. "The activities change as the season goes on - at the moment it's a level one, introduction to their strength, and that will be progressed as the weeks and months go on. The tasks will become more challenging, the load that they have to tolerate is slowly progressed and increased. "We have to keep the stimulus changing, keep them interested as much as anything, and in the same way the pitch work develops over time, it's the same for the strength and core exercises."
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Cole ready to feel pre-season benefit
WHUFC.com
Carlton Cole is sure a full pre-season will help him towards a strong 2014/15 campaign
07.07.2014
Carlton Cole is ready to feel the benefit of a full pre-season as he gets ready for the new campaign. Having re-joined the Club after the start of last season, the 30-year-old striker missed out on the full range of preparatory work, yet still notched six goals to help guide the Hammers into mid-table. Now, after getting back down to work during a week-long training camp in Evian, Cole is sure he can contribute more in the year to come. He explained: "I did my own mini pre-season last year, when I had Monte [Mathew Monte-Colombo, strength & conditioning coach at the time] working with me one-on-one. "It was intense as I had to get fit as quickly as possible, but when I did get fit I felt the benefits. "It's always good to pace yourself though and maybe not burn yourself out like you can do. I handled the pressure well with my body, but it's better to start when everybody else is starting so you're in tune with everyone else. "I didn't play any pre-season games last year, so that'll be the difference this season - I'll be fitter and ready to start the season."
One of the new faces with the Hammers this week is striker Mauro Zarate, and Cole is sure the added competition for places will help spur him and the team on. He continued: "I've always thrived on competition and I know what I can do when I get the chance. "I think the team is definitely set up for a better season. The manager is building a good squad, he'll use everybody so everyone's got to share the load in the season because we know how hard it will be."
As for the return to training itself, Cole is happy to be back on the pitch once more. He added: "It's been quite good, when you've been away for the summer you want to get back in the swing of things straight away. "We got eased into it on Friday, had training on Saturday and two sessions again on Sunday,
"The new boys have settled in with us well and everything's looking good."
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That Was The Season That Was 2013-14 - Part Four
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 1st July 2014
By: Gordon Thrower
After a less than wonderful start to 2014, things needed to improve and fast. Gordon Thrower's look back at 2013/14 continues as he picks off another couple of months starting with February 2014. Howard Webb might want to give this one a miss....
February 2014
With the January window having closed it emerges Razvan Rat, has been released from his contract "by mutual consent". Nobody ever did get round to calling him Roland, mainly as a result of his making so few appearances. Also out of the door is out of favour Modibo Maiga. He heads west to QPR in the hope that a spell in the Championship might do something for what appears to be a somewhat fragile confidence.
After what was by any reasonable standard a miserable January, the point gained at Chelsea at the end of the month appears to have galvanised the team who return to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Swansea. A first half brace from Nolan gives us the three points.
The match is hugely controversial as Howard Webb hits a new low. Carroll tangles with Chico Flores, accidentally brushing the cheating Spaniard's ponytail as his arm comes around. Flores clutches his face as if shot. Webb dismisses Carroll. On video review it transpires that the one piece of violent conduct in the whole affair is Flores' elbow to Carroll's chest and that Webb is actually looking the other way as it occurs. Despite this, Webb refuses to change his mind when shown the video. Carroll gets a three match ban. Webb, whose dishonesty in the whole affair should have seen him face some sort of disciplinary action, takes his bent grin off to the World Cup instead.
One would have hoped that Webb's main employers might have had something to say about their employee. Unfortunately, as the Hillsborough affair has shown, altering the facts to save your own backside seems to be pretty endemic amongst the South Yorkshire Police Force
Whether or not connected with the dishonesty of his players, Michael Laudrup barely survives the weekend as manager of Swansea, his dismissal being the second of the season to occur just after playing us. Laudrup's departure comes amid rumours of the manager's lack of interest in little things like actually taking training, midweek breaks to Paris apparently being the norm.
Ooop north things at Leeds become so farcial that those who remember them kicking, bribing and cheating their way to league titles in the 1970's temporarily stop laughing at Spurs for a while to enjoy a loud guffaw at the expense of the denizens of Elland Road.
The story goes something like this: Italian Massimo Cellino takes over the club from owners GFH. Cellino sacks incumbent manager Brian McDermott. A person or persons unknown then makes changes to the Leeds team on the Friday before they go out and bet local rivals Huddersfield 5-1 on the Saturday. GFH then point out that Cellino doesn't actually own the club yet and therefore doesn't have the power to sack McDermott. McDermott is duly reinstated, though nobody thinks to tell him, the news arriving via his i-Pad. Meanwhile, the lawyer who sacked McDermott on behalf of Cellino is escorted from the ground by a big bloke acting on behalf of GFH. McDermott turns up to take training to find a mystery Italian player warming up in training. Asked by the press who the player is McDermott responds "no idea". Cellino promptly fails the Football League's fit and proper test, which is a a pretty good trick given the credentials of some of those who have managed to pass the test in the past. More to come on this one we reckon.
Of course when it comes to stuff to laugh at, Joe Kinnear is ever one to be outdone. Seven months and not a penny spent sees the SJP faithful chanting "where's your signings Joe Kinnear." Sadly before he can claim to have signed Messi and Ronaldo in response, Kinnear resigns pausing only to add a Newcastle Champion League win onto the bottom of his already somewhat factually-challenged CV. Meanwhile, the resulting grin on Alan Pardew's face makes him look smugger than ever, something previously thought to have been impossible by most scientist, or at least most of those who deal in smugology.
As if to rally against the sheer injustice of the whole Carroll affair, we make it three clean sheets in a row with a 2-0 win over Villa at Villa Park. Nolan continues his rehabilitation with another brace.
Surely we couldn't make it three in a row for the first time since black & white telly (no I couldn't be bothered to look it up either but it probably wasn't that long ago I suppose. The amazing run continues as two late goals from Collins and Diame send Norwich home pointless. Adrian is the MOTM after a string of saves earlier on keeps us in the game. Canaries boss Chris Hughton bemoans his luck. Again.
Outside of football, as if organised religions don't do enough to make themselves look daft, The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowment in the UAE announces a Fatwa. The subject of this interpretation of Islamic law is not, as you might think, some hapless cartoonist or the entire population of the USA. No, the ruling is aimed at anyone who might be considering going to live on Mars. Apparently the one way nature of such a trip would be tantamount to suicide which, of course is a no-no in many religions. Thanks guys that's match my mind up for me.
The Ravel Morrison mystery continues. Having been missing with a groin injury that has seen coaching staff raising sceptical eyebrows-a-plenty, the player is loaned out to QPR, which is fast becoming the Boleyn Ground's equivalent of the naughty step.
Winning? It's getting boring now as the streak continues with the side coming from behind to dispatch Southampton 3-1. Jarvis, Carlton Cole and a resurgent Nolan are on the scoresheet in a month that waves two fingers at Howard Webb.
The guys who run the kumb.com podcast to honour the anniversary of the passing of Bobby Moore. It's a marvellous piece of work featuring a whole host of the great and good of football and Harry Redknapp. If you haven't heard it yet I'm sure the link is available somewhere on the site. Meanwhile I'd like to apologise to the guys on behalf of everyone who approached me to tell me what a good job I'd done (I did apportion the credit to where it was due).
The four wins in a row see us end the month in tenth place, easing the worries of relegation that some of you may have been having up to this point. At the top Chelsea lead though Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool, who seem to be trying to become the first team to win the Premier League based purely on their ability to dive, are all breathing down the Pensioners' necks.
March 2014
Having won 4 in a row in February, the marvellous run comes at an end up at Goodison Park. Lukaku is the difference between the sides again with a late winner. The match sees the return of Andy Carroll from his disgraceful suspension. Replacing Carlton Cole on 28 minutes, the record signing ends up with a broken finger for his troubles.
Newcastle beat Hull 4-1 at the KC Stadium in a match memorable for an altercation between Alan Pardew and City's David Meyler. The Newcastle boss headbutts the defender. And we thought Kinnear was the mad one. The butt earns Pardew a seven match ban, the first three of which are a stadium ban. An FA fine of £60,000 is added to a club one of £100,000. Have to wait a few more weeks to upgrade that Ferrari then Alan.
Man City pick up the League Cup, though they don't have it all their own way as Sunderland go into the interval 1-0 up. Three unanswered second half goals give the Citizens the trophy prompting us to muse how different things might have been had we been able to field a proper first XI in the semi-final. Not much probably.
We then go down 3-1 at Stoke. Carroll's 5th minute opener is cancelled out by Odemwingie before referee Pawson inexplicably allows Stoke defender Muniesa to get away with a penalty so blatant that had a human being been refereeing the match (rather than the cloned Rileybots that are employed these days) he'd have died of shame. Stoke go on to net two more times to give them a flattering win.
Former Olympic triple jump champion Jonathan Edwards, who famously wouldn't compete on Sundays due to his religious beliefs, announces that he no longer believes in God. Whilst the athlete doesn't go into too much detail, we wonder if, like us he wonders about a supreme deity who, would, if he existed, surely have hit Howard Webb with a plague of boils or something by now.
Another West Ham tradition is maintained as it is revealed that Boriello, who has made just two sub appearances since arriving on loan, joins the long list of signings who get injured never to be seen again.
FIFA announce that from June 1 any player displaying a message on his undershirt would receive an automatic yellow card for the offence. The decision takes the relevant committee so long to come to, that they run out of time to take steps to ensure that referees enact the laws already there to punish players for diving. Similarly all the stuff about preventing corruption within FIFA gets put off until after brown envelope season has closed.
Jack Collison looks to be on his way out as he signs for Wigan on loan to the end of the season. I'd check that contract Jack if Whelan has signed it.
After a longer than usual delay in announcing the award, the powers that be finally run out of excuses not to give Sam Allardyce February's manager of the month thingy. Joe Kinnear scoffs dismissively claiming to have won dozens of the titles.The fact that they used to give out those massive bottles of scotch for the award could explain a lot.
"Madder than a whole box of Kinnears" defender Toms Repka admits to have given away a penalty in a Czech league match in 2012 in order to get back at his old club. The resulting goal helps Liberec win 4-0 with them eventually going on to win the league by two points over Repka's old club Sparta Prague. "I wasn't thinking straight" Repka points out helpfully in his autobiography which, totally coincidentally, is out at the time.
The good people at Birdseye announce the retirement of Captain Birdseye from our tv screens,. "Our decision is designed to breathe new life into the brand and is in no way connected with Operation Yewtree" claims a spokesman.
We go down to Man Utd 2-0 at home. The opening goal has the tv pundits going into fawning overdrive as Rooney volleys in from near the halfway line having shoved Tomkins out of the way. Let's just ignore the laws of the game shall we then for the sake of something to talk about? Manchester United boss Moyes breaks years of tradition by doing us the courtesy of actually turning up at a press conference.
We return to winning ways as Hull are beaten 2-1. Hull 'keeper McGregor knocks himself out colliding with Mo Diame. Having given away the penalty McGregor recovers enough to leave the field only to see Mike "Look At Me" Dean show him the red card. Noble puts the spot kick away. Jelavic equalises in the second half before Chester diverts Demel's cross into his own net. The team's performance is poor enough to have sections of the crowd booing, with Allardyce, perhaps unwisely, cupping his ear to supporters in response. Earlier in the match the centre-half curse strikes again as James Collins limps off after only nine minutes. Roger Johnson, who earlier describes himself as a "season-ticket holder" in the Soccer AM crossbar challenge thing, comes on and inspires one of the wittier chants of the season, suggesting that "he's off to Brazil".
West Brom sack Nicolas Anelka for "gross misconduct" hours after the player announces that he's torn up his contract anyway. An Albion spokesman says that his "resignation" doesn't count as he only announced it on twitter which makes the club's sacking the decision that counts, an announcement that in no way reeks of sour grapes at all.
So a mixed month comes to an end in 12th spot with Man City and the Liverpool diving academy fighting over top spot. We look safe enough to me, though with a tough run-in and not many points separating the occupants of the lower half of the table a few more wins in the next month or so wouldn't go amiss. Meanwhile the relationship between the manager and fans is balanced on a knife-edge. Best not get relegated then.....
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POYET ALREADY IN FRANCE WITH HAMMERS SQUAD
By Iain Dale 7 Jul 2014 at 12:04
West Ham Till I Die
It seems Diego Poyet is already in France judging by this picture which Adrian has posted on his Twitter account. He's pictured with Mauro Zarate at a restaurant in Geneva. An interesting way for the club to confirm the transfer. I wonder if Adrian will be in a bit of trouble! Meanwhile, Sky Sports News are reporting on Twitter that West Ham have signed Irish defender Chris Baird on a year long deal. Baird is best known for his time at Fulham, where he made 127 appearances, scoring four goals. He is a Northern Ireland international with 65 apps under his belt. However, could this be the very same Chris Baird who is also reported as signing for West Bromwich Albion? Oh dear, Sky Sports… Doh!
UPDATE: It's confirmed. Baird has indeed signed for WBA.
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A new look West Ham is set to take shape – potentially!
Posted on July 7, 2014 by Headmaster — 1 Comment ↓
Claret & Hugh
OK, I have to admit that transfer activity is beginning to look quite interesting at West Ham just now. The early captures of Zarate (forward) and Kouyate (defensive midfielder) have now been added to by the signing of a left back with already impressive pedigree in Aaron Cresswell and what looks highly likely to be the impressive capture of the 19 year old creative midfielder Diego Poyet, despite alleged interest from more illustrious suitors.
On the face of it, that combination looks exciting and undoubtedly strengthens the squad. The culling of the mediocre Matt Taylor and the over the hill Joe Cole add to the sense of the changing of the guard, albeit those two were bit-part squad players last season. However, in terms of the starting 11 and the preferred strategy and formation, at the moment there are far more questions than answers.
Here are a few that immediately spring to mind:
If Kouyate is to play as a first choice defensive midfielder, what does that mean for Mo Diame? Is he going to be moving on? Is he going to be asked to play out of position on the left hand side again? Or is only one of Diame and Kouyate playable?
If Kouyate is going to play in that role for which he is renowned, and presumably signed, then that hints at a 5 man midfield and, as a consequence, a 4 – 5 – 1 or perhaps a 4 – 4 – 1 – 1 formation. That would presumably mean Carroll up top again, then. Accordingly the question has to be asked, what of Zarate? Is he seen as back up for Carroll? Is he to be accommodated in a new philosophy of Sheringham inspired, attack-minded football. If so, does Nolan or Noble make way?
Does even Allardyce now have to accept that Nolan's usefulness is questionable and his inclusion in the team is detrimental to the development and creativity of the football? (unlikely)
Finally, what of Diego? A 19 year old who only broke into the Charlton first team during last season and showed great promise he may be but surely to Heaven he is not going to be first choice for Allardyce in the premier league as long as we've all got holes in our you know wheres!
Cresswell – great signing. No questions there! Nailed on, left back.
In fact, all of the signings intrigue me, even excite me. The proof of the pudding though will be in terms of the team shape and selection that Mr Allardyce makes. Will the potential match the reality?
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Daily WHUFC News - 7th July 2014
Hammers snap up Cresswell
WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of highly-rated
left-back Aaron Cresswell
03.07.2014
West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of highly-rated
left-back Aaron Cresswell. The 24-year-old has joined the Hammers from
Championship side Ipswich Town on a five-year contract for an undisclosed
fee. Born in Liverpool, Cresswell began his career with Tranmere Rovers
before moving to Portman Road in 2011. He has enjoyed three outstanding
seasons with the Tractor Boys, making nearly 150 appearances and earning
Player of the Year honours in 2012. A consistently impressive performer who
has long been linked with a move to the Barclays Premier League, Cresswell
joined Tranmere as a schoolboy before making his first-team debut at 18 in
November 2008. The 5'7" full-back played 80 times for the Super White Army
over three seasons, scoring six goals, before moving up a division to
Ipswich in summer 2011. An outstanding debut season for the Suffolk club saw
Cresswell voted Ipswich's Player of the Year for 2011/12. He has followed
that with two further impressive campaigns during which he has missed just
four league matches - two of those through suspension and two through
injury. Last term, his outstanding all-round displays saw Cresswell voted
into the Championship Team of the Year by his fellow professionals.
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Cresswell capture endorsed
WHUFc.com
Football writer Chris Brammer has praised West Ham United's signing of
left-back Aaron Cresswell
04.07.2014
West Ham United have pulled off a transfer coup by signing left-back Aaron
Cresswell from Ipswich Town. That is the view of Ipswich Star and East
Anglian Daily Times football writer Chris Brammer, who has kept close tabs
on the defender's progress since he arrived at Portman Road in summer 2011.
The 24-year-old enjoyed an outstanding three-year spell in Suffolk, chalking
up seven goals and 25 assists in 137 appearances for the Tractor Boys,
earning Player of the Year honours in 2012 and being voted into the 2013/14
Championship Team of the Season by his fellow professionals. "Aaron is a
very attack-minded full-back who has created more than 20 goals over his
three seasons at Ipswich Town," Brammer confirmed. "He has an excellent left
foot and scores the odd goal too, more often than not of the spectacular
variety. The one he scored against Crystal Palace in April 2013 is worth
West Ham fans looking up on the internet, for sure! "He was very popular at
Ipswich Town. When he first arrived at the club, the team was struggling a
bit, but under Mick McCarthy he has been part of a defence that has been
rock solid for most of the time Mick has been at the club. "Aaron has been a
permanent fixture and has hardly missed a game in the last three seasons."
Cresswell has missed just a handful of games since joining Ipswich from
first club Tranmere in 2011, and has already chalked up well over 200 senior
appearances despite his relatively tender age. Quick, committed and blessed
with a fantastic left foot, Brammer says West Ham's new left-back could be a
real star in the making. "Aaron is a very capable defender at Championship
level, so this is very much the next logical step for him. I cannot see any
reason why he cannot go on and be a success in the Premier League. He is a
consummate professional and if he keeps his head down he has every chance.
"He's quite quick, good in the tackle and offers quite a bit going forward.
He can certainly find people in the box and is very much the modern-day
full-back. "When players never miss a game, sometimes you don't notice them,
but that certainly wasn't the case with Aaron. He was very much a crowd
favourite and the fans expected something to happen whenever he went
forward. While some players are not welcomed back to their former club,
Brammer says Cresswell can expect a warm reception when West Ham travel to
Ipswich for a pre-season match on Saturday 16 July. "Ipswich fans are really
good towards their ex-players, except sometimes if a player comes back to
play at Portman Road for Norwich City! "Aaron has left on good terms. He
never asked to leave the club and the fans half-expected it would happen
eventually, such was the standard of his performances. I expect him to get a
really warm welcome."
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Teddy ready for Hammers duty
WHUFC.com
Teddy Sheringham is excited about his new role as West Ham United's
attacking coach
04.07.2014
Teddy Sheringham is hoping to impart his considerable experience after
starting his role as West Ham United's new attacking coach. The former
Hammers and England forward was at Chadwell Heath as the squad returned for
pre-season training on Thursday, casting his eye over the players as they
took to the training pitch for the first time in seven weeks. The
48-year-old, who still looks easily fit enough to turn out himself in the
Barclays Premier League, will work on a part-time basis with the likes of
Andy Carroll, Carlton Cole and new signing Mauro Zarate to increase West
Ham's potency in front of goal. After five years out of the game, Sheringham
revealed that he could not turn down Sam Allardyce's offer to join the
Hammers backroom staff. "I'm really excited," he confirmed. "If you had
asked me a year ago if I was going to get back into football, I wouldn't
have believed you. "For the last five years, I've been enjoying my life, but
this just seemed the right time and when Sam made the phone call, it was the
perfect situation for me - a couple of days a week and matchdays as well.
"The experience will be invaluable and the offer was too good to turn down."
Sheringham has known Big Sam for more than 30 years, having initially got to
know the West Ham boss during their respective playing careers at Millwall
in the early 1980s. "I knew of Sam at Millwall and he obviously knew of me,
and I have played against his teams over the last however so many years,"
Sheringham confirmed. "We have met each other out over the last few years
and chatted about the old days and where I started and he finished up. "We
have an understanding and when he made that phone call, it was a lovely call
to get. "I played a bit of poker and a bit of golf, but I wasn't really
getting great at either of them, so I thought 'What am I good at? What have
I done throughout my life?' and it was football. It seemed a good idea to
get back in now - the right time in my life."
Capped 51 times by England and a Premier League and UEFA Champions League
winner with Manchester United, Sheringham's challenge is now to translate
his own ability into improved attacking performances from West Ham's current
attackers. "There are a lot of players over the years who have collected a
lot of knowledge and it's all about getting that knowledge over to the
players so that they understand it and respect it," he said. "Everybody is
different, so there is a lot of psychology that goes into how you speak to
players and the way you listen to players as well. I'll be trying to my
utmost to get into their heads, as well as improving their technical ability
and physical attributes. "I'll be trying to nurture them to get them to
perform the best that they can, scoring goals and doing their stuff for West
Ham."
Sheringham will work with a variety of forwards, with Carroll and Cole of
the taller, physical variety and Zarate and youngster Elliot Lee being
shorter, more mobile operators. "Even when I was coming to the end of my own
career, I enjoyed playing with younger players who did different things to
me," he explained. "In shooting practice, I watched the younger ones as well
as the older players, as you are always learning something in this game. "If
Mauro can add something to Carlton's game, who can add something to Andy's
game, plus the youngsters who are here to work with us as well, that's what
it's all about - getting that little bit more of an armoury so you have all
the tools on a Saturday afternoon to help the team score goals and win games
for West Ham."
After a playing career with the Club that included promotion via the
Play-Offs, an FA Cup final and a 'Great Escape' from Premier League
relegation, how does Sheringham see the 2014/15 season panning out for the
Hammers? "I see that the Premier League is a tough league now. Obviously
you've got the top teams challenging for the honours, but anyone from
perhaps 12-14 teams can get relegated, while any of those 12-14 could push
for the top six as well. "It's the latter that we want to be involved in."
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Tonka's feeling fresh for 2014/15
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins is ready and raring to go as the Hammers build towards the new
campaign
06.07.2014
James Tomkins says it's good to be back after the Hammers returned from
their summer break this week to begin their preparations for the new
campaign.
Immediately after reporting for duty at Chadwell Heath, the squad flew out
to France for a week-long training camp which will see them undertake double
and triple training sessions daily as they build their sharpness up. The
trip to France is the ideal opportunity for new signings Cheikhou Kouyate,
Mauro Zarate and Aaron Cresswell to blend into a tight-knit team group and
Tomkins says they are integrating well. "It's been a good trip so far," he
explained. "We've had a bit of a work-out the last few days, training in the
morning and some core work in the afternoon. "The facilities here are really
good, everyone's enjoying themselves and we're starting to feel the good
team spirit for the season ahead. "The legs aren't feeling too bad, they're
probably taking it a little easy on us at the moment! Things are going to
get harder, but it has been nice to see the lads back together after the
summer and seeing how they're doing. "The new boys have just got here, so
all the lads have been helping them settle in. They seem like a good bunch
and that's what it is about at the minute, being all together."
Tomkins is keen to hit the ground running in 2014/15 and he knows how
important pre-season will be to achieve that aim. He said: "The aim for this
part of pre-season is to get the legs going again after that break over the
summer. You do lose a bit of fitness and it can take a bit of time to get
back in the swing of things, so that's what we're trying to do. "Training
has been good so far. It's nice to have the ball involved, the lads
appreciate that, and we're doing our core and strength in the afternoon so
it's a good set-up. "It's important to get that fitness back as quickly as
you can and obviously be ready for the games when we get back home. "We've
got a good schedule planned and everyone wants to show what they can do in
pre-season."
Tomkins enjoyed a strong 2013/14 campaign on a personal level, featuring in
30 league games for a defence which kept 14 top flight clean sheets, and he
sees that as a good base to build from this year. He added: "For me it was
nice to have a good run of games last year. I played about 30-odd games
which was good for my experience, playing that number of games in the
Premier League. "I want to build on that again and start well next season.
That's the most important thing now, to concentrate on working hard in
pre-season and being fresh and ready to go on 16 August."
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Cresswell thrilled with Hammers switch
WHUFC.com
24-year-old defender Aaron Cresswell is delighted to have signed for West
Ham United
05.07.2014
Aaron Cresswell did not need to think twice before putting pen-to-paper on
his transfer to West Ham United this week. The 24-year-old left back, who
arrives at the Boleyn Ground from Ipswich Town, jetted out to France on
Saturday morning to link up with his new teammates at their training camp in
south-east France. He admitted that the last couple of days had been a
whirlwind experience, but he cannot wait to make the step up to the Barclays
Premier League.
"I'm very excited to have signed here," he beamed. "It's a massive club and
I can't wait to get ready for the season ahead. "When I knew West Ham were
interested it was an easy decision to make! Everyone knows it's a massive
club and a couple of years down the line they'll have the new stadium too.
"It's been a pretty hectic couple of days, but we got there in the end. I
signed late on the Thursday night, so I didn't get back to Ipswich until
late on. "The team flew out on Friday morning and I arrived at lunchtime on
Saturday. The boys trained in the morning and now I'll be joining them in
the gym for their second session of the day."
Having started off at League One side Tranmere Rovers, Cresswell has risen
up through the divisions since making his debut at 18 and the Scouser is now
looking forward to testing himself at the highest level. He continued: "If
you ask any player in the Football League, they want to play in the Premier
League. Some people have to gradually go through the leagues and fortunately
for me that's the way it's worked out so I can't wait to get going.
"Hopefully I can hit the ground running. When I started off I was at
Tranmere and was there for three years, then I had three years at Ipswich,
so I'm looking forward to starting here. "It was nice to be voted into the
Championship team of the year last year - those kind of things are a nice
bonus at the end of a season. Hopefully that will stand me in good stead for
the coming season. "It's everyone's ambition to play in the Premier League,
and to play in front of 35,000 week in week out is a dream come true for me.
"I know we've got Spurs, Man City and Liverpool at home early on and there's
no such thing as an easy game in the Premier League, but I'm going to relish
every one and hopefully I can play a big part in it."
Cresswell's first week as a Hammer will give him the perfect chance to get
to know his new teammates as they go through a week-long training camp in
France. He added: "Not really knowing anyone, apart from Stephen Henderson
who was on loan at Ipswich, being away in France for my first week at the
Club is a good chance to mingle and get to know the lads. "Being a fellow
Scouser, I think Kevin Nolan is the only one who is going to be able to
understand me! I just can't wait to get to know everyone and hopefully
settle in as quick as possible."
For supporters who have not seen Cresswell play previously, the defender
explains that he is confident of doing a job at both ends of the pitch. He
said: "I like to think I'm a modern day full back. I like to attack, try to
get balls in the box and if I get a couple of goals or assists that's a
little bonus, but as a defender it's defend first."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham youth chief Tony Carr moves as Terry Westley recruited
BBC.co.uk
West Ham's youth chief Tony Carr is moving to an ambassador role after 40
years in charge of the club's academy, which will now be led by Terry
Westley.
West Ham's youth stars Joe Cole, Frank Lampard and John Terry at Tony Carr's
testimonial in 2010 Seven recent England internationals were at one stage in
the West Ham youth set-up Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Michael
Carrick, Glen Johnson, Jermain Defoe and John Terry have earned a total of
more than 370 caps Carr, 63, guided the early careers of England
internationals such as Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand, and helped generate
around £80m in transfer fees. "I will be there as a sounding board if any
area of the club wants to call upon my experience and expertise," he said.
Westley is a former manager of Luton Town and Derby County. Currently the
Premier League's head of professional development, he previously headed
Birmingham City's academy. West Ham co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold
said in a statement: "West Ham United is famed the world over for producing
excellent young players. "Having spoken to Terry, he clearly understands how
much we, like every other West Ham fan, enjoy seeing our homegrown
youngsters break into the first team." In May, they announced Sam Allardyce
would remain as first-team manager, despite criticism from some fans, but
asked him to provide more entertaining football.
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'COYI', tweets transfer target Diego Poyet
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 5th July 2014
By: Staff Writer
West Ham transfer target Diego Poyet has given the clearest indication yet
that he is set for the Boleyn Ground - by tweeting 'COYI' on his most recent
social media message. Poyet, who is on the verge of becoming Sam Allardyce's
fourth signing of pre-season hinted that the move was almost complete this
afternoon when he added the popular Hammers hashtag to the end of a tweet,
sent shortly before 5pm this afternoon.
"Not ignoring everyone, crazy but exciting last few days," he wrote, adding:
"All will be revealed in time. Thanks for the messages #COYI"
Poyet's move is thought to be on hold whilst West Ham and Charlton attempt
to thrash out a deal that is acceptable to both parties, in order to avoid
the need for a tribunal to determine the fee involved. Despite being out of
contract, West Ham must pay Poyet's former club Brighton & Hove Albion a
development fee as he is under the age of 24.
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New role for Merv
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 4th July 2014
By: Staff Writer
Former West Ham goalkeeper and assistant manager Mervyn Day has joined West
Bromwich Albion as the club's new Head of Recruitment. Day, who kept goal
for West Ham between 1973 and 1979 has joined the midlands club after
leaving his previous post at Brighton & Hove Albion at the end of last
season.
Speaking to the Express & Star, Day - who returned to West Ham in 2006 to
work as assistant manager to Alan Curbishley - said: "This is a magnificent
opportunity for me and I'm really looking forward to it. "I've known
[technical director] Terry [Burton] and [head coach] Alan [Irvine] for a
number of years from coaching courses and being in opposition dugouts. There
is a nice feel to the club, it's an exciting challenge and the
infrastructure is here to go onto bigger and better things."
Technical Director Burton added that he was delighted to land Day due to his
"wealth of experience" in the recruitment field. "He's well-respected in the
game and scouts who have worked under him speak highly of him as a man of
integrity and trust," he said. "He comes here with a wealth of knowledge and
will undoubtedly help us identify players and improve our recruitment
processes."
Chelmsford-born Day, who started his career under Tony Carr in 1973 was the
youngest ever goalkeeper to appear in an FA Cup Final when he represented
West Ham in the 2-0 win over Fulham in 1975. He went on to make in excess
of 750 career appearances for West Ham, Orient, Aston Villa, Leeds and
Carlisle before hanging up his boots in 1994.
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Taylor completes Clarets switch
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 4th July 2014
By: Staff Writer
Midfielder Matt Taylor has completed a move to Premier League new boys
Burnley. Taylor, who spent three years at West Ham was offered a contract
extention by the Hammers at the end of last season but failed to agree
terms, leading to his free transfer. The 32-year-old has signed a two-year
deal with the clarets, who were promoted from the Championship last season.
Burnley - who finished runners-up behind Champions Leicester City last
season - have also swooped to sign Bolton's Marvin Sordell for an
undisclosed fee.
And in other transfer news today...
* West Ham are one of a number of clubs linked today with former Barcelona
star Sameul Eto'o. The vastly experienced goalscorer, released on a free by
Chelsea at the end of last season is said to have received three firm offers
so far - one from Turkey and two more from unnamed Premier League clubs, one
of which is believed to be QUeens Park Rangers.
* Despite having signed Aaron Cresswell from Ipswich KUMB understands Sam
Allardyce is still keeping tabs on Norwich City's Martin Olsson. The
26-year-old Swede, who joined the Canaries from Blackburn last season was
reported to have been the subject of a failed bid by West Ham shortly before
the Cresswell signing was confirmed.
* Slightly belated, but young Hammer Ben Sheaf has snubbed West Ham in order
to join London rivals Arsenal. |The highly-rated 16-year-old debuted for
England's Under 16s last season and was thought to have a promising future
ahead of him (before signing for the Gunners, of course).
* Sporting Lisbon have put off a number of potential suitors by slapping a
£10million price tage of Algerian striker Islam Slimani, The 26-year-old
goal scorer, who enjoyed a successful World Cup campaign is high on West
Ham's list of targets but the Hammers are unlikely to commit to such a high
valuation.
* Salomon Kalou, long linked with a move to West Ham could be on his way to
Germany says French radio station RMC. The 28-year-old Ivory Coast
international is likely to leave current club Lille this summer and has also
been linked with West Ham's Premier League rivals Arsenal.
* Marco Borriello, who spent the latter half of last season on loan at West
Ham could be joining Serie A new boys Cesena, who returned to the Italian
top flight after a 4-2 play-off win against Latina last month. The
Bianconeri have been linked with a season-long loan move for the 32-year-old
forward.
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Charlton's Diego Poyet is having a medical with West Ham United
Last Updated: 05/07/14 5:43pm
SSN
Charlton Athletic teenager Diego Poyet is having a medical with West Ham
United, according to Sky sources. The 19-year-old midfielder, son of
Sunderland manager Gus, is a graduate of the Charlton academy and was voted
Player of the Year last season despite only making his debut in January. He
turned down the offer of a new contract with the Championship side earlier
this summer amid widespread interest in his services. Charlton will be due
compensation for Poyet as he is the under age of 24, with a tribunal
settling the fee. West Ham have already signed Mauro Zarate, Cheikhou
Kouyate and Aaron Cresswell this summer.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Former Charlton midfielder Diego Poyet hints at West Ham deal
Last Updated: 06/07/14 6:34pm
SSN
Former Charlton midfielder Diego Poyet has hinted he is on the verge of
completing a move to West Ham. The 19-year-old, son of Sunderland manager
Gus Poyet, is a free agent after his contract with the Addicks expired.
Poyet has reportedly also attracted interest from Chelsea, Manchester City
and the Black Cats.
However, he has already had a medical with the Hammers - according to Sky
sources - and now appears set to sign a deal at Upton Park. He wrote on
Twitter: "Not ignoring everyone, crazy but exciting last few days. All will
be revealed in time. Thanks for the messages #COYI."
The initials at the end of his message stand for 'Come On You Irons', a
reference to West Ham. Poyet only broke into the Charlton team in January
but his performances saw him named the Championship club's player of the
year. However, he turned down the chance to stay at The Valley and is now
poised to follow in the footsteps of his father, who represented Chelsea and
Tottenham, by playing in the Premier League. Charlton will be due
compensation for Poyet as he is the under age of 24, with a tribunal
settling the fee. Once the move is complete he will become West Ham boss
Sam Allardyce's fourth summer signing, following Cheikhou Kayoute, Mauro
Zarate and Aaron Cresswell.
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Gareth Barry's Everton transfer in doubt with West Ham poised to take
advantage
Jul 06, 2014 12:53 By Dave Kidd
The Mirror
Gareth Barry's permanent move to Everton is on the brink of collapse – with
West Ham poised to take advantage. Barry has been caught in the middle of a
stand-off between Everton and Manchester City, who had been assured of a
£2million fee if the former England midfielder agreed to sign a contract at
Goodison after last season's loan spell. But with neither party willing to
budge, Barry – who is a free agent – could sign for West Ham or his former
club Aston Villa instead. Everton had been confident of agreeing Barry's
deal this week, knowing it was the player's preferred destination and that a
three-year offer was on the table – an unusually long contract for a
33-year-old. If Barry signs for any club other than Everton, City will not
receive any fee - yet after several rounds of talks this week, no compromise
could be reached. And it is believed that West Ham are offering the best
financial package, which could see the 33-year-old switch to Upton Park.
Barry spent 11 years at Villa before moving to City in 2009 and Villa boss
Paul Lambert is keen to take him back to the midlands club – but West Ham
are said to be leading the race, should Everton fail to agree a deal with
City.
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Arsenal has signed England U-16 internationl Ben Sheaf from West Ham. Sheaf
is regarded as one Engla
Arsenal-mania.com
By Nadji Grizzle...
Arsenal has signed England U-16 internationl Ben Sheaf from West Ham. Sheaf
is regarded as one England's hottest prospects and adds even more talent to
Arsenal's already impressive list of scholarship recipients. The signing of
Sheaf increases the number of new scholars to 13, with nine of those having
progressed through the club's Hale End system. Sheaf turned down a new
contract at West Ham to join Arsenal, and could make his debut when the U18
team travels to face Lincoln City in a friendly later this month. The
Hammers coaching staff had highlighted Sheaf as on to watch, and will sorely
miss the player.
The midfielder will take encouragement from fellow Englishmen Jack Wilshere
and Kieren Gibbs who also broke through the system before him as well as
many others including Cesc Fabregas and Fran Merida. Sheaf typically plays
as a centre midfielder but can also play on the wings if need be. He is very
comfortable on the ball and has been likened to Ross Barkley and Jordan
Henderson. Sheaf also gets to join his younger brother, who is also in
Arsenal's youth ranks and both will surely be raring to go. While gooners
will always support the next generation of players coming through, we hope
to see big additions to the first team. Still, it is exciting to see a
strong core of youngsters pushing hard to break through the first team, so
the future of the club looks promising.
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MONCUR OFF TO COLCHESTER?
By Sean Whetstone 6 Jul 2014 at 08:58
West Ham Till I Die
Colchester United is rumoured to be considering a move to sign West Ham
midfielder George Moncur on loan this season. The 20-year old central
midfielder and has made just two senior appearances for the Hammers – a sub
appearance in the League Cup and a start in the FA Cup. He has had spells on
loan at AFC Wimbledon and Partick Thistle, where he made 20 starts and two
sub appearances respectably, and had also represented England at under 18
level. Three players have joined the U's on loan from West Ham in recent
years including Daniel Potts, Elliot Lee and Blair Turgott, so it wouldn't
be a surprise if another was to sign on loan. And of course Former Hammer
Freddie Sears is there too. He's scored 19 in 67 games, and last season had
a haul of 12 in 32. George Moncur signed a new two-year deal in March 2013,
with an option for a third, with West Ham.
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WHUFC.com
West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of highly-rated
left-back Aaron Cresswell
03.07.2014
West Ham United are delighted to announce the signing of highly-rated
left-back Aaron Cresswell. The 24-year-old has joined the Hammers from
Championship side Ipswich Town on a five-year contract for an undisclosed
fee. Born in Liverpool, Cresswell began his career with Tranmere Rovers
before moving to Portman Road in 2011. He has enjoyed three outstanding
seasons with the Tractor Boys, making nearly 150 appearances and earning
Player of the Year honours in 2012. A consistently impressive performer who
has long been linked with a move to the Barclays Premier League, Cresswell
joined Tranmere as a schoolboy before making his first-team debut at 18 in
November 2008. The 5'7" full-back played 80 times for the Super White Army
over three seasons, scoring six goals, before moving up a division to
Ipswich in summer 2011. An outstanding debut season for the Suffolk club saw
Cresswell voted Ipswich's Player of the Year for 2011/12. He has followed
that with two further impressive campaigns during which he has missed just
four league matches - two of those through suspension and two through
injury. Last term, his outstanding all-round displays saw Cresswell voted
into the Championship Team of the Year by his fellow professionals.
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Cresswell capture endorsed
WHUFc.com
Football writer Chris Brammer has praised West Ham United's signing of
left-back Aaron Cresswell
04.07.2014
West Ham United have pulled off a transfer coup by signing left-back Aaron
Cresswell from Ipswich Town. That is the view of Ipswich Star and East
Anglian Daily Times football writer Chris Brammer, who has kept close tabs
on the defender's progress since he arrived at Portman Road in summer 2011.
The 24-year-old enjoyed an outstanding three-year spell in Suffolk, chalking
up seven goals and 25 assists in 137 appearances for the Tractor Boys,
earning Player of the Year honours in 2012 and being voted into the 2013/14
Championship Team of the Season by his fellow professionals. "Aaron is a
very attack-minded full-back who has created more than 20 goals over his
three seasons at Ipswich Town," Brammer confirmed. "He has an excellent left
foot and scores the odd goal too, more often than not of the spectacular
variety. The one he scored against Crystal Palace in April 2013 is worth
West Ham fans looking up on the internet, for sure! "He was very popular at
Ipswich Town. When he first arrived at the club, the team was struggling a
bit, but under Mick McCarthy he has been part of a defence that has been
rock solid for most of the time Mick has been at the club. "Aaron has been a
permanent fixture and has hardly missed a game in the last three seasons."
Cresswell has missed just a handful of games since joining Ipswich from
first club Tranmere in 2011, and has already chalked up well over 200 senior
appearances despite his relatively tender age. Quick, committed and blessed
with a fantastic left foot, Brammer says West Ham's new left-back could be a
real star in the making. "Aaron is a very capable defender at Championship
level, so this is very much the next logical step for him. I cannot see any
reason why he cannot go on and be a success in the Premier League. He is a
consummate professional and if he keeps his head down he has every chance.
"He's quite quick, good in the tackle and offers quite a bit going forward.
He can certainly find people in the box and is very much the modern-day
full-back. "When players never miss a game, sometimes you don't notice them,
but that certainly wasn't the case with Aaron. He was very much a crowd
favourite and the fans expected something to happen whenever he went
forward. While some players are not welcomed back to their former club,
Brammer says Cresswell can expect a warm reception when West Ham travel to
Ipswich for a pre-season match on Saturday 16 July. "Ipswich fans are really
good towards their ex-players, except sometimes if a player comes back to
play at Portman Road for Norwich City! "Aaron has left on good terms. He
never asked to leave the club and the fans half-expected it would happen
eventually, such was the standard of his performances. I expect him to get a
really warm welcome."
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Teddy ready for Hammers duty
WHUFC.com
Teddy Sheringham is excited about his new role as West Ham United's
attacking coach
04.07.2014
Teddy Sheringham is hoping to impart his considerable experience after
starting his role as West Ham United's new attacking coach. The former
Hammers and England forward was at Chadwell Heath as the squad returned for
pre-season training on Thursday, casting his eye over the players as they
took to the training pitch for the first time in seven weeks. The
48-year-old, who still looks easily fit enough to turn out himself in the
Barclays Premier League, will work on a part-time basis with the likes of
Andy Carroll, Carlton Cole and new signing Mauro Zarate to increase West
Ham's potency in front of goal. After five years out of the game, Sheringham
revealed that he could not turn down Sam Allardyce's offer to join the
Hammers backroom staff. "I'm really excited," he confirmed. "If you had
asked me a year ago if I was going to get back into football, I wouldn't
have believed you. "For the last five years, I've been enjoying my life, but
this just seemed the right time and when Sam made the phone call, it was the
perfect situation for me - a couple of days a week and matchdays as well.
"The experience will be invaluable and the offer was too good to turn down."
Sheringham has known Big Sam for more than 30 years, having initially got to
know the West Ham boss during their respective playing careers at Millwall
in the early 1980s. "I knew of Sam at Millwall and he obviously knew of me,
and I have played against his teams over the last however so many years,"
Sheringham confirmed. "We have met each other out over the last few years
and chatted about the old days and where I started and he finished up. "We
have an understanding and when he made that phone call, it was a lovely call
to get. "I played a bit of poker and a bit of golf, but I wasn't really
getting great at either of them, so I thought 'What am I good at? What have
I done throughout my life?' and it was football. It seemed a good idea to
get back in now - the right time in my life."
Capped 51 times by England and a Premier League and UEFA Champions League
winner with Manchester United, Sheringham's challenge is now to translate
his own ability into improved attacking performances from West Ham's current
attackers. "There are a lot of players over the years who have collected a
lot of knowledge and it's all about getting that knowledge over to the
players so that they understand it and respect it," he said. "Everybody is
different, so there is a lot of psychology that goes into how you speak to
players and the way you listen to players as well. I'll be trying to my
utmost to get into their heads, as well as improving their technical ability
and physical attributes. "I'll be trying to nurture them to get them to
perform the best that they can, scoring goals and doing their stuff for West
Ham."
Sheringham will work with a variety of forwards, with Carroll and Cole of
the taller, physical variety and Zarate and youngster Elliot Lee being
shorter, more mobile operators. "Even when I was coming to the end of my own
career, I enjoyed playing with younger players who did different things to
me," he explained. "In shooting practice, I watched the younger ones as well
as the older players, as you are always learning something in this game. "If
Mauro can add something to Carlton's game, who can add something to Andy's
game, plus the youngsters who are here to work with us as well, that's what
it's all about - getting that little bit more of an armoury so you have all
the tools on a Saturday afternoon to help the team score goals and win games
for West Ham."
After a playing career with the Club that included promotion via the
Play-Offs, an FA Cup final and a 'Great Escape' from Premier League
relegation, how does Sheringham see the 2014/15 season panning out for the
Hammers? "I see that the Premier League is a tough league now. Obviously
you've got the top teams challenging for the honours, but anyone from
perhaps 12-14 teams can get relegated, while any of those 12-14 could push
for the top six as well. "It's the latter that we want to be involved in."
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Tonka's feeling fresh for 2014/15
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins is ready and raring to go as the Hammers build towards the new
campaign
06.07.2014
James Tomkins says it's good to be back after the Hammers returned from
their summer break this week to begin their preparations for the new
campaign.
Immediately after reporting for duty at Chadwell Heath, the squad flew out
to France for a week-long training camp which will see them undertake double
and triple training sessions daily as they build their sharpness up. The
trip to France is the ideal opportunity for new signings Cheikhou Kouyate,
Mauro Zarate and Aaron Cresswell to blend into a tight-knit team group and
Tomkins says they are integrating well. "It's been a good trip so far," he
explained. "We've had a bit of a work-out the last few days, training in the
morning and some core work in the afternoon. "The facilities here are really
good, everyone's enjoying themselves and we're starting to feel the good
team spirit for the season ahead. "The legs aren't feeling too bad, they're
probably taking it a little easy on us at the moment! Things are going to
get harder, but it has been nice to see the lads back together after the
summer and seeing how they're doing. "The new boys have just got here, so
all the lads have been helping them settle in. They seem like a good bunch
and that's what it is about at the minute, being all together."
Tomkins is keen to hit the ground running in 2014/15 and he knows how
important pre-season will be to achieve that aim. He said: "The aim for this
part of pre-season is to get the legs going again after that break over the
summer. You do lose a bit of fitness and it can take a bit of time to get
back in the swing of things, so that's what we're trying to do. "Training
has been good so far. It's nice to have the ball involved, the lads
appreciate that, and we're doing our core and strength in the afternoon so
it's a good set-up. "It's important to get that fitness back as quickly as
you can and obviously be ready for the games when we get back home. "We've
got a good schedule planned and everyone wants to show what they can do in
pre-season."
Tomkins enjoyed a strong 2013/14 campaign on a personal level, featuring in
30 league games for a defence which kept 14 top flight clean sheets, and he
sees that as a good base to build from this year. He added: "For me it was
nice to have a good run of games last year. I played about 30-odd games
which was good for my experience, playing that number of games in the
Premier League. "I want to build on that again and start well next season.
That's the most important thing now, to concentrate on working hard in
pre-season and being fresh and ready to go on 16 August."
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Cresswell thrilled with Hammers switch
WHUFC.com
24-year-old defender Aaron Cresswell is delighted to have signed for West
Ham United
05.07.2014
Aaron Cresswell did not need to think twice before putting pen-to-paper on
his transfer to West Ham United this week. The 24-year-old left back, who
arrives at the Boleyn Ground from Ipswich Town, jetted out to France on
Saturday morning to link up with his new teammates at their training camp in
south-east France. He admitted that the last couple of days had been a
whirlwind experience, but he cannot wait to make the step up to the Barclays
Premier League.
"I'm very excited to have signed here," he beamed. "It's a massive club and
I can't wait to get ready for the season ahead. "When I knew West Ham were
interested it was an easy decision to make! Everyone knows it's a massive
club and a couple of years down the line they'll have the new stadium too.
"It's been a pretty hectic couple of days, but we got there in the end. I
signed late on the Thursday night, so I didn't get back to Ipswich until
late on. "The team flew out on Friday morning and I arrived at lunchtime on
Saturday. The boys trained in the morning and now I'll be joining them in
the gym for their second session of the day."
Having started off at League One side Tranmere Rovers, Cresswell has risen
up through the divisions since making his debut at 18 and the Scouser is now
looking forward to testing himself at the highest level. He continued: "If
you ask any player in the Football League, they want to play in the Premier
League. Some people have to gradually go through the leagues and fortunately
for me that's the way it's worked out so I can't wait to get going.
"Hopefully I can hit the ground running. When I started off I was at
Tranmere and was there for three years, then I had three years at Ipswich,
so I'm looking forward to starting here. "It was nice to be voted into the
Championship team of the year last year - those kind of things are a nice
bonus at the end of a season. Hopefully that will stand me in good stead for
the coming season. "It's everyone's ambition to play in the Premier League,
and to play in front of 35,000 week in week out is a dream come true for me.
"I know we've got Spurs, Man City and Liverpool at home early on and there's
no such thing as an easy game in the Premier League, but I'm going to relish
every one and hopefully I can play a big part in it."
Cresswell's first week as a Hammer will give him the perfect chance to get
to know his new teammates as they go through a week-long training camp in
France. He added: "Not really knowing anyone, apart from Stephen Henderson
who was on loan at Ipswich, being away in France for my first week at the
Club is a good chance to mingle and get to know the lads. "Being a fellow
Scouser, I think Kevin Nolan is the only one who is going to be able to
understand me! I just can't wait to get to know everyone and hopefully
settle in as quick as possible."
For supporters who have not seen Cresswell play previously, the defender
explains that he is confident of doing a job at both ends of the pitch. He
said: "I like to think I'm a modern day full back. I like to attack, try to
get balls in the box and if I get a couple of goals or assists that's a
little bonus, but as a defender it's defend first."
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West Ham youth chief Tony Carr moves as Terry Westley recruited
BBC.co.uk
West Ham's youth chief Tony Carr is moving to an ambassador role after 40
years in charge of the club's academy, which will now be led by Terry
Westley.
West Ham's youth stars Joe Cole, Frank Lampard and John Terry at Tony Carr's
testimonial in 2010 Seven recent England internationals were at one stage in
the West Ham youth set-up Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Joe Cole, Michael
Carrick, Glen Johnson, Jermain Defoe and John Terry have earned a total of
more than 370 caps Carr, 63, guided the early careers of England
internationals such as Frank Lampard and Rio Ferdinand, and helped generate
around £80m in transfer fees. "I will be there as a sounding board if any
area of the club wants to call upon my experience and expertise," he said.
Westley is a former manager of Luton Town and Derby County. Currently the
Premier League's head of professional development, he previously headed
Birmingham City's academy. West Ham co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold
said in a statement: "West Ham United is famed the world over for producing
excellent young players. "Having spoken to Terry, he clearly understands how
much we, like every other West Ham fan, enjoy seeing our homegrown
youngsters break into the first team." In May, they announced Sam Allardyce
would remain as first-team manager, despite criticism from some fans, but
asked him to provide more entertaining football.
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'COYI', tweets transfer target Diego Poyet
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 5th July 2014
By: Staff Writer
West Ham transfer target Diego Poyet has given the clearest indication yet
that he is set for the Boleyn Ground - by tweeting 'COYI' on his most recent
social media message. Poyet, who is on the verge of becoming Sam Allardyce's
fourth signing of pre-season hinted that the move was almost complete this
afternoon when he added the popular Hammers hashtag to the end of a tweet,
sent shortly before 5pm this afternoon.
"Not ignoring everyone, crazy but exciting last few days," he wrote, adding:
"All will be revealed in time. Thanks for the messages #COYI"
Poyet's move is thought to be on hold whilst West Ham and Charlton attempt
to thrash out a deal that is acceptable to both parties, in order to avoid
the need for a tribunal to determine the fee involved. Despite being out of
contract, West Ham must pay Poyet's former club Brighton & Hove Albion a
development fee as he is under the age of 24.
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New role for Merv
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 4th July 2014
By: Staff Writer
Former West Ham goalkeeper and assistant manager Mervyn Day has joined West
Bromwich Albion as the club's new Head of Recruitment. Day, who kept goal
for West Ham between 1973 and 1979 has joined the midlands club after
leaving his previous post at Brighton & Hove Albion at the end of last
season.
Speaking to the Express & Star, Day - who returned to West Ham in 2006 to
work as assistant manager to Alan Curbishley - said: "This is a magnificent
opportunity for me and I'm really looking forward to it. "I've known
[technical director] Terry [Burton] and [head coach] Alan [Irvine] for a
number of years from coaching courses and being in opposition dugouts. There
is a nice feel to the club, it's an exciting challenge and the
infrastructure is here to go onto bigger and better things."
Technical Director Burton added that he was delighted to land Day due to his
"wealth of experience" in the recruitment field. "He's well-respected in the
game and scouts who have worked under him speak highly of him as a man of
integrity and trust," he said. "He comes here with a wealth of knowledge and
will undoubtedly help us identify players and improve our recruitment
processes."
Chelmsford-born Day, who started his career under Tony Carr in 1973 was the
youngest ever goalkeeper to appear in an FA Cup Final when he represented
West Ham in the 2-0 win over Fulham in 1975. He went on to make in excess
of 750 career appearances for West Ham, Orient, Aston Villa, Leeds and
Carlisle before hanging up his boots in 1994.
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Taylor completes Clarets switch
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 4th July 2014
By: Staff Writer
Midfielder Matt Taylor has completed a move to Premier League new boys
Burnley. Taylor, who spent three years at West Ham was offered a contract
extention by the Hammers at the end of last season but failed to agree
terms, leading to his free transfer. The 32-year-old has signed a two-year
deal with the clarets, who were promoted from the Championship last season.
Burnley - who finished runners-up behind Champions Leicester City last
season - have also swooped to sign Bolton's Marvin Sordell for an
undisclosed fee.
And in other transfer news today...
* West Ham are one of a number of clubs linked today with former Barcelona
star Sameul Eto'o. The vastly experienced goalscorer, released on a free by
Chelsea at the end of last season is said to have received three firm offers
so far - one from Turkey and two more from unnamed Premier League clubs, one
of which is believed to be QUeens Park Rangers.
* Despite having signed Aaron Cresswell from Ipswich KUMB understands Sam
Allardyce is still keeping tabs on Norwich City's Martin Olsson. The
26-year-old Swede, who joined the Canaries from Blackburn last season was
reported to have been the subject of a failed bid by West Ham shortly before
the Cresswell signing was confirmed.
* Slightly belated, but young Hammer Ben Sheaf has snubbed West Ham in order
to join London rivals Arsenal. |The highly-rated 16-year-old debuted for
England's Under 16s last season and was thought to have a promising future
ahead of him (before signing for the Gunners, of course).
* Sporting Lisbon have put off a number of potential suitors by slapping a
£10million price tage of Algerian striker Islam Slimani, The 26-year-old
goal scorer, who enjoyed a successful World Cup campaign is high on West
Ham's list of targets but the Hammers are unlikely to commit to such a high
valuation.
* Salomon Kalou, long linked with a move to West Ham could be on his way to
Germany says French radio station RMC. The 28-year-old Ivory Coast
international is likely to leave current club Lille this summer and has also
been linked with West Ham's Premier League rivals Arsenal.
* Marco Borriello, who spent the latter half of last season on loan at West
Ham could be joining Serie A new boys Cesena, who returned to the Italian
top flight after a 4-2 play-off win against Latina last month. The
Bianconeri have been linked with a season-long loan move for the 32-year-old
forward.
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Charlton's Diego Poyet is having a medical with West Ham United
Last Updated: 05/07/14 5:43pm
SSN
Charlton Athletic teenager Diego Poyet is having a medical with West Ham
United, according to Sky sources. The 19-year-old midfielder, son of
Sunderland manager Gus, is a graduate of the Charlton academy and was voted
Player of the Year last season despite only making his debut in January. He
turned down the offer of a new contract with the Championship side earlier
this summer amid widespread interest in his services. Charlton will be due
compensation for Poyet as he is the under age of 24, with a tribunal
settling the fee. West Ham have already signed Mauro Zarate, Cheikhou
Kouyate and Aaron Cresswell this summer.
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Former Charlton midfielder Diego Poyet hints at West Ham deal
Last Updated: 06/07/14 6:34pm
SSN
Former Charlton midfielder Diego Poyet has hinted he is on the verge of
completing a move to West Ham. The 19-year-old, son of Sunderland manager
Gus Poyet, is a free agent after his contract with the Addicks expired.
Poyet has reportedly also attracted interest from Chelsea, Manchester City
and the Black Cats.
However, he has already had a medical with the Hammers - according to Sky
sources - and now appears set to sign a deal at Upton Park. He wrote on
Twitter: "Not ignoring everyone, crazy but exciting last few days. All will
be revealed in time. Thanks for the messages #COYI."
The initials at the end of his message stand for 'Come On You Irons', a
reference to West Ham. Poyet only broke into the Charlton team in January
but his performances saw him named the Championship club's player of the
year. However, he turned down the chance to stay at The Valley and is now
poised to follow in the footsteps of his father, who represented Chelsea and
Tottenham, by playing in the Premier League. Charlton will be due
compensation for Poyet as he is the under age of 24, with a tribunal
settling the fee. Once the move is complete he will become West Ham boss
Sam Allardyce's fourth summer signing, following Cheikhou Kayoute, Mauro
Zarate and Aaron Cresswell.
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Gareth Barry's Everton transfer in doubt with West Ham poised to take
advantage
Jul 06, 2014 12:53 By Dave Kidd
The Mirror
Gareth Barry's permanent move to Everton is on the brink of collapse – with
West Ham poised to take advantage. Barry has been caught in the middle of a
stand-off between Everton and Manchester City, who had been assured of a
£2million fee if the former England midfielder agreed to sign a contract at
Goodison after last season's loan spell. But with neither party willing to
budge, Barry – who is a free agent – could sign for West Ham or his former
club Aston Villa instead. Everton had been confident of agreeing Barry's
deal this week, knowing it was the player's preferred destination and that a
three-year offer was on the table – an unusually long contract for a
33-year-old. If Barry signs for any club other than Everton, City will not
receive any fee - yet after several rounds of talks this week, no compromise
could be reached. And it is believed that West Ham are offering the best
financial package, which could see the 33-year-old switch to Upton Park.
Barry spent 11 years at Villa before moving to City in 2009 and Villa boss
Paul Lambert is keen to take him back to the midlands club – but West Ham
are said to be leading the race, should Everton fail to agree a deal with
City.
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Arsenal has signed England U-16 internationl Ben Sheaf from West Ham. Sheaf
is regarded as one Engla
Arsenal-mania.com
By Nadji Grizzle...
Arsenal has signed England U-16 internationl Ben Sheaf from West Ham. Sheaf
is regarded as one England's hottest prospects and adds even more talent to
Arsenal's already impressive list of scholarship recipients. The signing of
Sheaf increases the number of new scholars to 13, with nine of those having
progressed through the club's Hale End system. Sheaf turned down a new
contract at West Ham to join Arsenal, and could make his debut when the U18
team travels to face Lincoln City in a friendly later this month. The
Hammers coaching staff had highlighted Sheaf as on to watch, and will sorely
miss the player.
The midfielder will take encouragement from fellow Englishmen Jack Wilshere
and Kieren Gibbs who also broke through the system before him as well as
many others including Cesc Fabregas and Fran Merida. Sheaf typically plays
as a centre midfielder but can also play on the wings if need be. He is very
comfortable on the ball and has been likened to Ross Barkley and Jordan
Henderson. Sheaf also gets to join his younger brother, who is also in
Arsenal's youth ranks and both will surely be raring to go. While gooners
will always support the next generation of players coming through, we hope
to see big additions to the first team. Still, it is exciting to see a
strong core of youngsters pushing hard to break through the first team, so
the future of the club looks promising.
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MONCUR OFF TO COLCHESTER?
By Sean Whetstone 6 Jul 2014 at 08:58
West Ham Till I Die
Colchester United is rumoured to be considering a move to sign West Ham
midfielder George Moncur on loan this season. The 20-year old central
midfielder and has made just two senior appearances for the Hammers – a sub
appearance in the League Cup and a start in the FA Cup. He has had spells on
loan at AFC Wimbledon and Partick Thistle, where he made 20 starts and two
sub appearances respectably, and had also represented England at under 18
level. Three players have joined the U's on loan from West Ham in recent
years including Daniel Potts, Elliot Lee and Blair Turgott, so it wouldn't
be a surprise if another was to sign on loan. And of course Former Hammer
Freddie Sears is there too. He's scored 19 in 67 games, and last season had
a haul of 12 in 32. George Moncur signed a new two-year deal in March 2013,
with an option for a third, with West Ham.
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Wednesday, July 2
Daily WHUFC News - 2nd July 2014
Kiwi youngsters welcome Reid return
WHUFC.com
Pupils at Winston Reid's former primary school cannot wait to welcome him back home to New Zealand
01.07.2014
The return of Winston Reid to New Zealand with West Ham United this summer will inspire youngsters at his old primary school. Reid attended Milford School in the Auckland suburb of North Shore from the ages of five and ten before emigrating to Denmark, playing his first organised football for the school and local club junior Takapuna AFC. The school's current teacher-in-charge of football - or soccer, as it is more commonly known in New Zealand - Martin Dijkgraaf said Milford's pupils are excited about the return of their famous alumnus. "The children are extremely excited as Winston is a great player and a role model, demonstrating that New Zealanders can make it in overseas professional football," explained Dijkgraaf. "Since [former Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur defender] Ryan Nelsen left the Premier League, Winston is now the only Kiwi playing at that level, and West Ham are a very well-known club so it is very exciting that they are coming all the way to New Zealand to play."
While rugby, cricket and netball remain New Zealand's most-popular sports, Dijkgraaf said the achievements of Reid and his compatriots in reaching the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa - where they drew with Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay before being eliminated as the tournament's only unbeaten team - had led to a big increase in interest in football. Many have followed in the footsteps of Reid by turning out for Takapuna AFC and another local club, Forrest Hill AFC, and dream of emulating the Hammers defender.
"Kiwi kids love their sport and after Winston and the All Whites played at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa there was an increase in the number of kids playing football," Dijkgraaf confirmed. "Here at Milford School we have a huge number of children who are members of various local clubs. "Lots of them hope to go along to Eden Park to watch Winston in action against Wellington Phoenix, so it is best they do all their chores at home in the next little while! "One of the kids is lucky enough - or is it that his father is such a fanatic? - that he is also travelling down to Wellington to see the Hammers play against Sydney FC too!"
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Legends return home
WHUFC.com
Alan Taylor and Phil Parkes led tours of the Boleyn Ground for supporters recently
01.07.2014
West Ham United legends Alan Taylor and Phil Parkes returned to the Boleyn Ground over the summer to lead a series of stadium tours for supporters.
The two ex-Hammers, who have well over 400 league appearances for the Club between them, took supporters behind the scenes to show them everything from the dressing rooms to the Chairman's suite. Showing fans around their old home comes as a great thrill for the duo, who were delighted to share their experiences. "Phil and I have taken these tours for quite a while now - over the last nine months we've done nine tours," two-goal 1975 FA Cup final hero Taylor explained. "They seem to be going down very well with supporters. They enjoy themselves, we certainly enjoy it too and it's very popular. "The fans love coming down to the pitchside, being in the dug out, the players' entrance and, most of all, the dressing rooms."
Parkes, who cost the Hammers a then-world record fee for a goalkeeper when he signed from QPR in 1979, echoed those thoughts. He added: "I think it's great, it's a privilege for us. We love doing it, we really do. Everyone who comes here wants to see behind the scenes, because normally they haven't got a clue what goes on. "Something like eleven-hundred people are working behind the scenes on a matchday. It's quite hard to comprehend that when you sit in the stand, watch the game and go home after stopping for a pint. "I think they are all quite fascinated by all of that."
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Leyton Orient drops objection to use of Olympic stadium
BBC.co.uk
Leyton Orient Football Club has settled a dispute with the Premier League over its decision to allow West Ham to occupy the Olympic Stadium. West Ham was declared as the anchor tenant for the stadium in March 2013 and will pay £2m a year in rent. Leyton Orient had feared West Ham's tenancy would affect the number of fans attending its own matches nearby. It says it has now reached a "confidential agreement" in its dispute. In September, Leyton Orient's written application for judicial review into tenancy of the stadium was rejected. West Ham is expected to move into it from August 2016.
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Who said there's no such thing as a free lunch?
KUMb.com
Filed: Tuesday, 1st July 2014
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United FC are looking for a number of supporters able to attend a Kiwi-themed BBQ in central London next Wednesday as part of the build-up to the Club's impending tour of New Zealand. The Club are looking for supporters planning to travel to New Zealand this summer who would be willing to pop along for a couple of hours on Wednesday, 9th July and be interviewed by a NZ television film crew for their version of The One Show. The interviews would cover the fans' support for West Ham United and their excitement at following the Hammers to the other side of the world, as well as their views on the football side of the Club. West Ham will also ask supporters to pose for a few publicity shots for use on whufc.com, the Club's social media platforms and by Wellington Phoenix. In return, all supporters participating in the event will receive a 2014/15 away shirt and a good feed of New Zealand meat and wine/beer at the BBQ!
Anyone interested in participating should contact Rob Pritchard at programme@westhamunited.co.uk for further details.
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That Was The Season That Was 2013-14 - Part Four
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 1st July 2014
By: Gordon Thrower
After a less than wonderful start to 2014, things needed to improve and fast. Gordon Thrower's look back at 2013/14 continues as he picks off another couple of months starting with February 2014. Howard Webb might want to give this one a miss....
February 2014
With the January window having closed it emerges Razvan Rat, has been released from his contract "by mutual consent". Nobody ever did get round to calling him Roland, mainly as a result of his making so few appearances. Also out of the door is out of favour Modibo Maiga. He heads west to QPR in the hope that a spell in the Championship might do something for what appears to be a somewhat fragile confidence.
After what was by any reasonable standard a miserable January, the point gained at Chelsea at the end of the month appears to have galvanised the team who return to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Swansea. A first half brace from Nolan gives us the three points.
The match is hugely controversial as Howard Webb hits a new low. Carroll tangles with Chico Flores, accidentally brushing the cheating Spaniard's ponytail as his arm comes around. Flores clutches his face as if shot. Webb dismisses Carroll. On video review it transpires that the one piece of violent conduct in the whole affair is Flores' elbow to Carroll's chest and that Webb is actually looking the other way as it occurs. Despite this, Webb refuses to change his mind when shown the video. Carroll gets a three match ban. Webb, whose dishonesty in the whole affair should have seen him face some sort of disciplinary action, takes his bent grin off to the World Cup instead.
One would have hoped that Webb's main employers might have had something to say about their employee. Unfortunately, as the Hillsborough affair has shown, altering the facts to save your own backside seems to be pretty endemic amongst the South Yorkshire Police Force
Whether or not connected with the dishonesty of his players, Michael Laudrup barely survives the weekend as manager of Swansea, his dismissal being the second of the season to occur just after playing us. Laudrup's departure comes amid rumours of the manager's lack of interest in little things like actually taking training, midweek breaks to Paris apparently being the norm.
Ooop north things at Leeds become so farcial that those who remember them kicking, bribing and cheating their way to league titles in the 1970's temporarily stop laughing at Spurs for a while to enjoy a loud guffaw at the expense of the denizens of Elland Road.
The story goes something like this: Italian Massimo Cellino takes over the club from owners GFH. Cellino sacks incumbent manager Brian McDermott. A person or persons unknown then makes changes to the Leeds team on the Friday before they go out and bet local rivals Huddersfield 5-1 on the Saturday. GFH then point out that Cellino doesn't actually own the club yet and therefore doesn't have the power to sack McDermott. McDermott is duly reinstated, though nobody thinks to tell him, the news arriving via his i-Pad. Meanwhile, the lawyer who sacked McDermott on behalf of Cellino is escorted from the ground by a big bloke acting on behalf of GFH. McDermott turns up to take training to find a mystery Italian player warming up in training. Asked by the press who the player is McDermott responds "no idea". Cellino promptly fails the Football League's fit and proper test, which is a a pretty good trick given the credentials of some of those who have managed to pass the test in the past. More to come on this one we reckon.
Of course when it comes to stuff to laugh at, Joe Kinnear is ever one to be outdone. Seven months and not a penny spent sees the SJP faithful chanting "where's your signings Joe Kinnear." Sadly before he can claim to have signed Messi and Ronaldo in response, Kinnear resigns pausing only to add a Newcastle Champion League win onto the bottom of his already somewhat factually-challenged CV. Meanwhile, the resulting grin on Alan Pardew's face makes him look smugger than ever, something previously thought to have been impossible by most scientist, or at least most of those who deal in smugology.
As if to rally against the sheer injustice of the whole Carroll affair, we make it three clean sheets in a row with a 2-0 win over Villa at Villa Park. Nolan continues his rehabilitation with another brace.
Surely we couldn't make it three in a row for the first time since black & white telly (no I couldn't be bothered to look it up either but it probably wasn't that long ago I suppose. The amazing run continues as two late goals from Collins and Diame send Norwich home pointless. Adrian is the MOTM after a string of saves earlier on keeps us in the game. Canaries boss Chris Hughton bemoans his luck. Again.
Outside of football, as if organised religions don't do enough to make themselves look daft, The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowment in the UAE announces a Fatwa. The subject of this interpretation of Islamic law is not, as you might think, some hapless cartoonist or the entire population of the USA. No, the ruling is aimed at anyone who might be considering going to live on Mars. Apparently the one way nature of such a trip would be tantamount to suicide which, of course is a no-no in many religions. Thanks guys that's match my mind up for me.
The Ravel Morrison mystery continues. Having been missing with a groin injury that has seen coaching staff raising sceptical eyebrows-a-plenty, the player is loaned out to QPR, which is fast becoming the Boleyn Ground's equivalent of the naughty step.
Winning? It's getting boring now as the streak continues with the side coming from behind to dispatch Southampton 3-1. Jarvis, Carlton Cole and a resurgent Nolan are on the scoresheet in a month that waves two fingers at Howard Webb.
The guys who run the kumb.com podcast to honour the anniversary of the passing of Bobby Moore. It's a marvellous piece of work featuring a whole host of the great and good of football and Harry Redknapp. If you haven't heard it yet I'm sure the link is available somewhere on the site. Meanwhile I'd like to apologise to the guys on behalf of everyone who approached me to tell me what a good job I'd done (I did apportion the credit to where it was due).
The four wins in a row see us end the month in tenth place, easing the worries of relegation that some of you may have been having up to this point. At the top Chelsea lead though Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool, who seem to be trying to become the first team to win the Premier League based purely on their ability to dive, are all breathing down the Pensioners' necks.
March 2014
Having won 4 in a row in February, the marvellous run comes at an end up at Goodison Park. Lukaku is the difference between the sides again with a late winner. The match sees the return of Andy Carroll from his disgraceful suspension. Replacing Carlton Cole on 28 minutes, the record signing ends up with a broken finger for his troubles.
Newcastle beat Hull 4-1 at the KC Stadium in a match memorable for an altercation between Alan Pardew and City's David Meyler. The Newcastle boss headbutts the defender. And we thought Kinnear was the mad one. The butt earns Pardew a seven match ban, the first three of which are a stadium ban. An FA fine of £60,000 is added to a club one of £100,000. Have to wait a few more weeks to upgrade that Ferrari then Alan.
Man City pick up the League Cup, though they don't have it all their own way as Sunderland go into the interval 1-0 up. Three unanswered second half goals give the Citizens the trophy prompting us to muse how different things might have been had we been able to field a proper first XI in the semi-final. Not much probably.
We then go down 3-1 at Stoke. Carroll's 5th minute opener is cancelled out by Odemwingie before referee Pawson inexplicably allows Stoke defender Muniesa to get away with a penalty so blatant that had a human being been refereeing the match (rather than the cloned Rileybots that are employed these days) he'd have died of shame. Stoke go on to net two more times to give them a flattering win.
Former Olympic triple jump champion Jonathan Edwards, who famously wouldn't compete on Sundays due to his religious beliefs, announces that he no longer believes in God. Whilst the athlete doesn't go into too much detail, we wonder if, like us he wonders about a supreme deity who, would, if he existed, surely have hit Howard Webb with a plague of boils or something by now.
Another West Ham tradition is maintained as it is revealed that Boriello, who has made just two sub appearances since arriving on loan, joins the long list of signings who get injured never to be seen again.
FIFA announce that from June 1 any player displaying a message on his undershirt would receive an automatic yellow card for the offence. The decision takes the relevant committee so long to come to, that they run out of time to take steps to ensure that referees enact the laws already there to punish players for diving. Similarly all the stuff about preventing corruption within FIFA gets put off until after brown envelope season has closed.
Jack Collison looks to be on his way out as he signs for Wigan on loan to the end of the season. I'd check that contract Jack if Whelan has signed it.
After a longer than usual delay in announcing the award, the powers that be finally run out of excuses not to give Sam Allardyce February's manager of the month thingy. Joe Kinnear scoffs dismissively claiming to have won dozens of the titles.The fact that they used to give out those massive bottles of scotch for the award could explain a lot.
"Madder than a whole box of Kinnears" defender Toms Repka admits to have given away a penalty in a Czech league match in 2012 in order to get back at his old club. The resulting goal helps Liberec win 4-0 with them eventually going on to win the league by two points over Repka's old club Sparta Prague. "I wasn't thinking straight" Repka points out helpfully in his autobiography which, totally coincidentally, is out at the time.
The good people at Birdseye announce the retirement of Captain Birdseye from our tv screens,. "Our decision is designed to breathe new life into the brand and is in no way connected with Operation Yewtree" claims a spokesman.
We go down to Man Utd 2-0 at home. The opening goal has the tv pundits going into fawning overdrive as Rooney volleys in from near the halfway line having shoved Tomkins out of the way. Let's just ignore the laws of the game shall we then for the sake of something to talk about? Manchester United boss Moyes breaks years of tradition by doing us the courtesy of actually turning up at a press conference.
We return to winning ways as Hull are beaten 2-1. Hull 'keeper McGregor knocks himself out colliding with Mo Diame. Having given away the penalty McGregor recovers enough to leave the field only to see Mike "Look At Me" Dean show him the red card. Noble puts the spot kick away. Jelavic equalises in the second half before Chester diverts Demel's cross into his own net. The team's performance is poor enough to have sections of the crowd booing, with Allardyce, perhaps unwisely, cupping his ear to supporters in response. Earlier in the match the centre-half curse strikes again as James Collins limps off after only nine minutes. Roger Johnson, who earlier describes himself as a "season-ticket holder" in the Soccer AM crossbar challenge thing, comes on and inspires one of the wittier chants of the season, suggesting that "he's off to Brazil".
West Brom sack Nicolas Anelka for "gross misconduct" hours after the player announces that he's torn up his contract anyway. An Albion spokesman says that his "resignation" doesn't count as he only announced it on twitter which makes the club's sacking the decision that counts, an announcement that in no way reeks of sour grapes at all.
So a mixed month comes to an end in 12th spot with Man City and the Liverpool diving academy fighting over top spot. We look safe enough to me, though with a tough run-in and not many points separating the occupants of the lower half of the table a few more wins in the next month or so wouldn't go amiss. Meanwhile the relationship between the manager and fans is balanced on a knife-edge. Best not get relegated then.....
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The peril of signing World Cup stars
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 28th June 2014
By: Paul Turner
When a major international tournament is receiving wall-to-wall television, internet and print press coverage, the eyes of football fans descend upon players you may have heard of, signed on football manager, or just plain don't know.
The spotlight becomes focused on those teams who have qualified and those players that perform well over the length of the tournament. Individual games are debated at length at work, in the pub or on internet forums. "Player X would do well for us"; "that player Y, the club should sign him". If the club signed everyone who had a half decent game we would have hundreds of players on the books.
Scouting and evaluating players in the modern game has moved on from the days of Wally St. Pier watching schoolboy county matches and West Ham United taking young professionals on as part of the ground staff. Now there is so much technical data that can be acquired; a player's reaction times, sprint bursts, passing method as well as judging a player's aptitude to go with the physical ability.
This information can be entered into databases and programmes, analysed by sports scientists into all manner of different outputs or conclusions depending on what the manager is looking for.
The players under Sam have spoken before about how information pertaining to matches and training ground performance has been provided to take away and digest in their own time, to try and make the player aware of their own statistics or those of the team in general and to build a better understanding of team mates' abilities.
How a footballer takes on board such information is up to the player. But this kind of statistical analysis of a footballer's abilities goes beyond the headline statistics of goals and assists.
With the World Cup now having reached the knockout stages, I wondered about the players so far that have shown promise or have impressed and how West Ham United have fared before with World Cup players. The club's signing of players from World Cup exploits in the months preceding the tournament has only been a recent phenomenum.
According to worldfootball.net,West Ham have signed nine players who have represented their country at a World Cup Finals. Javier Margas, in 1998, appears to be the first player we signed on this basis. There's also been Gary Breen in 2002, John Pa(i)ntsil, Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano (although the two Argentinians were obviously at WHU for other purposes) in 2006 and Victor Obinna, Pablo Barrera, Winston Reid and to a lesser extent Lars Jacobsen in 2010.
In recent years and decades (and in particular under Harry Redknapp) there has been a high turnover of players at West Ham United, yet there seems to be more consideration when it comes to players who have performed at World Cups. A number of factors could come into this thinking. Is the player a flash-in-the-pan? Are the (willingly or reluctantly) selling club asking for a king's ransom based on World Cup performances? Is the signature of a player just for marketing purposes and to catch interest from fans for commercial motives?
As an example, when West Ham announced the signing of Winston Reid in 2010, the first article on the club website announcing the signature featured phrases like 'joining the club was a "dream move" for the player' and 'Reid "caught the eye" and has "ability to perform at the very highest level"'.
Back in August 2010 that kind of statement from West Ham United regarding a player who the majority of fans would have only seen playing three times before - if they caught all of New Zealand's World Cup matches - breeds an air of expectation that the club have a real starlet on their hands.
The best way to describe Winston's first season at the club is 'difficult', although having a proper manager to work under in Sam Allardyce, Reid has flourished into the player we all know today. To ask the question, though: did we sign Winston because of the opportunity it offered after the publicity New Zealand achieved in 2010, or was it because he had been carefully scouted and processed by the new staff at the Boleyn Ground under Avram Grant who had only themselves been at the club for a matter of weeks after Franco Zola had left?
Once being given the time and space to develop in the English game (in the season spent in the Championship) Reid's signing proved a shrewd one for the club - although it was a gamble that nearly didn't pay off. Necessity, due to players having to be offloaded after relegation rather that a conscious decision to further Reid's development was the main reason Winston started the Championship season. He's never looked back.
The less said about some of his Gary Breen's performances in claret and blue the better, but to have signed the former Coventry defender off the back of a good showing for the Republic of Ireland at the 2002 World Cup seemed like a good deal at the time.
As for John Pantsil, Barrera, Jacobson and Margas? These players came to West Ham with established reputations as solid players, wouldn't let you down when coming into the team and "could do a job". In what seems to be a fashion only WHU have mastered, for different reasons none of those deals worked out for player or club.
This is not to say that any player signed as the result of a strong showing at this World Cup or future tournaments are doomed to failure in East London, but when it comes to evaluating potential signings the club seem to look more at the known metrics that can be recorded and evaluated rather then the player's potential to shine on the international stage.
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Enner Valencia and Islam Slimani top West Ham hit list
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 1st July 2014
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are likely to move for Algerian international Islam Slimani - if a move to sign Ecuador international Enner Valencia fails to bear fruit.
Slimani, who has been linked with West Ham since the end of the last transfer window is understood to be the club's second choice behind Valencia, who like Slimani has won plenty of approval for his performances in Brazil 2014. Sporting are reported to have slapped an €8million price tag on the 26-year-old Algerian who the Hammers had hoped to land on loan back in January.
We reported yesterday how West Ham had made enquiries into the availability of Valencia, CF Pachua's 24-year-old centre forward who scored three goals in the World Cup Finals despite his country failing to qualify for the knockout stage.
* Bayern Munich's Italian defender Diego Contento is reported to have been the subject of an enquiry by West Ham. Considered surplus to requirements having failed to nail down a first team spot under Pep Guardiola, the 24-year-old has also been linked with West Bromwich Albion.
* Ravel Morrison is due to return to West Ham this Thursday when the first team squad reconvene for pre-season. The attacking midfielder, on loan at Queens Park Rangers since January has signalled his desire to win his place back in Sam Allardyce's first XI despite rumoured interest from a number of parties, including Harry Redknapp's Rangers.
* West Ham are rumoured to be one of a number of clubs taking a close look at Dynamo Kiev's Andriy Yarmolenko - however with a rumoured transfer fee of £12-15million (Daily Star) United's chances of landing a player also sought by Liverpool and Chelsea, both of whom can offer Champions League football, appear slim at best.
* Italian sources (Il Giallo Rosso) are running with a story suggesting Milan's Antonio Nocerino may be set to return to the Boleyn Ground on a permanent basis, despite previous reports claiming that he was about to complete a (permanent) move to Torino. KUMB suspects this may be someone taking what is known as a flyer, given Noce's frosty demeanour when leaving the BG for the final time back in May.
* Les Bleus midfielder Mathieu Valbuena, a regular in the French World Cup squad that reached the quarter finals courtesy of a 2-0 win over Nigeria on Monday is being linked with an £8million move to east London (Mail). Currently with Ligue 1 side Marseille, Valbuena has also been linked with Arsenal (quelle surprise) and Liverpool in recent weeks after his agent revealed that he would consider a move to the Premier League.
* Even more spurious than the Nocerino link is a rumour emanating from Portuguese media claiming that West Ham are showing an interest in signing Sporting's Argentine defender Marcos Rojo. The 24-year-old has featured regularly for his country at the World Cup Finals and is valued at the £20million mark. Russian side Zenit previously failed with a £15million bid for the 6'1½" centre half.
* It's debatable whether West Ham were ever seriously interested but Belgian striker Divock Origi is on the verge of completing a move to Liverpool. At just 19 the Lille forward is poised to make a £10million move to Anfield, apparently snubbing the likes of West Ham and Tottenham.
* Jefferson Montero, whom it was recently claimed was on the verge of signing for West Ham has spoken of his desire to try his luck in Europe. "It's certain that I'll leave the league," said the Mexican-based Ecuadorian international. "I already have an offer and I can tell you that it won't be Mexico; it will be Europe and I hope it works out."
* Five years after making a €5million bid, Italian sources insist West Ham are taking a second look at Napoli's Macedonian international Goran Pandev. The 30-year-old striker has also been linked with Tottenham and Monaco. Franco Zola was thought to be close to landing the player in 2009 but missed out.
* West Ham's ongoing link with Leeds striker Ross McCormack finally looks close to reaching its inevitable conclusion with the news that recently-relegated Fulham have offered £7million for the Scottish international. Leeds are said to be holding out for £10million, for a player who at 28 has never played in the Premier League. West Ham are unlikely to challenge the Cottagers.
* A number of Twitter feeds are linking West Ham with a move for the US World Cup star Omar Gonzalez - although claims that the story originated in the Telegraph appear to be wide of the mark.
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Orient and Hearn reach OS 'settlement'
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 1st July 2014
By: Staff Writer
Leyton Orient's legal bid to overturn West Ham's tenure of the Olympic Stadium is over after they reached a settlement with the Premier League. The League One club, who narrowly missed out on promotion to the Championship last season have fought to prevent West Ham from being awarded use of the £500million arena for more than three years. However the Premier League confirmed in a statement this morning that the two parties had reached a settlement - not necessarily a financial inducement, although that is how many commentators have perceived it - thus ending Orient's battle. "The Premier League and Leyton Orient FC are pleased to announce that they have reached settlement of a dispute regarding the future use of the Olympic Stadium on terms which are confidential," read a statement on the Premier League's website this lunchtime (Tuesday). "Leyton Orient confirms, however, that it no longer disputes the validity of the Premier League's decision to allow West Ham United to occupy the Stadium."
When questioned about the decision via Twitter, O's supremo Barry Hearn replied: "No point carrying on now we have permission to talk to new operators re a deal if we want to."
Hearn's comment relates to the revelation last December that Orient are free to consult with the stadium operators with view to using the venue for matches of their own. One person not convinced that the settlement was based on financial terms was Times' sports writer James Masters. "It's my understanding that Orient withdrew their case against West Ham United moving to the Olympic Stadium following advice from lawyers and to save on legal fees." he said. "I also understand that Orient DID NOT receive any financial compensation in settlement with Premier League."
West Ham are due to move into the 54,000-capacity stadium in time for the beginning of the 2016/17 season, two years from now.
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Time for a changing of the guard?
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 30th June 2014
By: Sean McGuire
In a recent poll asking Hammers fans to vote for who they would like to see as the Irons' captain next season, current incumbent Kevin Nolan received only about eight per cent of the vote compared to (first place) Mark Noble who received around 79 per cent of the vote.
So why the swing against Nolan? To answer that, I need to consider the attributes that make a good captain. I have always subscribed to the opinion that, whatever the sport, you should pick your first choice team and then from that select the player best suited to be captain. Sometimes it feels like a captain is selected at the start of the season and then their place in the team is unimpeachable because of their captaincy status.
Therefore the first thing to consider is would Nolan be a consistent first XI player next season based on merit alone? He was our top goal scorer this season with seven goals, however over half of those came in two exceptional games in early February (Swansea at home and Villa away) where he scored back to back braces.
Outside of those two games Nolan was a very different animal this season; after scoring in the opener the first half of his season was very quiet and uninspiring.
Of course I'm not suggesting that our top goal scorer shouldn't start next season or that he wouldn't be my first choice attacking midfielder, but as his 32nd birthday approaches and after a disappointing season his place would certainly be under threat from Mo Diame, Mauro Zarate and Ravel Morrison.
Diame was a consistent attacking threat (albeit nowhere near captain potential after his recent media outbursts and top six delusions). Zarate starting would place Nolan under threat as given the promised two strikers up front the central attacking midfielder slot is the most likely to be sacrificed. I know I have a tendency to over-rate Morrison but even his biggest critics would probably agree that if we keep him we should start playing him.
This is a contrast to the ever-present Noble who received the Hammer of the Year and KUMB.com Player of the Year awards for his consistently high-quality performances in the deep midfield. He made 107 tackles and 70 interceptions this season helping to keep our defence tight. I cannot see him losing his place at holding midfield to anyone in the current squad or anyone we have been linked with although I would love to see him and Cheikhou Kouyate playing alongside each other as a defensive midfield pairing. We would be impenetrable.
Next to consider when selecting a captain is whether or not they set a good example. WHUFC has a proud tradition of bringing up youth talent so to my mind a captain that sets these youngsters a good example is imperative.
On December 7th we were losing 3-1 at Anfield when at a throw in, our captain Nolan approached Henderson whose back was turned to receive the ball and stamped on his calf. He received a straight red card and a three-match ban for this violent outburst making it the fifth December in a row he had received a suspension (perhaps he just enjoys Christmas at home with his kids). On his second match back from suspension he kicked Fulham's Amorebiata while off the ball, earning a second straight red for violence.
Nolan simply isn't a good example as far as discipline goes, in stark contrast to Noble. While I would argue that due to their different roles in the midfield Noble should pick up more cards than Nolan, they both got seven yellows last season and Noble's only red couldn't have been more different to Nolan's two straight red for violence. It was for a second bookable offence at Everton and most agree on replay that he shouldn't have been booked and that he got the ball.
Finally, and to my mind most importantly, a captain should be an inspirational figure, a man with the determination to rally a team and boost morale when the opposition are leading. Given that Nolan's two violent outbursts last season came when we were losing and possibly out of that frustration I do not think that he has the level head to be the type of captain I am describing.
Again a contrast to Noble, the tireless worker who has run further than any other West Ham player this year and who is in possession of a level head. I think he has exactly the qualities to inspire a team and turn games around. It is time to pass the captaincy torch onto another and the current vice captain, longest serving player and last season's Hammer of the Year also known as "Mr West Ham" is the obvious replacement.
Sadly, I cannot see this being a move that will happen. Sam Allardyce is hugely loyal to Nolan, which is understandable as Nolan has played under Allardyce at two different teams in a relationship going back to 1999 (involving 390 appearances and 74 goals for Nolan). However, hopefully Allardyce will see the need for change as I think for the reasons listed above the change could give the team a boost.
Also, Noble deserves it - and I imagine he is the type of player that would care about becoming captain.
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WHO WILL BE THE NEXT SOUTH AMERICAN HAMMER?
By Sean Whetstone 1 Jul 2014 at 17:24
West Ham Til I Die
Over the last three days we have been running a series on the 15 South American players to have signed for West Ham and how they fared in the east end of London.
Today we look at who could be the 16th South American player to sign for West Ham with seven South Americans recently linked to us in recent weeks.
Emanuel Insua
It is claimed West Ham United are in talks over a possible deal for Boca Juniors defender Emanuel Insua.The 23-year-old left-back, the younger brother of ex-Liverpool defender Emiliano, has discussed terms with a four year deal proposed.Argentine sources say the Hammers have bid for the defender, Boca are reportedly open to offers for Insua and are prepared to listen to what West Ham have to say after previously turning down a bid from Torino. West Ham are known to be interested but he is just one of many left backs we are interested in at the moment.
Eder Balanta
According to the Sunday People West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is chasing Colombian World Cup star Eder Balanta, Hammers have sent top spies to Brazil to check out the 21-year-old defender ahead of a possible £6million bid. Balanta, who plays in Argentina for River Plate, is tipped to make a move to Europe after the tournament.
Balanta made his debut for Colombia as recently as March and has only a handful of international caps so is still operating largely under the radar of Premier League clubs.
But West Ham have been on his trail for some time and will try to do a deal once the South Americans are out of the World Cup. However, River Plate vice-president Matias Patanian has denied there has been an offer from West Ham United for the defender. iver Plate vice-president Patanian told Radio La Red: "For the moment we only know, in an official way, that Juventus are making a big effort for Balanta.Asked about West Ham, he replied: "No, we have heard what an English newspaper is saying about West Ham."If the amount of money that the newspaper mentions is true and we receive an offer like that, then River could sit down and start negotiations as it would be close to the amount the club expects for transferring Balanta."If the money that is being mentioned in the English media is that, then we will have to listen to them when we receive an official offer.Of course we would want to sell our players to the team that gets closest to our value."
Gonzalo Bergessio
Sam Allardyce could make a move for another Argentine striker according to reports on an Italian website.Tutto Mercato Web claims West Ham are interested in Catania's 29-year-old forward The frontman Gonzalo Bergessio., who has two goals in three appearances for the Argentine national team, netted ten times in 28 starts for Catania in Serie A last season. Bergessio made his Argentina international debut on 15th October 2008, playing the second half of a 0–1 loss in Chile, in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He scored his first two international goals on 20th May of the following year, in a 3–1 win over Panama. On 30th October 2013, Bergessio suffered a broken fibula as a result of a late tackle by Giorgio Chiellini in Catania's 0–4 loss at Juventus FC. He has made 96 appearances for Catania scoring 30 goals.
Ezequiel Ponce
West Ham have been linked with the South American teen sensation Ezequiel Ponce.The Newell's Old Boys 17 year old billed as the most exciting prospect in Argentinian football is also the subject of an Argentine investment group financial move with the businessmen wanting to purchase 50 per cent of the player's rights.
The story first broke in the Argentinian media where West Ham was named as a likely destination. It is claimed the club want £5 million plus a 50% sell on fee when/if he becomes a world superstar.Whether he becomes the next Messi remains to be seen but £5m from our limited transfer budget seems a gamble too far for West Ham.
Jefferson Montero
According to the Guardian West Ham are close to signing Jefferson Montero by triggering the Ecuadorian's £3m release clause that would take him from a Mexican club, Morelia, to the Boleyn Ground.The 23-year-old Montero will earn £30,000 a-week in what should be a four-year contract, having impressed the West Ham manager, Sam Allardyce, who hopes the winger can help provide the service to the club's record signing, Andy Carroll, next season.Montero, who has played for Ecuador more than 25 times, impressed in the 1-1 draw with Argentina in a World Cup qualifier in Quito early this month when a number of scouts from English clubs were present.
Marcos Rojo
A newspaper report in Portugal claims West Ham are interested in signing Argentine defender Marcos Rojo.The 24-year-old, who plays for Sporting Lisbon could move to West Ham but the 20 million euros price tag is likely finish off any real interest. The report says Russian outfit Zenit St Petersburg failed with a 15 million euro bid in January, and Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal are also interested in Rojo, He can play in central defence and at left-back.Rojo scored for Argentina in their 3-2 win over Nigeria in the World Cup and is expected to start in his country's last 16 match against Switerland today.
Enner Valencia
West Ham are interested in Ecuador striker Enner Valencia, according to Dean Jones in the Sunday People.The forward has made a big impression at the World Cup with three goals in the group stages Valencia just 25, currently plays for Mexican side Pachuca and scored 18 goals for them before heading to the Brazil finals.
Everton are also believed to be monitoring him.
And finally the one who got away ……
Neymar
David Sullivan has admitted that West Ham made a bid for Brazilian World Cup superstar Neymar four years ago during the summer of 2010! The Joint Chairman confirmed the had made a bid worth around £16m for the then 18 year wonder kid. Santos rejected it insisting they would not deal at less than the than the player's £28.4m release clause.Any deal would of been complicated by Santos owning just 60 per cent of Neymar's rights and needing the agreement of an investment group should they accept anything less than the buyout clause. The bid from West Ham alerted Chelsea who made their own offer in August 2010 but were also turned down after Pele persuaded Neymar to stay in Brazil.
Neymar was born on the February 5 which is the same as the Joint Chairman Sullivan and former South American Hammers legend Carlos Tevez
In 2012 during an interview with Iain Dale David Sullivan had said:
"I believe in coincidence. Get this. Carlos Tévez. Born, 5 February. Cristiano Ronaldo. Born 5 February. Neymar. Born 5 February. All born on the same day as me. Jordan Rhodes, also born 5 February. And you know what, this other player that we didn't sign, also born 5 February.When I saw the Huddersfield guy was the same date as me and the same date as those players, I thought it was written in the stars. Just incredible. An incredible coincidence, isn't it?"
The other player he refers to is believed to have been Billy Sharp.
What other players were born on 5th February?
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THE FOLLY OF LAST SEASON'S TRANSFER STRATEGY!
By S J Chandos 1 Jul 2014 at 08:00
West Ham Till I Die
Watching the World Cup Finals and, in particular, the performances of Algerian striker, Islam Slimani, one is reminded of the club's transfer folly last season. The club invested c.£15m in Andy Carroll, a decision that may yet be vindicated in the medium/long-term, if not currently, in the shorter-term. However, if the club had at the time decided to invest its transfer funds elsewhere, it is sobering to reflect on the fact we could have likely secured both Wilfred Bony (£8m) and Slimani (£6m) for a combined fee of £14m! I am not so sure about their wage demands, but surely we could have got both players for not much more than the c.£70,000 per week that Carroll is allegedly paid. No wonder the board have decided to be more 'hands on' with our transfer dealings this summer! And, no doubt, the addition of a Head of Recruitment will ensure that there is less chance of a repeat of the Bony and Slimani episodes in future.
A Bony-Slimani strike force would certainly have guaranteed goals. The partnership would have had everything, power, pace, technique, intelligent play off the ball and (last but certainly not least) a clinical cutting edge in front of goal. Unfortunately, we lost our opportunity to sign Bony and, his goal scoring record at Swansea last season, probably now renders him unaffordable at £19m. In Slimani's case, it could be that we will come to regret not closing a deal for him in January. It is probable that £6m would have secured him before this World Cup, but will Sporting Lisbon now increase the asking price in the aftermath of his World Cup exploits? I would be very surprised if they did not. So, one must ask, why the club did not follow through on the deal in the last winter transfer window? Its probable that indecision/vacilliation has put the player beyond our reach, especially now other PL and European clubs have been alerted to his ability. Still, you never know, West Ham, may still be able to strike a deal for Slimani. He certainly looks like a striker who could improve us and increase our options up front. Both as competition to Carroll and a striker that can play alongside him.
Talking of Carroll, it will interesting to see if Teddy Sheringham will be able to help him work on key aspects of his game. In particular, his link up play and running off the ball. If West Ham are to adopt a more attractive playing style next season, it stands to reason that Carroll is going to have to contribute more to build up play and be better prepared to convert chances on the ground. Of course, Carroll's ariel ability is a great strength, which we must continue to exploit. However, as a matter of playing policy, the intelligent ball in to the near and far post should replace the aimless punt up field. Caroll needs to adapt his play and show that he is a better all-round technical player than many suppose. He has the potential to do it and, with Sheringham's coaching, he could come on leaps and bounds next season. The big variable factor is whether Carroll can stay fit and available for selection. Some feel that he may be injury prone and next season will probably prove or disprove that proposition.
Fans often express the view that the squad currently lacks a midfield play-maker, someone to orchastrate play in the final third and pick out the killer balls. In that case, they will be pleased to note that we have been linked with a classy player of just that type. Sportsmail are reporting that West Ham are considering bidding for French midfielder, Mathieu Valbuena. He is currently on World Cup duty with the French national squad and normally turns out for Marseille. The speculation is that a c.£6-7m bid will accepted by Marseille and the player is known to be keen on a move to the Premier League. We should monitor this potential deal, because it could prove another significant one, certainly in terms of our commitment to improve our playing style. Who knows, if true, then perhaps we can even offload Diarra and/or Maiga to Marseille as part of the deal?
Finally, it has been reported today that both Fulham and Norwich City have submitted £10m bids for Leeds Utd's Ross McCormack. That is a big fee for a Championship striker, albeit one that scored 28 goals last season. As we know, West Ham have a long running interest in the player and contemplated a £5m punt last January. But is he really worth an inflated £10m fee? Can McCormack reasonably be expected to perform as well in the PL? I can see why he would be seen as a good signing for clubs seeking an immediate return to the PL after relegation, even at £10m, because he virtually guarantees 20 plus goals in the 2nd tier. But has that level of bid effectively priced McCormack out of an immediate PL move?
SJ. Chandos.
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Nice starlet Timothee Kolodziejczak set to become West Ham's third summer signing
Tuesday 1 Jul 2014 8:55 pm
Metro.co.uk
Having already recruited Velez Sarsfield striker Mauro Zarate and Anderlecht anchor man Chiekhou Kouyate, Sam Allardyce appears to be closing in on his third signing of the summer, highly-rated Nice defender Timothee Kolodziejczak (that's just 'Kolo' to you and me).
The Daily Star reports the Hammers look set to sign the former France U-20 starlet for £4million, with the player due in London to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical with the club. The 22-year old left-back had been previously linked to a number of Premier League outfits, most notably QPR and Southampton, who saw the youngster as an ideal replacement for the recently departed Luke Shaw.
Kolodziejczak is due in East London this week to hold talks with the Hammers and undergo a medical ahead of his move, and is expected to put pen to paper on a four-year deal.
As outlined in a previous post, the Irons needed to start filling in holes in the wide areas of the pitch, especially at full-back, and it appears the club are doing just that. 'Kolo' wasn't the only player West Ham identified as a potential signing at left-back, with at one time or another, Norwich's Martin Olsson and Boca Juniors' Emanuel Insua were both tipped to sign at Upton Park.
In addition, reports in Portugal suggest that the Hammers are looking at signing impressive Argentine defender Marcos Rojo. The 24-year old, who can play left-back and at the heart of the defense, was subject of an enquiry from the Hammers, but they were quoted a fee of £16m if they wish to sign the player, who is also a target for Premier League rivals Liverpool.
The impending arrival of 'Kolo' would see the Hammers' summer spending reach double digits, with a total outlay of approximately £11.5m, but it's evident that Allardyce is not content with the group of players he currently has at his disposal, and is eager to bring in several more faces in the coming weeks and months.
Having said goodbye to George McCartney, Jack Collison, Joe Cole and Jordan Spence this summer, the current squad is looking thin in a number of areas, and as expectation mounts on more arrivals, Allardyce and co. are wasting no time in recruiting players for the 2014/15 season.
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WHUFC.com
Pupils at Winston Reid's former primary school cannot wait to welcome him back home to New Zealand
01.07.2014
The return of Winston Reid to New Zealand with West Ham United this summer will inspire youngsters at his old primary school. Reid attended Milford School in the Auckland suburb of North Shore from the ages of five and ten before emigrating to Denmark, playing his first organised football for the school and local club junior Takapuna AFC. The school's current teacher-in-charge of football - or soccer, as it is more commonly known in New Zealand - Martin Dijkgraaf said Milford's pupils are excited about the return of their famous alumnus. "The children are extremely excited as Winston is a great player and a role model, demonstrating that New Zealanders can make it in overseas professional football," explained Dijkgraaf. "Since [former Blackburn Rovers and Tottenham Hotspur defender] Ryan Nelsen left the Premier League, Winston is now the only Kiwi playing at that level, and West Ham are a very well-known club so it is very exciting that they are coming all the way to New Zealand to play."
While rugby, cricket and netball remain New Zealand's most-popular sports, Dijkgraaf said the achievements of Reid and his compatriots in reaching the 2010 FIFA World Cup finals in South Africa - where they drew with Slovakia, Italy and Paraguay before being eliminated as the tournament's only unbeaten team - had led to a big increase in interest in football. Many have followed in the footsteps of Reid by turning out for Takapuna AFC and another local club, Forrest Hill AFC, and dream of emulating the Hammers defender.
"Kiwi kids love their sport and after Winston and the All Whites played at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa there was an increase in the number of kids playing football," Dijkgraaf confirmed. "Here at Milford School we have a huge number of children who are members of various local clubs. "Lots of them hope to go along to Eden Park to watch Winston in action against Wellington Phoenix, so it is best they do all their chores at home in the next little while! "One of the kids is lucky enough - or is it that his father is such a fanatic? - that he is also travelling down to Wellington to see the Hammers play against Sydney FC too!"
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Legends return home
WHUFC.com
Alan Taylor and Phil Parkes led tours of the Boleyn Ground for supporters recently
01.07.2014
West Ham United legends Alan Taylor and Phil Parkes returned to the Boleyn Ground over the summer to lead a series of stadium tours for supporters.
The two ex-Hammers, who have well over 400 league appearances for the Club between them, took supporters behind the scenes to show them everything from the dressing rooms to the Chairman's suite. Showing fans around their old home comes as a great thrill for the duo, who were delighted to share their experiences. "Phil and I have taken these tours for quite a while now - over the last nine months we've done nine tours," two-goal 1975 FA Cup final hero Taylor explained. "They seem to be going down very well with supporters. They enjoy themselves, we certainly enjoy it too and it's very popular. "The fans love coming down to the pitchside, being in the dug out, the players' entrance and, most of all, the dressing rooms."
Parkes, who cost the Hammers a then-world record fee for a goalkeeper when he signed from QPR in 1979, echoed those thoughts. He added: "I think it's great, it's a privilege for us. We love doing it, we really do. Everyone who comes here wants to see behind the scenes, because normally they haven't got a clue what goes on. "Something like eleven-hundred people are working behind the scenes on a matchday. It's quite hard to comprehend that when you sit in the stand, watch the game and go home after stopping for a pint. "I think they are all quite fascinated by all of that."
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Leyton Orient drops objection to use of Olympic stadium
BBC.co.uk
Leyton Orient Football Club has settled a dispute with the Premier League over its decision to allow West Ham to occupy the Olympic Stadium. West Ham was declared as the anchor tenant for the stadium in March 2013 and will pay £2m a year in rent. Leyton Orient had feared West Ham's tenancy would affect the number of fans attending its own matches nearby. It says it has now reached a "confidential agreement" in its dispute. In September, Leyton Orient's written application for judicial review into tenancy of the stadium was rejected. West Ham is expected to move into it from August 2016.
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Who said there's no such thing as a free lunch?
KUMb.com
Filed: Tuesday, 1st July 2014
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United FC are looking for a number of supporters able to attend a Kiwi-themed BBQ in central London next Wednesday as part of the build-up to the Club's impending tour of New Zealand. The Club are looking for supporters planning to travel to New Zealand this summer who would be willing to pop along for a couple of hours on Wednesday, 9th July and be interviewed by a NZ television film crew for their version of The One Show. The interviews would cover the fans' support for West Ham United and their excitement at following the Hammers to the other side of the world, as well as their views on the football side of the Club. West Ham will also ask supporters to pose for a few publicity shots for use on whufc.com, the Club's social media platforms and by Wellington Phoenix. In return, all supporters participating in the event will receive a 2014/15 away shirt and a good feed of New Zealand meat and wine/beer at the BBQ!
Anyone interested in participating should contact Rob Pritchard at programme@westhamunited.co.uk for further details.
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That Was The Season That Was 2013-14 - Part Four
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 1st July 2014
By: Gordon Thrower
After a less than wonderful start to 2014, things needed to improve and fast. Gordon Thrower's look back at 2013/14 continues as he picks off another couple of months starting with February 2014. Howard Webb might want to give this one a miss....
February 2014
With the January window having closed it emerges Razvan Rat, has been released from his contract "by mutual consent". Nobody ever did get round to calling him Roland, mainly as a result of his making so few appearances. Also out of the door is out of favour Modibo Maiga. He heads west to QPR in the hope that a spell in the Championship might do something for what appears to be a somewhat fragile confidence.
After what was by any reasonable standard a miserable January, the point gained at Chelsea at the end of the month appears to have galvanised the team who return to winning ways with a 2-0 win over Swansea. A first half brace from Nolan gives us the three points.
The match is hugely controversial as Howard Webb hits a new low. Carroll tangles with Chico Flores, accidentally brushing the cheating Spaniard's ponytail as his arm comes around. Flores clutches his face as if shot. Webb dismisses Carroll. On video review it transpires that the one piece of violent conduct in the whole affair is Flores' elbow to Carroll's chest and that Webb is actually looking the other way as it occurs. Despite this, Webb refuses to change his mind when shown the video. Carroll gets a three match ban. Webb, whose dishonesty in the whole affair should have seen him face some sort of disciplinary action, takes his bent grin off to the World Cup instead.
One would have hoped that Webb's main employers might have had something to say about their employee. Unfortunately, as the Hillsborough affair has shown, altering the facts to save your own backside seems to be pretty endemic amongst the South Yorkshire Police Force
Whether or not connected with the dishonesty of his players, Michael Laudrup barely survives the weekend as manager of Swansea, his dismissal being the second of the season to occur just after playing us. Laudrup's departure comes amid rumours of the manager's lack of interest in little things like actually taking training, midweek breaks to Paris apparently being the norm.
Ooop north things at Leeds become so farcial that those who remember them kicking, bribing and cheating their way to league titles in the 1970's temporarily stop laughing at Spurs for a while to enjoy a loud guffaw at the expense of the denizens of Elland Road.
The story goes something like this: Italian Massimo Cellino takes over the club from owners GFH. Cellino sacks incumbent manager Brian McDermott. A person or persons unknown then makes changes to the Leeds team on the Friday before they go out and bet local rivals Huddersfield 5-1 on the Saturday. GFH then point out that Cellino doesn't actually own the club yet and therefore doesn't have the power to sack McDermott. McDermott is duly reinstated, though nobody thinks to tell him, the news arriving via his i-Pad. Meanwhile, the lawyer who sacked McDermott on behalf of Cellino is escorted from the ground by a big bloke acting on behalf of GFH. McDermott turns up to take training to find a mystery Italian player warming up in training. Asked by the press who the player is McDermott responds "no idea". Cellino promptly fails the Football League's fit and proper test, which is a a pretty good trick given the credentials of some of those who have managed to pass the test in the past. More to come on this one we reckon.
Of course when it comes to stuff to laugh at, Joe Kinnear is ever one to be outdone. Seven months and not a penny spent sees the SJP faithful chanting "where's your signings Joe Kinnear." Sadly before he can claim to have signed Messi and Ronaldo in response, Kinnear resigns pausing only to add a Newcastle Champion League win onto the bottom of his already somewhat factually-challenged CV. Meanwhile, the resulting grin on Alan Pardew's face makes him look smugger than ever, something previously thought to have been impossible by most scientist, or at least most of those who deal in smugology.
As if to rally against the sheer injustice of the whole Carroll affair, we make it three clean sheets in a row with a 2-0 win over Villa at Villa Park. Nolan continues his rehabilitation with another brace.
Surely we couldn't make it three in a row for the first time since black & white telly (no I couldn't be bothered to look it up either but it probably wasn't that long ago I suppose. The amazing run continues as two late goals from Collins and Diame send Norwich home pointless. Adrian is the MOTM after a string of saves earlier on keeps us in the game. Canaries boss Chris Hughton bemoans his luck. Again.
Outside of football, as if organised religions don't do enough to make themselves look daft, The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowment in the UAE announces a Fatwa. The subject of this interpretation of Islamic law is not, as you might think, some hapless cartoonist or the entire population of the USA. No, the ruling is aimed at anyone who might be considering going to live on Mars. Apparently the one way nature of such a trip would be tantamount to suicide which, of course is a no-no in many religions. Thanks guys that's match my mind up for me.
The Ravel Morrison mystery continues. Having been missing with a groin injury that has seen coaching staff raising sceptical eyebrows-a-plenty, the player is loaned out to QPR, which is fast becoming the Boleyn Ground's equivalent of the naughty step.
Winning? It's getting boring now as the streak continues with the side coming from behind to dispatch Southampton 3-1. Jarvis, Carlton Cole and a resurgent Nolan are on the scoresheet in a month that waves two fingers at Howard Webb.
The guys who run the kumb.com podcast to honour the anniversary of the passing of Bobby Moore. It's a marvellous piece of work featuring a whole host of the great and good of football and Harry Redknapp. If you haven't heard it yet I'm sure the link is available somewhere on the site. Meanwhile I'd like to apologise to the guys on behalf of everyone who approached me to tell me what a good job I'd done (I did apportion the credit to where it was due).
The four wins in a row see us end the month in tenth place, easing the worries of relegation that some of you may have been having up to this point. At the top Chelsea lead though Arsenal, Man City and Liverpool, who seem to be trying to become the first team to win the Premier League based purely on their ability to dive, are all breathing down the Pensioners' necks.
March 2014
Having won 4 in a row in February, the marvellous run comes at an end up at Goodison Park. Lukaku is the difference between the sides again with a late winner. The match sees the return of Andy Carroll from his disgraceful suspension. Replacing Carlton Cole on 28 minutes, the record signing ends up with a broken finger for his troubles.
Newcastle beat Hull 4-1 at the KC Stadium in a match memorable for an altercation between Alan Pardew and City's David Meyler. The Newcastle boss headbutts the defender. And we thought Kinnear was the mad one. The butt earns Pardew a seven match ban, the first three of which are a stadium ban. An FA fine of £60,000 is added to a club one of £100,000. Have to wait a few more weeks to upgrade that Ferrari then Alan.
Man City pick up the League Cup, though they don't have it all their own way as Sunderland go into the interval 1-0 up. Three unanswered second half goals give the Citizens the trophy prompting us to muse how different things might have been had we been able to field a proper first XI in the semi-final. Not much probably.
We then go down 3-1 at Stoke. Carroll's 5th minute opener is cancelled out by Odemwingie before referee Pawson inexplicably allows Stoke defender Muniesa to get away with a penalty so blatant that had a human being been refereeing the match (rather than the cloned Rileybots that are employed these days) he'd have died of shame. Stoke go on to net two more times to give them a flattering win.
Former Olympic triple jump champion Jonathan Edwards, who famously wouldn't compete on Sundays due to his religious beliefs, announces that he no longer believes in God. Whilst the athlete doesn't go into too much detail, we wonder if, like us he wonders about a supreme deity who, would, if he existed, surely have hit Howard Webb with a plague of boils or something by now.
Another West Ham tradition is maintained as it is revealed that Boriello, who has made just two sub appearances since arriving on loan, joins the long list of signings who get injured never to be seen again.
FIFA announce that from June 1 any player displaying a message on his undershirt would receive an automatic yellow card for the offence. The decision takes the relevant committee so long to come to, that they run out of time to take steps to ensure that referees enact the laws already there to punish players for diving. Similarly all the stuff about preventing corruption within FIFA gets put off until after brown envelope season has closed.
Jack Collison looks to be on his way out as he signs for Wigan on loan to the end of the season. I'd check that contract Jack if Whelan has signed it.
After a longer than usual delay in announcing the award, the powers that be finally run out of excuses not to give Sam Allardyce February's manager of the month thingy. Joe Kinnear scoffs dismissively claiming to have won dozens of the titles.The fact that they used to give out those massive bottles of scotch for the award could explain a lot.
"Madder than a whole box of Kinnears" defender Toms Repka admits to have given away a penalty in a Czech league match in 2012 in order to get back at his old club. The resulting goal helps Liberec win 4-0 with them eventually going on to win the league by two points over Repka's old club Sparta Prague. "I wasn't thinking straight" Repka points out helpfully in his autobiography which, totally coincidentally, is out at the time.
The good people at Birdseye announce the retirement of Captain Birdseye from our tv screens,. "Our decision is designed to breathe new life into the brand and is in no way connected with Operation Yewtree" claims a spokesman.
We go down to Man Utd 2-0 at home. The opening goal has the tv pundits going into fawning overdrive as Rooney volleys in from near the halfway line having shoved Tomkins out of the way. Let's just ignore the laws of the game shall we then for the sake of something to talk about? Manchester United boss Moyes breaks years of tradition by doing us the courtesy of actually turning up at a press conference.
We return to winning ways as Hull are beaten 2-1. Hull 'keeper McGregor knocks himself out colliding with Mo Diame. Having given away the penalty McGregor recovers enough to leave the field only to see Mike "Look At Me" Dean show him the red card. Noble puts the spot kick away. Jelavic equalises in the second half before Chester diverts Demel's cross into his own net. The team's performance is poor enough to have sections of the crowd booing, with Allardyce, perhaps unwisely, cupping his ear to supporters in response. Earlier in the match the centre-half curse strikes again as James Collins limps off after only nine minutes. Roger Johnson, who earlier describes himself as a "season-ticket holder" in the Soccer AM crossbar challenge thing, comes on and inspires one of the wittier chants of the season, suggesting that "he's off to Brazil".
West Brom sack Nicolas Anelka for "gross misconduct" hours after the player announces that he's torn up his contract anyway. An Albion spokesman says that his "resignation" doesn't count as he only announced it on twitter which makes the club's sacking the decision that counts, an announcement that in no way reeks of sour grapes at all.
So a mixed month comes to an end in 12th spot with Man City and the Liverpool diving academy fighting over top spot. We look safe enough to me, though with a tough run-in and not many points separating the occupants of the lower half of the table a few more wins in the next month or so wouldn't go amiss. Meanwhile the relationship between the manager and fans is balanced on a knife-edge. Best not get relegated then.....
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The peril of signing World Cup stars
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 28th June 2014
By: Paul Turner
When a major international tournament is receiving wall-to-wall television, internet and print press coverage, the eyes of football fans descend upon players you may have heard of, signed on football manager, or just plain don't know.
The spotlight becomes focused on those teams who have qualified and those players that perform well over the length of the tournament. Individual games are debated at length at work, in the pub or on internet forums. "Player X would do well for us"; "that player Y, the club should sign him". If the club signed everyone who had a half decent game we would have hundreds of players on the books.
Scouting and evaluating players in the modern game has moved on from the days of Wally St. Pier watching schoolboy county matches and West Ham United taking young professionals on as part of the ground staff. Now there is so much technical data that can be acquired; a player's reaction times, sprint bursts, passing method as well as judging a player's aptitude to go with the physical ability.
This information can be entered into databases and programmes, analysed by sports scientists into all manner of different outputs or conclusions depending on what the manager is looking for.
The players under Sam have spoken before about how information pertaining to matches and training ground performance has been provided to take away and digest in their own time, to try and make the player aware of their own statistics or those of the team in general and to build a better understanding of team mates' abilities.
How a footballer takes on board such information is up to the player. But this kind of statistical analysis of a footballer's abilities goes beyond the headline statistics of goals and assists.
With the World Cup now having reached the knockout stages, I wondered about the players so far that have shown promise or have impressed and how West Ham United have fared before with World Cup players. The club's signing of players from World Cup exploits in the months preceding the tournament has only been a recent phenomenum.
According to worldfootball.net,West Ham have signed nine players who have represented their country at a World Cup Finals. Javier Margas, in 1998, appears to be the first player we signed on this basis. There's also been Gary Breen in 2002, John Pa(i)ntsil, Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano (although the two Argentinians were obviously at WHU for other purposes) in 2006 and Victor Obinna, Pablo Barrera, Winston Reid and to a lesser extent Lars Jacobsen in 2010.
In recent years and decades (and in particular under Harry Redknapp) there has been a high turnover of players at West Ham United, yet there seems to be more consideration when it comes to players who have performed at World Cups. A number of factors could come into this thinking. Is the player a flash-in-the-pan? Are the (willingly or reluctantly) selling club asking for a king's ransom based on World Cup performances? Is the signature of a player just for marketing purposes and to catch interest from fans for commercial motives?
As an example, when West Ham announced the signing of Winston Reid in 2010, the first article on the club website announcing the signature featured phrases like 'joining the club was a "dream move" for the player' and 'Reid "caught the eye" and has "ability to perform at the very highest level"'.
Back in August 2010 that kind of statement from West Ham United regarding a player who the majority of fans would have only seen playing three times before - if they caught all of New Zealand's World Cup matches - breeds an air of expectation that the club have a real starlet on their hands.
The best way to describe Winston's first season at the club is 'difficult', although having a proper manager to work under in Sam Allardyce, Reid has flourished into the player we all know today. To ask the question, though: did we sign Winston because of the opportunity it offered after the publicity New Zealand achieved in 2010, or was it because he had been carefully scouted and processed by the new staff at the Boleyn Ground under Avram Grant who had only themselves been at the club for a matter of weeks after Franco Zola had left?
Once being given the time and space to develop in the English game (in the season spent in the Championship) Reid's signing proved a shrewd one for the club - although it was a gamble that nearly didn't pay off. Necessity, due to players having to be offloaded after relegation rather that a conscious decision to further Reid's development was the main reason Winston started the Championship season. He's never looked back.
The less said about some of his Gary Breen's performances in claret and blue the better, but to have signed the former Coventry defender off the back of a good showing for the Republic of Ireland at the 2002 World Cup seemed like a good deal at the time.
As for John Pantsil, Barrera, Jacobson and Margas? These players came to West Ham with established reputations as solid players, wouldn't let you down when coming into the team and "could do a job". In what seems to be a fashion only WHU have mastered, for different reasons none of those deals worked out for player or club.
This is not to say that any player signed as the result of a strong showing at this World Cup or future tournaments are doomed to failure in East London, but when it comes to evaluating potential signings the club seem to look more at the known metrics that can be recorded and evaluated rather then the player's potential to shine on the international stage.
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Enner Valencia and Islam Slimani top West Ham hit list
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 1st July 2014
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are likely to move for Algerian international Islam Slimani - if a move to sign Ecuador international Enner Valencia fails to bear fruit.
Slimani, who has been linked with West Ham since the end of the last transfer window is understood to be the club's second choice behind Valencia, who like Slimani has won plenty of approval for his performances in Brazil 2014. Sporting are reported to have slapped an €8million price tag on the 26-year-old Algerian who the Hammers had hoped to land on loan back in January.
We reported yesterday how West Ham had made enquiries into the availability of Valencia, CF Pachua's 24-year-old centre forward who scored three goals in the World Cup Finals despite his country failing to qualify for the knockout stage.
* Bayern Munich's Italian defender Diego Contento is reported to have been the subject of an enquiry by West Ham. Considered surplus to requirements having failed to nail down a first team spot under Pep Guardiola, the 24-year-old has also been linked with West Bromwich Albion.
* Ravel Morrison is due to return to West Ham this Thursday when the first team squad reconvene for pre-season. The attacking midfielder, on loan at Queens Park Rangers since January has signalled his desire to win his place back in Sam Allardyce's first XI despite rumoured interest from a number of parties, including Harry Redknapp's Rangers.
* West Ham are rumoured to be one of a number of clubs taking a close look at Dynamo Kiev's Andriy Yarmolenko - however with a rumoured transfer fee of £12-15million (Daily Star) United's chances of landing a player also sought by Liverpool and Chelsea, both of whom can offer Champions League football, appear slim at best.
* Italian sources (Il Giallo Rosso) are running with a story suggesting Milan's Antonio Nocerino may be set to return to the Boleyn Ground on a permanent basis, despite previous reports claiming that he was about to complete a (permanent) move to Torino. KUMB suspects this may be someone taking what is known as a flyer, given Noce's frosty demeanour when leaving the BG for the final time back in May.
* Les Bleus midfielder Mathieu Valbuena, a regular in the French World Cup squad that reached the quarter finals courtesy of a 2-0 win over Nigeria on Monday is being linked with an £8million move to east London (Mail). Currently with Ligue 1 side Marseille, Valbuena has also been linked with Arsenal (quelle surprise) and Liverpool in recent weeks after his agent revealed that he would consider a move to the Premier League.
* Even more spurious than the Nocerino link is a rumour emanating from Portuguese media claiming that West Ham are showing an interest in signing Sporting's Argentine defender Marcos Rojo. The 24-year-old has featured regularly for his country at the World Cup Finals and is valued at the £20million mark. Russian side Zenit previously failed with a £15million bid for the 6'1½" centre half.
* It's debatable whether West Ham were ever seriously interested but Belgian striker Divock Origi is on the verge of completing a move to Liverpool. At just 19 the Lille forward is poised to make a £10million move to Anfield, apparently snubbing the likes of West Ham and Tottenham.
* Jefferson Montero, whom it was recently claimed was on the verge of signing for West Ham has spoken of his desire to try his luck in Europe. "It's certain that I'll leave the league," said the Mexican-based Ecuadorian international. "I already have an offer and I can tell you that it won't be Mexico; it will be Europe and I hope it works out."
* Five years after making a €5million bid, Italian sources insist West Ham are taking a second look at Napoli's Macedonian international Goran Pandev. The 30-year-old striker has also been linked with Tottenham and Monaco. Franco Zola was thought to be close to landing the player in 2009 but missed out.
* West Ham's ongoing link with Leeds striker Ross McCormack finally looks close to reaching its inevitable conclusion with the news that recently-relegated Fulham have offered £7million for the Scottish international. Leeds are said to be holding out for £10million, for a player who at 28 has never played in the Premier League. West Ham are unlikely to challenge the Cottagers.
* A number of Twitter feeds are linking West Ham with a move for the US World Cup star Omar Gonzalez - although claims that the story originated in the Telegraph appear to be wide of the mark.
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Orient and Hearn reach OS 'settlement'
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 1st July 2014
By: Staff Writer
Leyton Orient's legal bid to overturn West Ham's tenure of the Olympic Stadium is over after they reached a settlement with the Premier League. The League One club, who narrowly missed out on promotion to the Championship last season have fought to prevent West Ham from being awarded use of the £500million arena for more than three years. However the Premier League confirmed in a statement this morning that the two parties had reached a settlement - not necessarily a financial inducement, although that is how many commentators have perceived it - thus ending Orient's battle. "The Premier League and Leyton Orient FC are pleased to announce that they have reached settlement of a dispute regarding the future use of the Olympic Stadium on terms which are confidential," read a statement on the Premier League's website this lunchtime (Tuesday). "Leyton Orient confirms, however, that it no longer disputes the validity of the Premier League's decision to allow West Ham United to occupy the Stadium."
When questioned about the decision via Twitter, O's supremo Barry Hearn replied: "No point carrying on now we have permission to talk to new operators re a deal if we want to."
Hearn's comment relates to the revelation last December that Orient are free to consult with the stadium operators with view to using the venue for matches of their own. One person not convinced that the settlement was based on financial terms was Times' sports writer James Masters. "It's my understanding that Orient withdrew their case against West Ham United moving to the Olympic Stadium following advice from lawyers and to save on legal fees." he said. "I also understand that Orient DID NOT receive any financial compensation in settlement with Premier League."
West Ham are due to move into the 54,000-capacity stadium in time for the beginning of the 2016/17 season, two years from now.
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Time for a changing of the guard?
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 30th June 2014
By: Sean McGuire
In a recent poll asking Hammers fans to vote for who they would like to see as the Irons' captain next season, current incumbent Kevin Nolan received only about eight per cent of the vote compared to (first place) Mark Noble who received around 79 per cent of the vote.
So why the swing against Nolan? To answer that, I need to consider the attributes that make a good captain. I have always subscribed to the opinion that, whatever the sport, you should pick your first choice team and then from that select the player best suited to be captain. Sometimes it feels like a captain is selected at the start of the season and then their place in the team is unimpeachable because of their captaincy status.
Therefore the first thing to consider is would Nolan be a consistent first XI player next season based on merit alone? He was our top goal scorer this season with seven goals, however over half of those came in two exceptional games in early February (Swansea at home and Villa away) where he scored back to back braces.
Outside of those two games Nolan was a very different animal this season; after scoring in the opener the first half of his season was very quiet and uninspiring.
Of course I'm not suggesting that our top goal scorer shouldn't start next season or that he wouldn't be my first choice attacking midfielder, but as his 32nd birthday approaches and after a disappointing season his place would certainly be under threat from Mo Diame, Mauro Zarate and Ravel Morrison.
Diame was a consistent attacking threat (albeit nowhere near captain potential after his recent media outbursts and top six delusions). Zarate starting would place Nolan under threat as given the promised two strikers up front the central attacking midfielder slot is the most likely to be sacrificed. I know I have a tendency to over-rate Morrison but even his biggest critics would probably agree that if we keep him we should start playing him.
This is a contrast to the ever-present Noble who received the Hammer of the Year and KUMB.com Player of the Year awards for his consistently high-quality performances in the deep midfield. He made 107 tackles and 70 interceptions this season helping to keep our defence tight. I cannot see him losing his place at holding midfield to anyone in the current squad or anyone we have been linked with although I would love to see him and Cheikhou Kouyate playing alongside each other as a defensive midfield pairing. We would be impenetrable.
Next to consider when selecting a captain is whether or not they set a good example. WHUFC has a proud tradition of bringing up youth talent so to my mind a captain that sets these youngsters a good example is imperative.
On December 7th we were losing 3-1 at Anfield when at a throw in, our captain Nolan approached Henderson whose back was turned to receive the ball and stamped on his calf. He received a straight red card and a three-match ban for this violent outburst making it the fifth December in a row he had received a suspension (perhaps he just enjoys Christmas at home with his kids). On his second match back from suspension he kicked Fulham's Amorebiata while off the ball, earning a second straight red for violence.
Nolan simply isn't a good example as far as discipline goes, in stark contrast to Noble. While I would argue that due to their different roles in the midfield Noble should pick up more cards than Nolan, they both got seven yellows last season and Noble's only red couldn't have been more different to Nolan's two straight red for violence. It was for a second bookable offence at Everton and most agree on replay that he shouldn't have been booked and that he got the ball.
Finally, and to my mind most importantly, a captain should be an inspirational figure, a man with the determination to rally a team and boost morale when the opposition are leading. Given that Nolan's two violent outbursts last season came when we were losing and possibly out of that frustration I do not think that he has the level head to be the type of captain I am describing.
Again a contrast to Noble, the tireless worker who has run further than any other West Ham player this year and who is in possession of a level head. I think he has exactly the qualities to inspire a team and turn games around. It is time to pass the captaincy torch onto another and the current vice captain, longest serving player and last season's Hammer of the Year also known as "Mr West Ham" is the obvious replacement.
Sadly, I cannot see this being a move that will happen. Sam Allardyce is hugely loyal to Nolan, which is understandable as Nolan has played under Allardyce at two different teams in a relationship going back to 1999 (involving 390 appearances and 74 goals for Nolan). However, hopefully Allardyce will see the need for change as I think for the reasons listed above the change could give the team a boost.
Also, Noble deserves it - and I imagine he is the type of player that would care about becoming captain.
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WHO WILL BE THE NEXT SOUTH AMERICAN HAMMER?
By Sean Whetstone 1 Jul 2014 at 17:24
West Ham Til I Die
Over the last three days we have been running a series on the 15 South American players to have signed for West Ham and how they fared in the east end of London.
Today we look at who could be the 16th South American player to sign for West Ham with seven South Americans recently linked to us in recent weeks.
Emanuel Insua
It is claimed West Ham United are in talks over a possible deal for Boca Juniors defender Emanuel Insua.The 23-year-old left-back, the younger brother of ex-Liverpool defender Emiliano, has discussed terms with a four year deal proposed.Argentine sources say the Hammers have bid for the defender, Boca are reportedly open to offers for Insua and are prepared to listen to what West Ham have to say after previously turning down a bid from Torino. West Ham are known to be interested but he is just one of many left backs we are interested in at the moment.
Eder Balanta
According to the Sunday People West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is chasing Colombian World Cup star Eder Balanta, Hammers have sent top spies to Brazil to check out the 21-year-old defender ahead of a possible £6million bid. Balanta, who plays in Argentina for River Plate, is tipped to make a move to Europe after the tournament.
Balanta made his debut for Colombia as recently as March and has only a handful of international caps so is still operating largely under the radar of Premier League clubs.
But West Ham have been on his trail for some time and will try to do a deal once the South Americans are out of the World Cup. However, River Plate vice-president Matias Patanian has denied there has been an offer from West Ham United for the defender. iver Plate vice-president Patanian told Radio La Red: "For the moment we only know, in an official way, that Juventus are making a big effort for Balanta.Asked about West Ham, he replied: "No, we have heard what an English newspaper is saying about West Ham."If the amount of money that the newspaper mentions is true and we receive an offer like that, then River could sit down and start negotiations as it would be close to the amount the club expects for transferring Balanta."If the money that is being mentioned in the English media is that, then we will have to listen to them when we receive an official offer.Of course we would want to sell our players to the team that gets closest to our value."
Gonzalo Bergessio
Sam Allardyce could make a move for another Argentine striker according to reports on an Italian website.Tutto Mercato Web claims West Ham are interested in Catania's 29-year-old forward The frontman Gonzalo Bergessio., who has two goals in three appearances for the Argentine national team, netted ten times in 28 starts for Catania in Serie A last season. Bergessio made his Argentina international debut on 15th October 2008, playing the second half of a 0–1 loss in Chile, in the 2010 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. He scored his first two international goals on 20th May of the following year, in a 3–1 win over Panama. On 30th October 2013, Bergessio suffered a broken fibula as a result of a late tackle by Giorgio Chiellini in Catania's 0–4 loss at Juventus FC. He has made 96 appearances for Catania scoring 30 goals.
Ezequiel Ponce
West Ham have been linked with the South American teen sensation Ezequiel Ponce.The Newell's Old Boys 17 year old billed as the most exciting prospect in Argentinian football is also the subject of an Argentine investment group financial move with the businessmen wanting to purchase 50 per cent of the player's rights.
The story first broke in the Argentinian media where West Ham was named as a likely destination. It is claimed the club want £5 million plus a 50% sell on fee when/if he becomes a world superstar.Whether he becomes the next Messi remains to be seen but £5m from our limited transfer budget seems a gamble too far for West Ham.
Jefferson Montero
According to the Guardian West Ham are close to signing Jefferson Montero by triggering the Ecuadorian's £3m release clause that would take him from a Mexican club, Morelia, to the Boleyn Ground.The 23-year-old Montero will earn £30,000 a-week in what should be a four-year contract, having impressed the West Ham manager, Sam Allardyce, who hopes the winger can help provide the service to the club's record signing, Andy Carroll, next season.Montero, who has played for Ecuador more than 25 times, impressed in the 1-1 draw with Argentina in a World Cup qualifier in Quito early this month when a number of scouts from English clubs were present.
Marcos Rojo
A newspaper report in Portugal claims West Ham are interested in signing Argentine defender Marcos Rojo.The 24-year-old, who plays for Sporting Lisbon could move to West Ham but the 20 million euros price tag is likely finish off any real interest. The report says Russian outfit Zenit St Petersburg failed with a 15 million euro bid in January, and Liverpool, Manchester United and Arsenal are also interested in Rojo, He can play in central defence and at left-back.Rojo scored for Argentina in their 3-2 win over Nigeria in the World Cup and is expected to start in his country's last 16 match against Switerland today.
Enner Valencia
West Ham are interested in Ecuador striker Enner Valencia, according to Dean Jones in the Sunday People.The forward has made a big impression at the World Cup with three goals in the group stages Valencia just 25, currently plays for Mexican side Pachuca and scored 18 goals for them before heading to the Brazil finals.
Everton are also believed to be monitoring him.
And finally the one who got away ……
Neymar
David Sullivan has admitted that West Ham made a bid for Brazilian World Cup superstar Neymar four years ago during the summer of 2010! The Joint Chairman confirmed the had made a bid worth around £16m for the then 18 year wonder kid. Santos rejected it insisting they would not deal at less than the than the player's £28.4m release clause.Any deal would of been complicated by Santos owning just 60 per cent of Neymar's rights and needing the agreement of an investment group should they accept anything less than the buyout clause. The bid from West Ham alerted Chelsea who made their own offer in August 2010 but were also turned down after Pele persuaded Neymar to stay in Brazil.
Neymar was born on the February 5 which is the same as the Joint Chairman Sullivan and former South American Hammers legend Carlos Tevez
In 2012 during an interview with Iain Dale David Sullivan had said:
"I believe in coincidence. Get this. Carlos Tévez. Born, 5 February. Cristiano Ronaldo. Born 5 February. Neymar. Born 5 February. All born on the same day as me. Jordan Rhodes, also born 5 February. And you know what, this other player that we didn't sign, also born 5 February.When I saw the Huddersfield guy was the same date as me and the same date as those players, I thought it was written in the stars. Just incredible. An incredible coincidence, isn't it?"
The other player he refers to is believed to have been Billy Sharp.
What other players were born on 5th February?
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THE FOLLY OF LAST SEASON'S TRANSFER STRATEGY!
By S J Chandos 1 Jul 2014 at 08:00
West Ham Till I Die
Watching the World Cup Finals and, in particular, the performances of Algerian striker, Islam Slimani, one is reminded of the club's transfer folly last season. The club invested c.£15m in Andy Carroll, a decision that may yet be vindicated in the medium/long-term, if not currently, in the shorter-term. However, if the club had at the time decided to invest its transfer funds elsewhere, it is sobering to reflect on the fact we could have likely secured both Wilfred Bony (£8m) and Slimani (£6m) for a combined fee of £14m! I am not so sure about their wage demands, but surely we could have got both players for not much more than the c.£70,000 per week that Carroll is allegedly paid. No wonder the board have decided to be more 'hands on' with our transfer dealings this summer! And, no doubt, the addition of a Head of Recruitment will ensure that there is less chance of a repeat of the Bony and Slimani episodes in future.
A Bony-Slimani strike force would certainly have guaranteed goals. The partnership would have had everything, power, pace, technique, intelligent play off the ball and (last but certainly not least) a clinical cutting edge in front of goal. Unfortunately, we lost our opportunity to sign Bony and, his goal scoring record at Swansea last season, probably now renders him unaffordable at £19m. In Slimani's case, it could be that we will come to regret not closing a deal for him in January. It is probable that £6m would have secured him before this World Cup, but will Sporting Lisbon now increase the asking price in the aftermath of his World Cup exploits? I would be very surprised if they did not. So, one must ask, why the club did not follow through on the deal in the last winter transfer window? Its probable that indecision/vacilliation has put the player beyond our reach, especially now other PL and European clubs have been alerted to his ability. Still, you never know, West Ham, may still be able to strike a deal for Slimani. He certainly looks like a striker who could improve us and increase our options up front. Both as competition to Carroll and a striker that can play alongside him.
Talking of Carroll, it will interesting to see if Teddy Sheringham will be able to help him work on key aspects of his game. In particular, his link up play and running off the ball. If West Ham are to adopt a more attractive playing style next season, it stands to reason that Carroll is going to have to contribute more to build up play and be better prepared to convert chances on the ground. Of course, Carroll's ariel ability is a great strength, which we must continue to exploit. However, as a matter of playing policy, the intelligent ball in to the near and far post should replace the aimless punt up field. Caroll needs to adapt his play and show that he is a better all-round technical player than many suppose. He has the potential to do it and, with Sheringham's coaching, he could come on leaps and bounds next season. The big variable factor is whether Carroll can stay fit and available for selection. Some feel that he may be injury prone and next season will probably prove or disprove that proposition.
Fans often express the view that the squad currently lacks a midfield play-maker, someone to orchastrate play in the final third and pick out the killer balls. In that case, they will be pleased to note that we have been linked with a classy player of just that type. Sportsmail are reporting that West Ham are considering bidding for French midfielder, Mathieu Valbuena. He is currently on World Cup duty with the French national squad and normally turns out for Marseille. The speculation is that a c.£6-7m bid will accepted by Marseille and the player is known to be keen on a move to the Premier League. We should monitor this potential deal, because it could prove another significant one, certainly in terms of our commitment to improve our playing style. Who knows, if true, then perhaps we can even offload Diarra and/or Maiga to Marseille as part of the deal?
Finally, it has been reported today that both Fulham and Norwich City have submitted £10m bids for Leeds Utd's Ross McCormack. That is a big fee for a Championship striker, albeit one that scored 28 goals last season. As we know, West Ham have a long running interest in the player and contemplated a £5m punt last January. But is he really worth an inflated £10m fee? Can McCormack reasonably be expected to perform as well in the PL? I can see why he would be seen as a good signing for clubs seeking an immediate return to the PL after relegation, even at £10m, because he virtually guarantees 20 plus goals in the 2nd tier. But has that level of bid effectively priced McCormack out of an immediate PL move?
SJ. Chandos.
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Nice starlet Timothee Kolodziejczak set to become West Ham's third summer signing
Tuesday 1 Jul 2014 8:55 pm
Metro.co.uk
Having already recruited Velez Sarsfield striker Mauro Zarate and Anderlecht anchor man Chiekhou Kouyate, Sam Allardyce appears to be closing in on his third signing of the summer, highly-rated Nice defender Timothee Kolodziejczak (that's just 'Kolo' to you and me).
The Daily Star reports the Hammers look set to sign the former France U-20 starlet for £4million, with the player due in London to discuss personal terms and undergo a medical with the club. The 22-year old left-back had been previously linked to a number of Premier League outfits, most notably QPR and Southampton, who saw the youngster as an ideal replacement for the recently departed Luke Shaw.
Kolodziejczak is due in East London this week to hold talks with the Hammers and undergo a medical ahead of his move, and is expected to put pen to paper on a four-year deal.
As outlined in a previous post, the Irons needed to start filling in holes in the wide areas of the pitch, especially at full-back, and it appears the club are doing just that. 'Kolo' wasn't the only player West Ham identified as a potential signing at left-back, with at one time or another, Norwich's Martin Olsson and Boca Juniors' Emanuel Insua were both tipped to sign at Upton Park.
In addition, reports in Portugal suggest that the Hammers are looking at signing impressive Argentine defender Marcos Rojo. The 24-year old, who can play left-back and at the heart of the defense, was subject of an enquiry from the Hammers, but they were quoted a fee of £16m if they wish to sign the player, who is also a target for Premier League rivals Liverpool.
The impending arrival of 'Kolo' would see the Hammers' summer spending reach double digits, with a total outlay of approximately £11.5m, but it's evident that Allardyce is not content with the group of players he currently has at his disposal, and is eager to bring in several more faces in the coming weeks and months.
Having said goodbye to George McCartney, Jack Collison, Joe Cole and Jordan Spence this summer, the current squad is looking thin in a number of areas, and as expectation mounts on more arrivals, Allardyce and co. are wasting no time in recruiting players for the 2014/15 season.
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