Big Sam on - Sunderland
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce looks ahead to the Barclays Premier League visit of Sunderland on Saturday
20.09.2012
Sam Allardyce was in optimistic mood ahead of West Ham United's Barclays Premier League encounter with Sunderland at the Boleyn Ground on Saturday.
Speaking at the pre-match press conference, Big Sam spoke about the season so far, the visit of Martin O'Neill's men and gave updates on the fitness of Jack Collison and Andy Carroll. With a limited number of tickets still available for Saturday's Youth Academy Free fixture, the manager and his players are ready for the Black Cats.
You had your team photo taken today, so were the players in good spirits?
SA - "Yes, very good, I think it was the quickest team photo I have had taken during my time in football. We spent about 20 minutes on it when normally it takes hours and hours trying to get players in the right places making sure they look the part. It went very well and like I mentioned last week it is nice to see the squad train in its entirety. This week has been a good week in training and we hope to pick up where we left of last time at Upton Park, which was of course the 3-0 win over Fulham."
Do you mind having the team photo taken so late, or is it preferable to take it after the transfer window has closed?
SA - "Yes it is better, we wouldn't want to have to slot people's heads in after, we wanted to wait and make it more professional. It goes all over the world today so it is important to get it right and deliver the right picture as it travels throughout the world of football."
Does that mean we can count against any new faces being added to the squad before the January window?
SA -"Yes, we have had one or two trialists in but none of them have been offered a contract because I think that I already have enough quality within my squad. I don't want to take a player for the sake of it, even though we had some very good players come in on trial. My decision was to not offer them anything and I am happy with the squad I have now and hopefully it will continue to improve as they get to know each other better."
Do you have any new injury news ahead of the clash with Sunderland?
SA -"No we have no new injury concerns. The only players who are unavailable are Andy Carroll and Jack Collison, Jack is obviously the big concern because he hasn't kicked a ball since the end of last season and he was a very influential player when we won promotion. We would love to get Jack back as soon as we can and Andy is improving every day. He has started some light training now and we will continue to monitor it on a daily basis until he is fit and ready to go back into the
team."
The initial timeframe stated for his recovery was six weeks. Has this changed and, if so, when do you think he will be back?
SA -"At the very earliest, if we are very lucky, it will be the final game before the next international break which is Arsenal at home. If not it will be after that."
Defensively, you have a record to be proud of after keeping four clean sheets in your five games this season?
SA -"Yes it has been a very good start from our point of view. We know the emphasis of shutting the opposition down when they have possession and we have also worked hard when we have the ball ourselves. The start that the lads have made has given us a massive platform going into the rest of the season, but if I had to be slightly critical it would be that our finishing is not as good as it could be. We have created a lot of chances this season which is pleasing and we will keep working hard to ensure more of them end up in the back of the net. The hardest thing in the Premier League is scoring goals but if our defence plays as well as they have been we only need one."
Will Matt Jarvis make his home debut this weekend?
SA -"You will have to wait and see. He is fit and has been training all week, like I said the squad has really come together this week and got to know each other better. I am very excited about the squad and hope they continue to grow and put in winning performances. We have experienced Premier League players in the squad and my hope is that they replicate what they have done at their previous clubs for West Ham United."
You currently sit in eight position in the Barclays Premier League, you surely would have taken that position if offered it at the start of the season?
SA - "For me it is all about points. Points per game is much more important that league position, I think that we have delivered two very important home wins and coupled with the back end of last season we have won six home games in a row and only conceded one goal. I think in the games we have had here including the cup game against Crewe we have done exceptionally well. We want to continue that against a very strong Sunderland side who have gone away to Arsenal and Swansea and come away with points. It will be very difficult for us."
Sir Alex Ferguson has publicly spoken about the need to stop abusive chanting. Do you share this view and is it time to put a stop to these acts?
SA - "Absolutely, I think that whatever form the offensive chanting is in it should be stopped and I think the best way to stop it is through the fans. If you are stood next to somebody chanting offensive material you should turn round and say 'Please stop, you are offending me, I support this team and I don't want to hear you say that'. If everybody could do that I think it would bring an end to such chants, but it is very difficult other than that to prevent these things from happening."
Looking at the other promoted teams who haven't done as well as West Ham United so far, do you have a sense of pride after such a great start?
SA - "We are very pleased with the start we have made. Unfortunately for Southampton and Reading, they haven't been able to do the same but admittedly the fixture list was much kinder to us. Pressure will be on every team at some point in the season, their tought time happens to be right now because they haven't picked up many points, but based on the games they have played that is understandable. It's a marathon not a sprint but as we all know pressure is heaped on you, especially in this league, if you don't start well."
How much has changed since West Ham United were relegated from the Barclays Premier League?
SA - "Around 40 players have left and 28 have replaced them in the space of 12 months. We have also increased the staffing level but certainly the biggest thing is that so many players have left within a year. Hopefully that is something that will benefit the club in the long run because we have built a squad now that will hopefully maintain and sustain our Premier League status."
Sunderland have yet to win a game in the Barclays Premier League, so is now the perfect time to play them?
SA - "I don't think so because the last two away games they played were against Arsenal and Swansea. Everybody is buzzing about the free-scoring nature of Arsenal yet Sunderland managed to get a 0-0 draw. Then, against Swansea they took the lead twice and knowing Martin as I do he will have felt disappointed not to win the game. I know what to expect from Sunderland having studied those two games and also from knowing Martin and the way he structures his teams. We have to make sure we are capable of breaking them down and ensure that when we create opportunities, we take them."
Steven Fletcher has obviously settled well at Sunderland. Just how much of a threat will he pose to your side?
SA - "It is a great move for him and I think that he has already began to reward Sunderland for the fee they paid by becoming the scorer he was at Wolves. After moving from Scotland to Burnley where he was relegated, then to Wolves where he was relegated again, he now has the opportunity to score goals on a regular basis for an established Premier League side. It looks like a great bit of business."
How important is it that West Ham United show they can play and win without Andy Carroll in the side?
SA - "That all depends on the impact of Carlton Cole and Modibo Maiga, who need to step in and do the business. We only have two players injured at the moment and other clubs have a lot more. That also shows how hard we work on injury prevention. Andy Carroll has only played 68 minutes for the club and during four games we have scored four goals and kept three clean sheets. It is not all about Andy but about performing well as a team and focussing on winning the next game."
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Ludo back in London
WHUFC.com
Ludek Mikloško popped into Chadwell Heath this week to talk all things West Ham United
20.09.2012
Luděk Mikloško dropped into West Ham United's Chadwell Heath training ground this week to talk about his life after football, the Czech Republic and of course West Ham United. The 1991 Hammer of the Year is now working for a sporting agency after leaving the club as goalkeeping coach in March 2010, but still keeps a keen eye on the goings on in east London. He is delighted to see West Ham United not only return to the Barclays Premier League, but make an impressive start to their new season "I have not seen any games yet but I have seen the results, which have been fantastic. It is great for the club to be back in the Barclays Premier League.
"It is where they need to be and I am very happy that they are doing well. Hopefully after a very good start they can continue to play well throughout the season and finish in the top half."
Miklosko also hailed the impact of Jussi Jaaskelainen, after the Hammers new No22 kept his third clean sheet in four games against Norwich City last weekend. The Finland international is now 37, but Miklosko believes that talent is the only attribute that should matter when it comes to goalkeepers. "He is a fantastic goalkeeper, who has proved it in the Premier League over the course of many years. He has great experience and it is so far proving to be a great move for him. "I think that sometimes as a goalkeeper age isn't important, it all depends on how he is feeling and if he is feeling well he can continue to play for a few more years."
Like many professional footballers, Mikloško was faced with the question of what to do next after retiring, but after a spell in coaching he admitted he was simply happy to still be involved in the game. I am working for a sporting investment agency which tries to find young talent in the Czech Republic - I am looking after the goalkeepers who have already signed. "It is very different to trying to keep the ball out of the net but I am just happy to still be working in football, which for me is the most important thing. "Hopefully we will see more Czech players come and play for West Ham in the future, especially younger players whose development would be aided by coming to England. "I am back in England because I came to see Marek Štěch, who left West Ham in the summer to join Yeovil. I think Yeovil are very pleased with him and the way he is progressing, I think it is just what he needed," explained Ludo. "He needed to drop down a few levels and also start playing regularly, now he is he can build from there."
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Striker ruled out for season
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 20th September 2012
By: Staff Writer
Former West Ham United striker Nicky Maynard's season is over after he sustained ligament damage during Tuesday night's 2-0 win against Millwall. Maynard, who moved to Cardiff on the final day of the summer transfer window just three weeks ago was stretchered off after catching his leg in the ground during the win at the New Den. And his worst fears were confirmed today when he was ruled out for the rest of the 2012/13 campaign with serious damage to his anterior cruciate ligament, which will require surgery to repair. Cardiff's head of performance Richard Collinge told walesonline.co.uk: "Nicky will remain under the care of a local orthopaedic specialist and the Cardiff City medical team, working through a substantial rehabilitation programme with the goal of returning to first team action when possible. "Instances such as this can see varied recovery times and we will do everything to support and guide Nicky through the rehabilitation process. The player has the backing of all of us at the club and we all wish him a speedy recovery, coming back stronger than ever."
Maynard moved to West Ham from Bristol City in January 2012 and scored four goals for United before being sold to Championship side Cardiff just seven months later.
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Sam Allardyce wants West Ham to show it's not all about Andy Carroll
Last Updated: September 20, 2012 6:34pm
Sam Allardyce wants West Ham United's squad strength to come to the fore in the absence of Andy Carroll and remains uncertain when Jack Collison will return from injury. Carroll is not expected to return to action for the Hammers until after the next international break after hurting his hamstring on his debut against Fulham earlier this month. The on-loan striker is back in light training, but Allardyce is hoping that his absence will provide an opportunity for other players during a testing run of fixtures. "It depends on the likes of Carlton Cole and Modibo Maiga stepping in and doing the business, making sure we use the strength of the squad when we need to," said the Hammers boss. "We have only got two players injured at the moment, a lot of other teams in the Premier League have more. If that continues, it will help us to be more and more consistent. "Andy Carroll has only played 68 minutes for us. We have conceded just three goals, all at Swansea, and kept clean sheets in the other games. "It is not all about Andy, but it is about us trying to perform as a team again on Saturday against Sunderland."
However, Allardyce concedes the fitness of midfielder Collison, who is sidelined by an ongoing knee problem, remains a worry. "Obviously Jack is a big concern because he has not kicked a ball for us yet since the end of last season," Allardyce added. "He was a major influence in our promotion year so we would love to get Jack back as quickly as we possibly can."
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Win on Saturday and We Are 1/4 of the Way to Safety!
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
It is a comforting thought that if we we win on Saturday, we will have amassed 10 points in five matches. Effectively that means that that we are 1/4 of the way to the magic 40 points total and safety. Obviously, the fixtures fell kindly for us in the opening phase of the season and a much tougher sequence of matches lies ahead in November-December. That is why we need to amass as many points in the opening matches as possible. That way, there will not be so much desperation to win the matches to make up for lost points and lost ground.
Indeed, if we go in to that second phase in a healthy position, the challenge becomes a very different one. It then becomes about winning extra, less likely points to strengthen our overall position to a point where we can realistically start thinking about a top 10 finish. Teams can and do have good starts and then suffer a poor second half of the season and sink like a stone towards the danger zone. However, it is usually the predominant pattern that relegated teams, and those that struggle around them, start very badly and never recover. Think of 2010-11, when we lost the first few matches on the trot and where, regardless of a few good isolated results, we never recovered. Or the 2002-03 season, when we did not win a home match until November and, despite a brilliant, late resurgence under Sir Trevor's temporary management, we just could not do enough to save ourselves.
If there was one thing that we knew about Sam Allardyce's management, it was that he was a proven exponent of the PL 'survival game.' More than that, under his management, Bolton not only survived every season, but prospered and even gate crashed the upper reaches of the PL and European qualification! Newcastle Utd were never in danger of relegation during his sort period there and he lost his job before he was able to put his stamp on the squad. While at Blackburn, at the time of his sacking, they were sitting very comfortably in 11th place. Allardyce did not have massive resources at Bolton, but what he did have was a board that backed him and time to develop his squad. It is measure of how far Allardyce took the club that a parting of the ways came because he did not believe that the club's ambitions matched his own! Yet, it is a fact that all three clubs suffered relegation from the top tier following his exit from the manager's position.
So far, Allardyce has done exactly what we had expected of him. He has moulded a solid team unit, built upon a fairly water tight defence. He has constructed a hard working team, in which every member of the side works for the others and there are no passengers. And the team are delivering clean sheets and solid away performances. These are all positives and are important factors in ensuring PL survival. But he has also brought a number of talented footballers to the club. Demel is a powerful and experienced right-back. Nolan is potentially deadly in the final third and is the ideal player to have running on to the second phase ball. Diame is one of the bargains of the season and Diarra will definitely make his mark before much longer. Vaz Te is a richly gifted and flamboyant player, who has the ability to make a major impact at PL level. Maiga is a striker with pace and a good eye for goal, we have not seen the best of him yet, but when we do he could be a sensation. The link up between Carroll and Jarvis is a mouth watering prospect and it has 'goals' running through it look a stick of Southend rock! Finally, he did some very good business in bringing former heroes, James Collins and Yossi Beayoun back to the club. Collins is a tower of strength at the back and his signing gives us a nice mix of experience and youth in central defence, with Tomkins, Reid and, possibly, Mensah. While Benayoun provides the vision, guile and the killer final ball that we have been missing for so long. He may be 32 years of age, but he is fit and you never lose that vision and technical ability to play the ball.
Add these players to the established West Ham stars like Tomkins, Noble, Collison and Cole and we have a good mix of youth and experience. And of course, factor x is the very good youngsters bubbling under, such as Potts, Hall, Famino, Moncur, Turgott and Lee, and their ability to force their way in to the first team reckoning. There have been some fan reservations about our strength at full-back, but so far it has held up. It remains to be seen whether that is still the case when they come up against the top sides, but we have what we have and that will have to be tested. It will certainly be interesting this Saturday to see how Joey O'Brien performs at left-back if he comes up against a wide player of Johnson's ability? I like O'Brien, he is a good squad player, but he does worry me at left-back. He looks very right footed and constantly needs to change on to his right foot when playing the ball. We saw him make a couple of bad mistakes against Norwich City that could have cost us. They arguably happened because he is a right footed player trying to play at left-back. Personally, I would play Potts there.
Still, all in all, it is probably a 8/10 start to the season and most Hammers fans would have been more than happy to settle for that prior to the big kick-off. As for playing style, I thought that the side played some very impressive passing football against Fulham and they also tried to play to it on the floor against Norwich City. We need to see how things develop over the next few matches before we capitulate once again before the steretypical media narratives about being 'direct' and playing 'the long ball.' It is still early days and no doubt there will be one or two poor results along the way, but all things being equal, we look set up for a decent season.
SJ. Chandos.
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That's Andy! West Ham think Carroll could be back in time to face Arsenal
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce has pleaded with England boss Roy Hodgson not to jeopardise Andy Carroll's rapid return to fitness. West Ham's on-loan Liverpool striker was expected to be sidelined for six weeks after picking up a hamstring injury on his debut against Fulham three weeks ago. But he is back in light training already, after the Hammers medical team worked around the clock, and is hoping to be fit to play against Arsenal on October 6. The news will come as a major boost to Hodgson, who will be desperate to have Carroll available for the World Cup double-header against San Marino and Poland a week later. But Hammers boss Allardyce insists Carroll will not be ready to play two full games for England in the space of four days. Allardyce said: "It would be something that would need a conversation between me and Roy to say that Andy is back but please be careful if he goes to England. "I'm not saying, 'Don't play him' but just be careful of the situation. "The last thing we'd want is to spend all that time to get him fit again, play for us, go to England and get injured playing for England. "His lack of first-team appearances is a major concern to us, when we get him fit again. "The situation for both of us is we'd want Andy available as often and as quick as possible. If I was lucky to have him fit for Arsenal he wouldn't play all game."
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Allardyce makes Carroll plea
JIM VAN WIJK FRIDAY 21 SEPTEMBER 2012
The Independent
Sam Allardyce, the West Ham manager, has urged Roy Hodgson to go easy with Andy Carroll in the next set of World Cup qualifiers. The 23-year-old impressed during his West Ham debut against Fulham on 1 September following a loan switch from Liverpool – only to limp off in the second half with a hamstring problem which ruled him out of the England's games with Moldova and Ukraine. Carroll has now resumed light training and if all goes well, the striker could be back in contention for the visit of Arsenal on 6 October. That would almost certainly see the 6ft 3in striker included for England's games the week after. "It would be something that would need a conversation between me and Roy to say 'Andy is back, but please be careful if he goes to England," said Allardyce. "I am not saying 'don't play him', just be careful of the situation where he has come from."
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Sullivan: We're paying Carroll's wages out of our own pockets... We want the best team because we are West Ham fans
By MATT LAWTON
PUBLISHED: 23:17, 20 September 2012 | UPDATED: 23:17, 20 September 2012
Daily Mail
The last owner of West Ham who also owned a bank took the football club to the brink of administration. But when David Sullivan says he owns a bank, and it is a bank in one of the prime locations on the Monopoly board, what actually goes on inside, and beyond in the global banking world, is not his concern. 'I own the building,' says Sullivan. 'It's the Lloyd's Bank on Oxford Street actually. I own a shoe shop on Oxford Street too. And a mobile phone shop.' Once rated the 68th richest man in Britain with assets valued at more than £500million, he has an impressive property portfolio. He owns 'a huge Sainsbury's' that pays him £3million a year in rent as well as a 'couple of Marks & Spencers'. Just the buildings, you understand, which the retail giants rent from him. There is 'a big chunk of central Bath around the Roman Baths' that belongs to Sullivan. Not to mention 100 sex shops.
He made his money in the sex industry, starting out in mail order with a couple of carefully placed advertisements in the colour supplements of the more upmarket Sunday newspapers. 'I sold a love-making manual called The XYZ of Love,' he says. 'Back in the early Seventies it was making me six grand a week, a lot of money in those days.'
It might not have been what his lecturers had in mind when they taught him economics at Queen Mary College in London, but Sullivan clearly has a knack of making money. He breaks from this interview to take a quick phone call at his desk in his sumptuous Essex home, earning £10,000 in 20 seconds during a conversation with his broker. 'That won't even pay a football agent but it's still 10 grand I didn't have a minute ago,' he says with a twinkle in his eye.
It would enable him to buy some state-of-the-art home entertainment equipment. As well as Victorian racing trophies and some rather spooky waxwork figures, Sullivan's home is littered with old TVs and video recorders. 'I'm not very technical,' he says. 'I still can't send a text message. I bought that telly because it was brilliant for Teletext. I used to love Teletext.'
He does seem to laugh an awful lot. He complains of being 'absolutely knackered after the transfer window' but he talks about his life, and about his passion for the football club he part-owns with his long-time friend and business partner David Gold, with infectious enthusiasm. He also seems keen to stress that he is no longer in the sex industry. 'The internet finished my old business,' he says. 'I'm in the property business now. The sex shops don't make a penny. I keep them going to provide employment to the two or three hundred people who have worked for me. As long as they don't have to come to me for money to subsidise the business I will keep them open. 'I will always be seen as being in the sex business because that is where I started. If I had the time I'd update my Wikipedia page.' Not, he insists, because he is in anyway ashamed or embarrassed about his past. 'I started there so there's no point in denying it,' he says. 'If I was a cigarette manufacturer or an arms manufacturer or a drug dealer, I might have a doubt about how I've spent my life. But, to be honest with you, I like to think I put a smile on people's faces.
'I've made a lot of people happy. British people don't like to talk about sex but Fifty Shades of Grey has proved what a huge market the sex market remains.' Has he read the fastest-selling paperback in history? 'My girlfriend has and she's told me every detail,' he says. 'But I read racing fiction. I collect old racing fiction, along with Victorian racing trophies. I've read all the books on those shelves and all those over there I've yet to read. I'm into fantasy, not reality.' Football, he says, is an interest that transcends both; a mixture of fantasy and reality. 'You face a daily reality,' he says.
Sitting there in a Dolce & Gabbana 'Muhammad Ali' tracksuit, Sullivan takes a deep breath. Since joining forces with Gold in 2010 to take control of the club they have both supported since childhood, it has not been easy. When West Ham were relegated in May 2011, he likened it to Armageddon. 'It was Armageddon because David and I had to put 35million quid in,' he says, laughing again.
'Because of the mess we inherited we have to service a £100m debt. There are commitments that have to be paid and we have to pay interest on the debt. But we also had to put the money in to put together a team that would get us promoted. 'Armageddon might be an overstatement but it was very unpleasant to have to put that kind of money in just to get back to where we were. It particularly hurts because David and I didn't earn 35 million quid last year. We certainly didn't earn that much after tax. So we are spending capital. Spending our life savings. There is no point kidding ourselves.'
Had it not been West Ham, Sullivan says he and Gold would have avoided such a financial risk. The debts were enormous. There were millions owed to Sheffield United in the wake of the Carlos Tevez affair; all this when the assets amounted to so little and there was no guarantee of securing the Olympic Stadium. 'As a business venture it made no sense at all,' he says. 'Not the deal we did. The club was £120m in debt with very few assets. It was a mess. I knew, when the Icelandics were signing the players they were for the money they were paying, it made no financial sense. I sold them Matthew Upson from Birmingham. He came to me and said, "They've offered me four times the wages, please let me go". I knew then that it wasn't right. 'But David and I are not in it for the money. We don't want to go bust either. The aim is to make the club self-sufficient. But we want to put the best possible team on the pitch for the supporters of West Ham because we are supporters too.'
He agrees that people buy football clubs for different reasons. 'Some of them make money,' he says. 'Blackpool made £30m last year. Swansea are making £15m a year, and they are doing a marvellous job because they have a fantastic team. If we ever get to a position where we are making money it will be ploughed back into the team. But we have to keep it alive in the meantime. 'We are the guardians and custodians of the club for the supporters. We are just trustees really. And we are good custodians. In our 18 years at Birmingham the club was solvent the whole time. But we still owe money on Tevez. Because it's a confidential agreement I can't go into the figures but there is still a substantial amount to pay off. In fact we've just started litigation against the old solicitors because we think the club was wrongly advised. We are commencing High Court proceedings against them.
'Just before we arrived, the previous owners took an advance on the next two years' season-ticket money. So we got no season-ticket money in the first two years. They'd taken part of the shirt sponsorship money quite a few years up front, so all the normal sources of income weren't there. The cupboard was bare. 'Every player was being paid on the drip. Sheffield United were being paid on the drip. Every possible loan had been taken out. The assets were the players being paid on fat contracts and a stadium — because of where it is — that is probably worth less than my supermarket. 'Now we obviously want to move to the Olympic Stadium. For three years we've been trying to secure it. We believe we have the best bid. We will make football affordable to all because we will have the seats to do deals, and we will make the whole stadium economically viable. We will embrace the athletics legacy and make it a brilliant, multi-purpose facility.'
So who is paying for players like Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan? 'We are financing everything out of our own money,' says Sullivan. 'Had we not put money in this year we could not have bought a player. Because there is not sufficient money to pay the debt. I cannot give confidential details of contracts but for the period of time Andy will be with us it's as expensive a player as we have ever signed. 'But our manager thought he was the most important player we could sign this summer and that is why we pursued him. Unfortunately he got this hamstring injury. But that's just bad luck. 'Against Fulham he made an enormous impact. He was the most important player on the pitch. He lifted the whole team. 'Kevin Nolan was a very bold and pleasing signing. We signed the captain of Newcastle when he had just scored 12 goals in the Premier League and convinced him to come to the Championship. It was expensive but he's the most fantastic captain, the most wonderful influence in the dressing room. And he's scored two goals in three games. 'We wanted to make a statement to our supporters, that we weren't going to run the club like an administrator. That's why we've continued to bring in more top players like Diame, Diarra and Jarvis. Others, too.'
You do wonder why, having sold Birmingham City, he and Gold did not just buy themselves a box at Upton Park. 'It's not the same though,' he says. 'You want to influence things. You want to make things happen. I think the club might have gone bust had we not stepped in. It is our intention, over the next couple of years, to pay off the debt and then be owed the money by the club. But we will be friendly bankers. The club won't have to pay any interest if they don't want to. If and when the club have some money they might pay a bit off. 'It means my kids will inherit less money because of West Ham and it will be the same for David Gold's kids. But we've got very supportive families who also love the club. We're all committed.
'Now, if the king of Saudi Arabia wants to buy West Ham we would happily step aside for the good of the club. But we wouldn't step aside for a mystery foreign buyer whose financial resources we have no knowledge of.' He has mixed feelings about certain foreign owners, his views influenced by the erosion of what he considers a boardroom tradition at matches. 'There are good examples of foreign ownership,' he says. 'Man City and Chelsea are terrific. But if things go bad for a foreign owner it's easy to walk away. 'Roman Abramovich and Sheik Mansour are in it for the fun. It's a hobby. Randy Lerner is here to make money. The Americans at Man United and Liverpool are here to make money. The Sunderland guy has a strategy to make money. But when it comes to the boardroom you rarely meet them. It's sad. In the old days it was lovely. There would be banter but you'd also exchange ideas, share thoughts. But the new brigade, you don't see. 'It actually started with Sir John Hall at Newcastle. He'd pop his head around the door, say hello and then disappear. I thought it was rude. The worst is Aston Villa, because they put the visiting directors in a room with the corporate home fans. We got loads of abuse because we were the former owners of Birmingham. We were treated appallingly. I nearly did it to them in retaliation but I wasn't prepared to stoop to their level. 'At West Ham we've got the best boardroom in the Premier League. We give the visiting directors the best table, right in the middle. It's the friendliest. It's lovely.' He also likes to think it is now in safe hands.
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Players must fill gap left by Andy Carroll says West Ham manager Sam Allardyce
The Independent
JIM VAN WIJK THURSDAY 20 SEPTEMBER 2012
Manager Sam Allardyce maintains West Ham must use the next couple of weeks to show they are not just "all about Andy Carroll". Carroll impressed during his debut against Fulham on September 1 following a loan switch from Liverpool, only to limp off in the second half with a hamstring problem which ruled him out of England's World Cup qualifiers with Moldova and Ukraine. The 23-year-old striker has now resumed light training and could be back in contention for the visit of Arsenal on October 6. Before then, however, the Irons have some testing fixtures, including a home tie with Sunderland this weekend as well as a Capital One Cup clash against Wigan ahead of a trip to QPR. Allardyce expects the rest of the squad to step up to the challenges ahead. He said: "It depends on the likes of Carlton Cole and Modibo Maiga stepping in and doing the business, making sure we use the strength of the squad when we need to. "We have only got two players injured at the moment, a lot of other teams in the Premier League have more. If that continues it will help for us to be more and more consistent.
"Andy Carroll has only played 68 minutes for us. We have conceded just three goals, all at Swansea, and kept clean sheets in the other games. "It is not all about Andy, but it is about us trying to perform as a team again on Saturday against Sunderland." Allardyce hopes Carroll will be able to rejoin the rest of the squad soon enough. "Andy is improving day by day," he added. "He has started some light training now and we continue to try to monitor it day by day and see when he's going to be available and ready to join back in with the players. "The very earliest, if we are very lucky, would be the last game before the international break which I think would be Arsenal."
Midfielder Jack Collison, however, remains sidelined by an ongoing knee problem. "Obviously Jack is a big concern because he has not kicked a ball for us yet since the end of last season," Allardyce added. "He was a major influence in our promotion year so we would love to get Jack back as quickly as we possibly can."
West Ham battled to a goalless draw at Norwich last weekend, which was their fourth clean sheet of the season, and Allardyce will be looking for more of the same against Sunderland. The emphasis of shutting the opposition out has been crucially important for us," he said. "If I have to be slightly critical, it is about our finishing, which has not been quite as good as it should be to promote the chances we have created. "But if we work hard to get that clean sheet, then one goal can win us a game."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Friday, September 21
Thursday, September 20
Daily WHUFC News - 20th September 2012
Jarvis targets Boleyn bow
WHUFC.com
Matt Jarvis is hoping to make his home debut against Sunderland after
returning from a thigh injury
19.09.2012
Matt Jarvis is delighted to be back after returning to action against
Norwich City following a thigh injury. The summer signing from Wolves missed
the 3-0 Boleyn Ground win against Fulham ten days ago but made an impressive
comeback against the Canaries, playing a menacing role from the bench in the
final stages at Carrow Road. Jarvis has yet to play at the Boleyn Ground but
hopes to have done enough to be recalled to the starting XI for Saturday's
clash with Sunderland, where he could come up against at least one familiar
face. "I spent a long time with Steven Fletcher and had a very good
partnership with him at Wolves," he told West Ham TV. "But it is all about
West Ham United now and we want to take all three points. "Unfortunately I
picked up a slight thigh injury in training, which has forced me to miss the
last couple of weeks, but I am fully recovered now and I am delighted to be
back in the squad and back on the pitch."
Jarvis' maiden and unique cap for England came against Ghana at Wembley in
March last year and the winger hopes to propel himself back into the
international set-up by impressing for the Hammers this season. "You have to
play well for your club and play regularly to be called up for your country
and that is exactly what I want to do. The squad we have is very strong and
everyone is fighting for a place in the starting eleven. I am no different
and I need to prove myself if I want to be starting week in, week out."
The Hammers currently sit eighth in the Barclays Premier League following an
extremely positive start to the season and Jarvis hopes they can keep their
form going for the foreseeable future. "I think the manager has got exactly
what he wanted with us having a good start and hopefully we can keep the run
going this weekend.
"We had plenty of chances against Norwich and maybe we should have put one
of ours away. It would have been nice to get the win but it was very hot,
which took it out of everyone involved. "There were a lot of chances for
both sides but it didn't fall right for either one. Overall I was just
pleased to be involved in the game and happy to be back."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cooking up a storm
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's young professionals are receiving cooking lessons to help
them to eat healthily
18.09.2012
West Ham United's young professionals are receiving cooking lessons to
ensure they eat healthy meals when they are not in and around the club.
Players are provided with meals when training, preparing for matches or
living at the club's Academy House, but it is imperative that they also
stick to a nutritional diet when not at work. With that in mind, Academy
nutritionalist Chris Curtis and chef Adam Viggars have arranged special
early-morning classes during which players are taught how to cook healthy
breakfasts, lunches and evening meals. Earlier this week first-year
professionals Pelly Ruddock and Dominic Vose and second-year scholar Leo
Chambers joined Viggars in the kitchen at Chadwell Heath, where they learned
how to make poached eggs, omelettes and smoothie drinks. "Basically we are
trying to improve their life skills off the field as what they eat is as
important as what they do on the pitch," said Curtis. "We are giving them
lessons in how to prepare basic healthy meals for themselves so they eat as
nutritional a diet as possible throughout the week. "Some of the lads have
already asked us for some recipes so they can cook basic dishes like pasta
at home, so they are definitely taking it on board really well. It is
important that they get into good eating habits at a young age because they
are working in an environment where they need to be at a peak level of
performance all the time. "If they learn these skills now then they will be
able to develop them throughout their careers."
Chef Viggars, who cooks for the first-team squad on a daily basis, said the
players had enjoyed their time in the kitchen, despite the sessions being
scheduled for 8am before training! "I like teaching the young lads to cook
because it gives them an insight into what we do every day," he confirmed.
"The first session saw the lads learn how to cook lunch and this week we
have done breakfasts. It is good for them to see what goes into the dishes
that we prepare for them and I'm sure a few of them will go home now and get
out their saucepans and have a go themselves."
Chambers, who was delighted with his efforts at making a ham and vegetable
omelette, said he and his fellow team-mates thoroughly enjoyed swapping
their football kits for aprons to take part in the sessions. "We don't have
to cook too much for ourselves usually as a lot of us live in the Academy
House, where our meals are prepared for us, so I have enjoyed the sessions
and learning new skills," said the England Under-18 defender. "It is
important that we learn how to cook for ourselves because we'll be living on
our own soon. Healthy foods are very important for us and they don't have to
be bland and tasteless like some people might think. "I was quite pleased
with my omelette but, saying that, nobody else wanted to taste it!"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Jarvis set sights on England
But £10.75m winger wants to establish West Ham place first
Last Updated: September 19, 2012 12:23pm
SSN
West Ham's recent signing Matt Jarvis admits he still harbours ambitions of
becoming an England regular. But the winger knows he must cement a place in
Sam Allardyce's starting XI before switching his attentions to the
international stage. Jarvis, 26, has been capped once by England after
appearing as a second-half substitute in a Wembley friendly against Ghana in
March 2011. The ex-Gillingham player joined West Ham from relegated Wolves
in a £10.75million deal last month as he aims to reclaim his international
place.
Fight
He returned to the Hammers bench for last weekend's Premier League trip to
Norwich after a thigh injury and now hopes to start against visitors
Sunderland this weekend. "You have to play well for your club and play
regularly to be called up for your country and that is exactly what I want
to do," Jarvis told West Ham's official website. "The squad we have is very
strong and everyone is fighting for a place in the starting XI. "I'm no
different and I need to prove myself if I want to be starting week in week
out."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Your time Vaz come
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 19th September 2012
By: Tom Kilbey
To say Ricardo Vaz Te's career has been up and down would be a gross
understatement. From his early days as a promising youngster, after failing
to flourish in the Premier League despite remaining on Bolton's books for
seven years, he found himself at an obscure Greek club before Barnsley
offered the Portuguese winger a second crack of the proverbial whip.
After a short spell at Oakwell, Sam Allardyce had seen enough to re-sign the
player who he had managed at Bolton. After an inconsistent start to the
season, the question of whether RVT is Premier League quality remains to be
seen.
Anyone who watched the winger last season, both for West Ham or the Tykes,
would have learnt a few things about him. He is a tricky player, unafraid to
take players on with his quick feet. He also demonstrated his eye for goal.
Finishing as one of the top scorers last season in the Championship, Vaz Te
carries a rocket of a shot which can often be too hot for keepers to handle
(just ask the Brighton goalkeeper).
On top of this, despite being a technical player, he does not lack the
physical attributes that are so important for a forward in the top English
divisions. He stands at a deceptive 6"2, and although can be known to go
down too easily, he is by no means weak, and combined with his pace, he
looks to have all the ingredients required to be a decent top flight player.
Questions have been asked about his attitude, and this is something that
Allardyce addressed at the end of last season, noting the player had matured
considerably since his time at Bolton. Despite this, for an innocuous squad
player, he does have the habit of drawing attention to himself. Granted,
he's no Ballotelli, but in the last few months, he's been quoted as saying
some ill advised things.
Take the example in the lead up to the Euro 2012 finals, where he complained
about his omission from the squad despite applying his trade in the
Championship and lesser leagues in Europe through the duration of his
career. Or how about the example when he stated he wouldn't hesitate to
leave West Ham if a 'bigger' club came in for him? Now, confidence can be a
good thing, in fact it is an essential trait for a top player, but perhaps
his attitude should be toned down at least until he has established himself
enough to justify the claims he makes.
So is he the top player he claims to be? Firstly it is so important to
realise that players who flourish in the second tier often do not make such
an impact the season after. Take Adel Tarrabt for example. A very similar
player who made arguably a bigger impact in the Championship never really
capitalised as much as was expected of him.
Despite Ricardo's good attributes, there are definitely areas of his game
that could be improved. I won't dwell on this too much, but the one
outstanding area, which was highlighted to a ridiculous extent on Saturday
was his crossing. He will score goals, but he rarely provides assists for
his team mates, and his crossing is woeful at times. This will definitely be
a concern for Allardyce who makes it no secret that his master plan involves
getting quality balls into the box.
He also seems to be a confidence player who thrives on the knowledge that he
can beat the defender in front of him. Against Fulham, he showed the
familiar swagger that he regularly demonstrated last season. Against Norwich
it was a different story. In a game where his pace could have been used on
the counter attack, on numerous occasions, he ate up 30 or 40 yards before
checking back, consequently slowing the tempo of the game down.
He is at his best when he is at his most direct, and we should be able to
rely on him as a dangerous outlet (after all, how many direct wingers have
we had in the last ten years that can take players on).
I think given time in the top flight, he will adapt his game. He is clearly
motivated, and believes in his ability to shine at the top level, so I have
faith that he can prove to be a Premier League player. My concern is that,
with a fully fit squad, at this moment in time I wouldn't have Ricky in my
first team, particularly at home, and more importantly I think Allardyce
would agree with me.
With Carroll up front, I would place emphasis on crossing. Matt Taylor may
not be the most dynamic player in the league, but he is a fantastic crosser
of the ball on top of his ability to contribute to set pieces. On top of
this, he will get a few goals, and his workrate and experience as a defender
means he can put a shift in and help out our full backs when required. And
on the other wing, we can't look past Jarvis to provide the quality of
delivery that BFS is after.
To conclude, I think its incredibly important that Vaz Te remains patient
this year. If his ego gets the better of him, his days at West Ham could be
numbered. He may find his first team chances limited, and it will be so
important for his attitude to be right when he does get his opportunities.
We may find that he can be best utilised as an impact sub, and would appear
to fit this role far better than say, Matt Taylor.
If he can channel his confidence, there's no doubt in my mind he can prove
to be an integral part of our first team. This includes using the
competition for his position as a positive, rather than a negative. Whether
he can apply himself and vindicate Allardyce's decision to commend his
maturity is something only time will tell.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham winger Matt Jarvis harbours England ambitions
SIMON PEACH WEDNESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2012
The Independent
West Ham winger Matt Jarvis is targeting an England recall but knows he must
first establish himself in the east Londoners' starting line-up. The
26-year-old made his international debut against Ghana last year but has yet
to add to that single cap - something he hopes will changes after joining
the Hammers from Wolves for a club record fee of £10.75million. Jarvis has
so far only made two appearances for Sam Allardyce's side since his summer
move due to a thigh injury, but is fit to face Sunderland this weekend at
Upton Park. "You have to play well for your club and play regularly to be
called up for your country and that is exactly what I want to do," he told
West Ham TV. "The squad we have is very strong and everyone is fighting for
a place in the starting eleven. "I am no different and I need to prove
myself if I want to be starting week in, week out. "Unfortunately I picked
up a slight thigh injury in training, which has forced me to miss the last
couple of weeks, but I am fully recovered now and I am delighted to be back
in the squad and back on the pitch."
Despite Jarvis' absence, West Ham have enjoyed a successful start to life
back in the Premier League. The Hammers have picked up two wins and a draw
from their four opening matches, with Saturday's 0-0 at Norwich leaving them
eighth in the standings. "I think the manager has got exactly what he wanted
with us having a good start and hopefully we can keep the run going this
weekend," Jarvis added. "We had plenty of chances against Norwich and maybe
we should have put one of ours away. "It would have been nice to get the win
but it was very hot, which took it out of everyone involved. "There were a
lot of chances for both sides but it didn't fall right for either one.
Overall I was just pleased to be involved in the game and happy to be back."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Matt Jarvis is hoping to make his home debut against Sunderland after
returning from a thigh injury
19.09.2012
Matt Jarvis is delighted to be back after returning to action against
Norwich City following a thigh injury. The summer signing from Wolves missed
the 3-0 Boleyn Ground win against Fulham ten days ago but made an impressive
comeback against the Canaries, playing a menacing role from the bench in the
final stages at Carrow Road. Jarvis has yet to play at the Boleyn Ground but
hopes to have done enough to be recalled to the starting XI for Saturday's
clash with Sunderland, where he could come up against at least one familiar
face. "I spent a long time with Steven Fletcher and had a very good
partnership with him at Wolves," he told West Ham TV. "But it is all about
West Ham United now and we want to take all three points. "Unfortunately I
picked up a slight thigh injury in training, which has forced me to miss the
last couple of weeks, but I am fully recovered now and I am delighted to be
back in the squad and back on the pitch."
Jarvis' maiden and unique cap for England came against Ghana at Wembley in
March last year and the winger hopes to propel himself back into the
international set-up by impressing for the Hammers this season. "You have to
play well for your club and play regularly to be called up for your country
and that is exactly what I want to do. The squad we have is very strong and
everyone is fighting for a place in the starting eleven. I am no different
and I need to prove myself if I want to be starting week in, week out."
The Hammers currently sit eighth in the Barclays Premier League following an
extremely positive start to the season and Jarvis hopes they can keep their
form going for the foreseeable future. "I think the manager has got exactly
what he wanted with us having a good start and hopefully we can keep the run
going this weekend.
"We had plenty of chances against Norwich and maybe we should have put one
of ours away. It would have been nice to get the win but it was very hot,
which took it out of everyone involved. "There were a lot of chances for
both sides but it didn't fall right for either one. Overall I was just
pleased to be involved in the game and happy to be back."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Cooking up a storm
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's young professionals are receiving cooking lessons to help
them to eat healthily
18.09.2012
West Ham United's young professionals are receiving cooking lessons to
ensure they eat healthy meals when they are not in and around the club.
Players are provided with meals when training, preparing for matches or
living at the club's Academy House, but it is imperative that they also
stick to a nutritional diet when not at work. With that in mind, Academy
nutritionalist Chris Curtis and chef Adam Viggars have arranged special
early-morning classes during which players are taught how to cook healthy
breakfasts, lunches and evening meals. Earlier this week first-year
professionals Pelly Ruddock and Dominic Vose and second-year scholar Leo
Chambers joined Viggars in the kitchen at Chadwell Heath, where they learned
how to make poached eggs, omelettes and smoothie drinks. "Basically we are
trying to improve their life skills off the field as what they eat is as
important as what they do on the pitch," said Curtis. "We are giving them
lessons in how to prepare basic healthy meals for themselves so they eat as
nutritional a diet as possible throughout the week. "Some of the lads have
already asked us for some recipes so they can cook basic dishes like pasta
at home, so they are definitely taking it on board really well. It is
important that they get into good eating habits at a young age because they
are working in an environment where they need to be at a peak level of
performance all the time. "If they learn these skills now then they will be
able to develop them throughout their careers."
Chef Viggars, who cooks for the first-team squad on a daily basis, said the
players had enjoyed their time in the kitchen, despite the sessions being
scheduled for 8am before training! "I like teaching the young lads to cook
because it gives them an insight into what we do every day," he confirmed.
"The first session saw the lads learn how to cook lunch and this week we
have done breakfasts. It is good for them to see what goes into the dishes
that we prepare for them and I'm sure a few of them will go home now and get
out their saucepans and have a go themselves."
Chambers, who was delighted with his efforts at making a ham and vegetable
omelette, said he and his fellow team-mates thoroughly enjoyed swapping
their football kits for aprons to take part in the sessions. "We don't have
to cook too much for ourselves usually as a lot of us live in the Academy
House, where our meals are prepared for us, so I have enjoyed the sessions
and learning new skills," said the England Under-18 defender. "It is
important that we learn how to cook for ourselves because we'll be living on
our own soon. Healthy foods are very important for us and they don't have to
be bland and tasteless like some people might think. "I was quite pleased
with my omelette but, saying that, nobody else wanted to taste it!"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Jarvis set sights on England
But £10.75m winger wants to establish West Ham place first
Last Updated: September 19, 2012 12:23pm
SSN
West Ham's recent signing Matt Jarvis admits he still harbours ambitions of
becoming an England regular. But the winger knows he must cement a place in
Sam Allardyce's starting XI before switching his attentions to the
international stage. Jarvis, 26, has been capped once by England after
appearing as a second-half substitute in a Wembley friendly against Ghana in
March 2011. The ex-Gillingham player joined West Ham from relegated Wolves
in a £10.75million deal last month as he aims to reclaim his international
place.
Fight
He returned to the Hammers bench for last weekend's Premier League trip to
Norwich after a thigh injury and now hopes to start against visitors
Sunderland this weekend. "You have to play well for your club and play
regularly to be called up for your country and that is exactly what I want
to do," Jarvis told West Ham's official website. "The squad we have is very
strong and everyone is fighting for a place in the starting XI. "I'm no
different and I need to prove myself if I want to be starting week in week
out."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Your time Vaz come
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 19th September 2012
By: Tom Kilbey
To say Ricardo Vaz Te's career has been up and down would be a gross
understatement. From his early days as a promising youngster, after failing
to flourish in the Premier League despite remaining on Bolton's books for
seven years, he found himself at an obscure Greek club before Barnsley
offered the Portuguese winger a second crack of the proverbial whip.
After a short spell at Oakwell, Sam Allardyce had seen enough to re-sign the
player who he had managed at Bolton. After an inconsistent start to the
season, the question of whether RVT is Premier League quality remains to be
seen.
Anyone who watched the winger last season, both for West Ham or the Tykes,
would have learnt a few things about him. He is a tricky player, unafraid to
take players on with his quick feet. He also demonstrated his eye for goal.
Finishing as one of the top scorers last season in the Championship, Vaz Te
carries a rocket of a shot which can often be too hot for keepers to handle
(just ask the Brighton goalkeeper).
On top of this, despite being a technical player, he does not lack the
physical attributes that are so important for a forward in the top English
divisions. He stands at a deceptive 6"2, and although can be known to go
down too easily, he is by no means weak, and combined with his pace, he
looks to have all the ingredients required to be a decent top flight player.
Questions have been asked about his attitude, and this is something that
Allardyce addressed at the end of last season, noting the player had matured
considerably since his time at Bolton. Despite this, for an innocuous squad
player, he does have the habit of drawing attention to himself. Granted,
he's no Ballotelli, but in the last few months, he's been quoted as saying
some ill advised things.
Take the example in the lead up to the Euro 2012 finals, where he complained
about his omission from the squad despite applying his trade in the
Championship and lesser leagues in Europe through the duration of his
career. Or how about the example when he stated he wouldn't hesitate to
leave West Ham if a 'bigger' club came in for him? Now, confidence can be a
good thing, in fact it is an essential trait for a top player, but perhaps
his attitude should be toned down at least until he has established himself
enough to justify the claims he makes.
So is he the top player he claims to be? Firstly it is so important to
realise that players who flourish in the second tier often do not make such
an impact the season after. Take Adel Tarrabt for example. A very similar
player who made arguably a bigger impact in the Championship never really
capitalised as much as was expected of him.
Despite Ricardo's good attributes, there are definitely areas of his game
that could be improved. I won't dwell on this too much, but the one
outstanding area, which was highlighted to a ridiculous extent on Saturday
was his crossing. He will score goals, but he rarely provides assists for
his team mates, and his crossing is woeful at times. This will definitely be
a concern for Allardyce who makes it no secret that his master plan involves
getting quality balls into the box.
He also seems to be a confidence player who thrives on the knowledge that he
can beat the defender in front of him. Against Fulham, he showed the
familiar swagger that he regularly demonstrated last season. Against Norwich
it was a different story. In a game where his pace could have been used on
the counter attack, on numerous occasions, he ate up 30 or 40 yards before
checking back, consequently slowing the tempo of the game down.
He is at his best when he is at his most direct, and we should be able to
rely on him as a dangerous outlet (after all, how many direct wingers have
we had in the last ten years that can take players on).
I think given time in the top flight, he will adapt his game. He is clearly
motivated, and believes in his ability to shine at the top level, so I have
faith that he can prove to be a Premier League player. My concern is that,
with a fully fit squad, at this moment in time I wouldn't have Ricky in my
first team, particularly at home, and more importantly I think Allardyce
would agree with me.
With Carroll up front, I would place emphasis on crossing. Matt Taylor may
not be the most dynamic player in the league, but he is a fantastic crosser
of the ball on top of his ability to contribute to set pieces. On top of
this, he will get a few goals, and his workrate and experience as a defender
means he can put a shift in and help out our full backs when required. And
on the other wing, we can't look past Jarvis to provide the quality of
delivery that BFS is after.
To conclude, I think its incredibly important that Vaz Te remains patient
this year. If his ego gets the better of him, his days at West Ham could be
numbered. He may find his first team chances limited, and it will be so
important for his attitude to be right when he does get his opportunities.
We may find that he can be best utilised as an impact sub, and would appear
to fit this role far better than say, Matt Taylor.
If he can channel his confidence, there's no doubt in my mind he can prove
to be an integral part of our first team. This includes using the
competition for his position as a positive, rather than a negative. Whether
he can apply himself and vindicate Allardyce's decision to commend his
maturity is something only time will tell.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham winger Matt Jarvis harbours England ambitions
SIMON PEACH WEDNESDAY 19 SEPTEMBER 2012
The Independent
West Ham winger Matt Jarvis is targeting an England recall but knows he must
first establish himself in the east Londoners' starting line-up. The
26-year-old made his international debut against Ghana last year but has yet
to add to that single cap - something he hopes will changes after joining
the Hammers from Wolves for a club record fee of £10.75million. Jarvis has
so far only made two appearances for Sam Allardyce's side since his summer
move due to a thigh injury, but is fit to face Sunderland this weekend at
Upton Park. "You have to play well for your club and play regularly to be
called up for your country and that is exactly what I want to do," he told
West Ham TV. "The squad we have is very strong and everyone is fighting for
a place in the starting eleven. "I am no different and I need to prove
myself if I want to be starting week in, week out. "Unfortunately I picked
up a slight thigh injury in training, which has forced me to miss the last
couple of weeks, but I am fully recovered now and I am delighted to be back
in the squad and back on the pitch."
Despite Jarvis' absence, West Ham have enjoyed a successful start to life
back in the Premier League. The Hammers have picked up two wins and a draw
from their four opening matches, with Saturday's 0-0 at Norwich leaving them
eighth in the standings. "I think the manager has got exactly what he wanted
with us having a good start and hopefully we can keep the run going this
weekend," Jarvis added. "We had plenty of chances against Norwich and maybe
we should have put one of ours away. "It would have been nice to get the win
but it was very hot, which took it out of everyone involved. "There were a
lot of chances for both sides but it didn't fall right for either one.
Overall I was just pleased to be involved in the game and happy to be back."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Wednesday, September 19
Daily WHUFC News - 19th September 2012
Collins committed to defensive cause
WHUFC.com
James Collins was pleased to play his part in another shut-out against Norwich City
18.09.2012
James Collins believes West Ham United are beginning to state their intentions for this season after a solid point away from home at Norwich City on Saturday.
Another strong defensive display resulted in Collins and his team-mates picking up their third clean sheet in four Barclays Premier League games. The No19 put in his usual all-action display and was understandably pleased to notch up another clean sheet, both for his fellow defenders and the rest of the team. "The manager has said to us about the importance of keeping clean sheets, because it always gives you a chance of winning any game," Collins said. "We have been working on that and apart from the match at Swansea, we have been on target. "Against Norwich we had chances, so did they and people watching will probably wonder how it stayed 0-0. There were lots of opportunities for us both, but no one could stick the ball in the back of the net, so I suppose you could say a draw was a fair result. For us it was another clean sheet and a point to take home."
Collins and central defensive partner Winston Reid were impressive once again, with the latter named Man of the Match for his efforts. For Collins, though, the point was a chance to bounce back from the difficult afternoon at Swansea City three weeks earlier. "We were bitterly disappointed that day in Swansea, me personally as well. Individual mistakes cost us but since then we have been spot on and long may it continue. "It was a hard match against Norwich as there was a quick tempo throughout the game, but that is part of our plan - to put teams on the back foot as soon as we can and we did that again. Unfortunately, we couldn't get the goal we wanted but on another day we will."
Collins had words of praise for all of his team-mates but especially goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, who played his part in making sure a point at least was going back to east London. "I felt as a team we gave a strong performance - we stood firm to them and the basis of our performances has been in trying to keep clean sheets.
"Jussi made some great saves. He is right up there with the best keepers I have played with, he talks well on the pitch and in the dressing room. He has played in the Premier League for longer than I can remember now. "His experience meant that for some of the shots, he already knew which way they were going to go and that is great for helping us boys in front of him."
The Wales international, who returned to West Ham from Aston Villa in the summer, was also confident that a decision to award Norwich a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area - instead of a spot kick - was correct, with his tackle on Andrew Surman falling just outside the box. "I was pretty confident it was outside the area but fair play to the referee, he made a great decision. We saw it again and the ref said before making a decision he looked at where the marks were on the pitch, from me sliding in to making the tackle. They were outside the box, so he made the right decision."
As a team that has just been promoted, Collins knows that it is important to get as many points as possible early on. It is an ambition that manager Sam Allardyce and his coaching staff have drilled into the players since the first day of pre-season. "During pre-season, we were talking about getting off to a good start, taking it on from last season when the boys got promoted at Wembley and finishing the season well. "We haven't come back up to this league just to stay up. If we can, we want to do more. I think we have shown that in our performances already that we have it in us to finish as high as we can."
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The Big Interview - Jussi Jaaskelainen
WHUFC.com
Jussi Jaaskelainen talks precious points, clean sheets and his reunion with Big Sam
17.09.2012
Jussi Jaaskelainen is no stranger to the Barclays Premier League, but the West Ham United goalkeeper has further staked his claim as top-flight great after an impressive start to the 2012/13 season. After ending 14 years with Bolton Wanderers, Jaaskelainen joined West Ham and has instantly established himself as Big Sam's No1, keeping three clean sheets in four league starts. Speaking after the 0-0 draw at Norwich City, the former Finland international was delighted to have added another one to his growing collection.
Jussi, that's another game, another clean sheet and another point on the board. You must be delighted with the start both you and the club have made?
JJ - "It has been a very good start to the season. You can see we are continuing to build together as a team and to have kept three clean sheets in four games is obviously a very good start. But to come away from home against a good side in Norwich with another clean sheet and another point is very pleasing."
You haven't been tested as much as you could have been this season, particularly against Fulham, but on Saturday you really proved your worth to the team with a number of impressive stops?
JJ - "Sometimes you have to be there to help out the team in certain situations and on Saturday I was able to do just that. The biggest disappointment for us was to not get a goal in the first half and that maybe in the second half our attacking play didn't have the same quality it could have."
You are 37-years-old now, so do you still get the same buzz when you hear the fans leaving the game saying 'Jasskelainen really helped our side earn a point today' and so on?
JJ - "To me it doesn't matter what people say, it is all about the involvement. I have a new challenge this season at a new club after being at the same one for 14 years playing week in week out. So now I hope to get into that same rhythm again and keep picking up clean sheets and points along the way."
West Ham United were without a first-choice goalkeeper when you arrived. Has that helped you settle, knowing that the club need you?
JJ - "For me it is always the same wherever you are. I try to work hard throughout the week to make sure I am ready for the game on Saturday. It helps that I have played in the Premier League before and I already know Sam (Allardyce) and his backroom staff. I really like the way they look after their players and hopefully I can repay them by keeping my performance levels at the same heights they have been so far this season. As a goalkeeper it is all about consistency."
Is being second-choice goalkeeper a difficult and frustrating position to be in, or is it more about remaining focused and taking your chance when called upon?
JJ - "Yes, but that is the way it is. Last season I was injured over the Christmas period so the manager had to put his trust in another goalkeeper, but that is what football is like. I was lucky enough to play for 14 years week in week out but I also had times in my career where I was on the bench. When this happened I made sure I kept working hard to ensure that when I got my chance I was ready and I took it."
Winston Reid narrowly beat you to the Man of the Match award on Saturday, which was a controversial decision wasn't it?!
JJ - "It doesn't matter! I would take a clean sheet over man of the match every week of the season.. Winston is a very good player and he has started the season well. The whole team is also defending well and we still have the likes of Tonks (James Tomkins) ready to come in and impress. We have very good strength in depth, I know Sam likes to bring in quality players and you can see the squad is very good, hopefully we will all stay fit and if we don't the players who don't start every game need to ensure they're ready to step in."
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Fifty shades of grey: a homage to old Hammers
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 16th September 2012
By: Rich Hobday
The Fifty Shades Trilogy - Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed - has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, in 37 countries – mainly to undersexed, under-satisfied mums.
That is either 40 million wives with more exciting sex lives or 40 million disappointed wives, who realise their beer-bellied partners are no match for the Fifty Shades hero called Christian. It's created a new genre of literary works – branded 'Mummy Porn' – whetting a newly found appetite for sex, bondage and fetish amongst women of a certain age. Increasing sales at Mr Gold's Anne Summers empire in the process?
Maybe we should thank Fifty Shades for helping to pay Andy Carroll's wages. In the interests of research I borrowed a Fifty Shades book from one of said undersexed mums (not my wife) but excitement was minimal. I get more excited by West Ham United and our very own hero called Christian - Christian Dailly.
Of course, unlike Fifty Shades, we have more than one hero to worship. West Ham provides more excitement and passion than any of the 969 pages of the trilogy. There is, however, similarity between Fifty Shades and the Hammers - in the words of one literary critic: "Fifty Shades will excite you, obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever". No better way of describing West Ham United.
Like the trilogy's hero Christian Grey, West Ham hold a power over us – they excite, yet disappoint. They make us laugh, they make us cry. West Ham is simply our life. Whatever they do, however badly they treat us – we love them and we come back for more.
Like 40 million people, my brief encounter with Fifty Shades stirred something inside me. It fired my passion. A passion to create a new trilogy. To pay homage to West Ham heroes and villains - the cause of our pain, heartache and tears. The reason for our being.
Read a nostalgic review of our oldest players in "Fifty Shades of Grey", a salute to legendary centre midfielders in "Fifty Shades Parker" and a spit in the direction of those overpaid Hammers in "Fifty Shades Greed"...
"You'll never win anything with kids" - Alan Hansen, August 1995
"You need experience when the chips are down" John Lyall, August 1989
Every successful team needs a mix of youth and experience; young and old. But how old is too old? 35 is the age we consider moving from the blistering pace of league football to the sedentary stroll of the local vets league. The pitches set against a backdrop of rolling countryside. The teams against a backdrop of rolling subs, rolling stomachs, and rolling joints.
But many 'vets' have excelled for West Ham over the years, including in the Premier League – the best league in the world. They may have grey hair, but they have guile. They may lack pace but they play with grace. From Teddy Sheringham to Les Sealey we have had some vintage claret, who just got better with age. From front to back, West Ham's golden oldies have excelled – keepers, defenders, midfielders and strikers – leaving youngsters in their wake.
My top 10 'vets' defy age and have pushed their bodies to the brink, for the cause of West Ham United.
The day after West Ham's promotion in 1993, back pages were full of West Hams golden oldies – David Speedie and Clive Allen. Both scored. Both were old. Both were past their best. But they were mere babes at 33 and 32 respectively. They had nothing on perhaps the best veteran, Billy Bonds – the most capped Hammer, the original captain brave heart.
A career of 793 games, spanning 21 seasons, saw Bonzo play into his 42nd year. He was still marauding like a bearded pirate, covering every inch of grass, tackling, blocking and battling to the end. No-one was fitter, no-one more passionate and having retired once, he came back for another two seasons, such was his importance and dedication to the club.
He eventually hung up his boots in 1988, still leading the long distance runs in training, still with a fire in his belly – Bonzo was the mount Everest of old players – the top man, a number one, top of the heap. His desire, his hunger, his passion, puts to shame the little effort of many who've worn the beloved claret and blue, before and since. He is the benchmark to which all over 35's should aspire.
Goalkeepers are deemed to be mad. They are also angry. But they seem to improve with age. Even now, Brad Friedel, at 41, is holding down the number one spot at Tottenham, showing quick reactions and agility unbefitting someone of his age. We have seen our very own Les Sealey (39) Shaka Hislop (37) and Ludek Miklosko (35) keep goal with distinction – a mantle handed over to our most recent number one, Jussi Jaaskelainen, who at 37 still seems sharp.
Shaka, Ludo and Les have a special place in the hearts of Hammers. Although Sealey only played four times, his presence was formidable both on and off the pitch. His debut was up front against Arsenal, as a substitute where he snarled, moaned and kicked his way into our hearts. On or off the pitch Sealey spent all game scowling and kicking out in frustration. He wanted perfection. That passion is what West Ham is all about.
Les was a one off and sorely missed. Ludo is a legend. 315 games and the longest goal kick in the world ensured his place as a crowd favourite. How Big Sam would love his long kicks onto Carroll's head. Ludo's name still rings round Upton Park in honour…. his name is Ludek Miklosko; He comes from near Moscow...
At the back we have been blessed with Alvin Martin (37), Nigel Winterburn (37) and Stuart Pearce (39). Alvin is one of the all time greats at West Ham – a hero, legend, an icon. I grew up watching the Hammers of the 1980s, whose players have a special place in my heart. From the FA Cup winning team of 1980 to the Boys of '86, these are true West Ham legends - Brooking; Bonds; Lampard; Stewart – Martin; Gale; Cottee; McAvennie. Over 3700 West Ham games between them.
Alvin Martin, aged 37 was better than most of the centre backs since, collectively. For me he was simply the best. Pearce played with passion, commitment and anger rarely seen. His legs the size of tree trunks, his face red with rage. He famously played on with a broken leg, not letting that small knock keep him off the pitch. He scared players into playing better. You dare not say no to Stuart Pearce - perhaps the reason he was simultaneously, manager of England U21's, Caretaker of the full England team and GB Team manager. No-one dare say no.
If Pearce was the ultimate hard man, Winterburn I'm afraid was not. Undoubtedly a great full back, but a fighter ? No. His Arsenal spat with Paolo Di Canio was brilliant. Nigel tried to incite Paolo but shit himself as it looked like Di Canio would smash him in the face. You wouldn't want Nigel on your side in a fight, but you would want him on your side on the pitch. Winterburn still had what it took and showed at 37, in 82 games, he was still a class act for the Hammers.
In midfield we have seen the silky John Moncur aged 36, still running and tackling all over the pitch. No game went by without the Moncur turn. Nothing looks better – Mark Noble obviously thinks so. Moncs played for nine seasons, 176 games, 884 Moncur turns, and three sendings off. Latterly, the cheeky chap Moncs, turned to religion, but I'm sure he misses the terrace chants of "He's here he's there; He's every-f*cking-where..."
Up front we have witnessed international strikers playing into their early forties. Teddy Sheringham still had the best football brain on display as he became the oldest outfield player in Dec 2006, against Man City. A natural goal scorer and play maker, Teddy could link up midfield and attack like no other. In his one season in the Championship he scored 20 goals and created many more for Marlon Harewood and Bobby Zamora, in our promotion season.
His age didn't affect his never-existing pace – but his brain was the quickest around. He stood head and shoulders above the Championship plodders and journeyman, and was a joy to watch. He could guide the ball with head or chest into the path of our attacking midfielders. He obviously loved using the chest – a skill he fine tuned when dating Jordon. His touch and ability to cushion the ball continued in the FA Cup Final, when in May 2006, Sheringham became the third oldest player to appear in an a final, at 40 years and 41 days old. He remained a West Ham player until after his 41st birthday.
Teddy was the coolest at the club on the ball, and the coolest in the clubs. Flings with Nicola Smith (Mandy Smith's sister), and a string of Page 3 models, showed he never took his eye off the goal. He even bagged Miss GB, Daneille Lloyd, when he was on the judging panel. Anyone who can play Premiership football and bag Page 3 models in their 40s is simply a legend.
Ian Wright enjoyed a brief spell with West Ham and although past his best still added bite and speed up front. For me he is worth a place in my top 10 simply for getting sent off against Leeds, and smashing the shit out of the ref's dressing room.
Others who didn't make my top 10 "Shades of Grey" included Rob Lee, a real silver fox, Bernard Lama the talented but erratic 'keeper and Les Ferdinand, who made 14 appearances for us as we were relegated in 2003. Lee Chapman looked over 40 for much of his career, and had a lack of speed to match – but he was only 34 when he left West Ham, so can't be included. Maybe he needs to visit his wife's surgeon for some facial age reduction treatment.
I would also have loved to include Peter Shilton, who signed for West Ham aged 47 in 1996 – but he never made an appearance, despite being named as a substitute several times.
Between them, these top 10 ageing Hammers played over 2,100 times for West Ham, scoring 134 goals. Grey-haired heroes stand up – if you can – and take a bow.
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The twelfth man
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 18th September 2012
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce is still mulling over offering a contract to former Lyon defender John Mensah, according to reports. As previously reported here on KUMB.com, Mensah - who is a free agent having been released by the French club this summer - recently spent time on trial with the Hammers at Chadwell Heath. And although West Ham are yet to make the Ghanaian a concrete offer fresh reports suggest that the 29-year-old could yet become the manager's 12th signing of a busy summer.
Allardyce's summer spending spree began back in May when he signed goalkeeper Stephen Henderson from Portsmouth. That was followed by the arrival of Jussi Jaaskelainen and Momo Diame in June. July saw three more players added to the roster with George McCartney, Modibo Maiga and Raphael Spiegler arriving in London. And last month James Collins, Alou Diarra, record signing Matt Jarvis and Andy Carroll took Allardyce's quota of new faces to 11. Meanwhile is it also reported that free agents Mikael Silvestre and Anthony Vanden Borre, who have also spent time with West Ham recently, will not be offered contracts.
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West Ham linked with 'money laundering' row
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 18th September 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are at the centre of a new third-party row involving former loan striker Brian Montenegro. Last August the club announced that they had taken the teenage striker on a season-long loan from Uruguayan club Deportivo Maldonado. However it has now been revealed that the young striker, now 19, never actually played for the club. According to a report published by Bloomberg, West Ham were one of three European clubs duped within the last 18 months as a result of unauthorised player trading - a system designed to greatly reduce tax burdens on South American football clubs. According to lawyer Rodrigo Garcia, Montenegro is said to have been part of an elaborate scheme whereby Uruguayan clubs traded player's registrations which enables them to reduce the level of tax owed from 20 to five per cent.
Juventus, who paid Deportivo Maldonado €500,000 to take Marcelo Estigarribia on loan - and Porto, who signed Alex Sandro for €9.6million - have also been cited by the report, which insists that FIFA were aware of the situation but, according to one source, choose to "turn a deaf ear" to it.
The Argentinian tax agency claimed in a recent report that the arrangements, which involve "offshore companies" could be used for money laundering purposes. There is no suggestion that West Ham United are either involved with or aware of such practices. "Montenegro, who turned 18 in June, has joined the Hammers on a season-long loan from Uruguay-based Club Deportivo Maldonado," announced the club's website on 29th August 2011. However since leaving east London following the culmination of his year-long stay in the UK, the player has returned to Paraguayan club Tacuary - for whom he played between 2006 and 2011 - the club from whom Deportivo Maldonado obtained his registration.
The loan fee West Ham paid for Montenegro has never been disclosed. West Ham were fined £5.5million by the Premier League in April 2007 over the deal which saw Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano arrive in east London after the club were found guilty of faling to disclose the full documentation relating to the transfers. Two years later United reached an out-of-court settlement with Sheffield United after an independent tribunal chaired by Lord Griffiths found that Tevez's influence had cost the Blades their top flight status. The settlement cost West Ham in the region of £25million.
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Still the Academy of Football?
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 15th September 2012
By: Robert Watson
West Ham has been deemed as the Academy of Football in past times when we produced brilliant youth players such as Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick, Jermaine Defoe, Glen Johnson, Rio and Anton Ferdinand, Joe Cole plus more. Most of these players have gone onto play for world-class teams (of course including West Ham). Just imagine if we still had these players now. But in recent years, the youth system hasn't produced that class of players.
First of all, let's look at the positives of the youth system. Tony Carr (MBE) has been at the forefront of our Academy since 1973 and I'd like to say what a marvellous job he's done spotting/finding probably the best youth players; he is up there with the best in the world as youth directors go. He was rightly awarded a testimonial in 2010 where many of his ex-youth players showed up for a game which also included Paolo Di Canio and then West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola ( hich I was lucky enough to watch).
West Ham have recently been granted Elite Player Performance Plan Category 1 which will definitely help improve our Academy.
Now onto the players we have produced who are regular first teamers at the club at present. The main two who spring to mind are Mark Noble and James Tomkins; both homegrown boys who have been with West Ham pretty much all of their careers. They always give their all for the team and are 100 per cent committed in everything they do; they bleed claret and blue. This can also be said of Watford-born Jack Collison, who is similar to Tomkins and Noble in having joined the Academy when he was also very young (16) albeit via Cambridge United.
All three are regulars in the first team squad now (injury permitting) and enjoyed a brilliant season in the Championship. Although Jack only came back for the last few games, he played a crucial part in our play-off semi final victory against Cardiff. Noble and Tomkins enjoyed one of their best seasons at the club whilst Noble has started off superbly in the 2012/13 campaign, especially against Fulham.
In my opinion that was one of his best ever performances for West Ham; he was simply unplayable. Tomkins has had to be happy with a place on the bench because of how well Winston Reid and James Collins have played, but when he has featured he's looked solid. When he came on against Fulham he defended very well against a difficult opponent in Dimitar Berbatov.
All three have been great players for us and I hope they stay at West Ham for the whole of their careers. Tomkins and Noble have represented England at Under 21 level and Collison is a Welsh international. The Board now need to give Noble a new long term contract as we really do not want to see him go!
Apart from those three players however there haven't really been any youth players who have succeeded in the first team for a prolonged period. There was a spell when the likes of Junior Stanislas and Zavon Hines enjoyed a run in for the first team under Zola but when Sam Allardyce came in were quickly sold to Burnley.
For me, that was the right decision as they didn't really shine. Hines scored one goal at Turf Moor and now is at Bradford City whilst Stanislas was just too lightweight and never really performed on the wing, his skills seemed to get him nowhere. I believe Allardyce made the right choice selling those two players.
The summer transfer window saw us release both Frank Nouble (bought from Chelsea) and Cristian Montano, both of whom I was fairly disappointed in seeing leave. I watched Nouble in a few development/reserve games and he was the stand-out player. He failed to many many first team appearances but when he got his one and only start in the Championship he grabbed a goal against Derby (away).
Meanwhile Montano had a few loan spells in which he impressed and he looked to be a good player, another with a bit of flair and pace down the wing. However I've got to trust Allardyce's judgement, and wish both of those players all the best in their careers.
Lastly, we sold Freddie Sears to Colchester. Sears is a West Ham fan through and through but he never really did cut it after scoring the winner against Blackburn on his debut back in 2008. Perhaps the pressure got to him but he never really lived up to the expectation. I never rated him; maybe it was because he was often played out wide instead of in his favoured central striking position. But whenever he ran at a player he never seemed to have a chance; his skill or pace just never seemed to work. I also wish Sears all the best in his career at Colchester and any future clubs.
Players need game time and most of these players didn't get it at West Ham. Maybe this is a factor why they were sold/released? I believe Stanislas said outright that the fact he didn't get any game time was the reason he moved, or is it just the fact the youth we're producing isn't good enough?
At the moment we seem to have some bright young players coming through including the likes of Jordan Spence, Danny Potts and Rob Hall - all three of whom have played for the first team. From what I've seen, they all look to be definite stars for us in the future!
But onto that burning question: are we still THE Academy of Football? I'd probably have to say no; the talent we've produced recently hasn't been up there with the talents we've produced in the past not equal to the likes of Southampton who've produced Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain etc. But there's no doubt we're still producing half decent players - even if they're not quite the same quality as those we have in the past.
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Jussi - I'll repay Big Sam
Veteran keeper delighted with newly-promoted West Ham's start
Last Updated: September 18, 2012 2:15pm
SSN
West Ham goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen admits he wants to repay Sam Allardyce for giving him the chance to play regular Premier League football again. Jaaskelainen, 37, agreed to join the newly-promoted Hammers when his contract at relegated Bolton Wanderers expired during the summer. The ex-Finland international made over 500 appearances for the Trotters after arriving from VPS Vassa in 1997. But he found himself relegated to the bench last season after losing his place to Adam Bogdan in the New Year. And Allardyce, who bossed Jaaskelainen at the Reebok Stadium, quickly moved to sign the experienced keeper to replace England international Robert Green as his No.1. Jaaskelainen has been magnificent as the Hammers have kept three clean sheets in their opening four Premier League matches - and he has no intention of letting his standards slip.
Consistency
"I try to work hard throughout the week to make sure I am ready for the game on Saturday," he told West Ham's official website. "It helps that I have played in the Premier League before and I already know Sam (Allardyce) and his backroom staff. "I really like the way they look after their players and hopefully I can repay them by keeping my performance levels at the same heights they have been so far this season. "As a goalkeeper it is all about consistency." On West Ham's start, he added: "You can see we are continuing to build together as a team and to have kept three clean sheets in four games is obviously a very good start."
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Let's Pay Tribute To Our Defenders
West Ham Till I Die
I doubt many of us would have put much money on three clean sheets in our first four games. But that's what has happened, and we ought to pay tribute to the players who have achieved such a great defensive start. OK, we had the blip against Swansea, but two of the three goals conceded there were errors which just wouldn't normally happen. I think Winston Reid's form has been a revelation. When you think of how he performed in his first season with us, you'd think he was a different player. And in some ways he is. He's a young player who has matured and has learned from his mistakes. James Collins was simply awesome against Villa and has the potential to be one of our players of the season. Guy Demel has looked more confident with every game he plays and Joey O'Brien has done well filling in at left back. But perhaps some praise is owed to Jussi Jaaskelainen too. I've said before that I don't think he was the goalkeeping signing we should have made, but three clean sheets tell their own story. That's not to say he has inspired total confidence - he hasn't. But apart from his howler at Swansea he hasn't really put a foot wrong.
I just hope I can write a similar post in four games' time!
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West Ham Were Interested in Dimitar Berbatov!
West Ham Till I Die
Sam Allardyce has recently confirmed that the club were, indeed, keen to sign Dimitar Berbatov in the summer transfer window. Apparently, although the player left Man Utd for a modest £5m fee, the player's personal terms were too rich for West Ham's blood. Whereas, Fulham were better able to utilise the sizeable fees from departing players to finance the deal and salary package.
Berbatov, although 32 years of age, is undeniably still a talented player. But would he have fitted in to Allardyce's plans at West Ham? Moreover, he may be renowned as a top class forward, but he is not noted for his industry and preparedness to roll his sleeves up and graft for the cause. So, have we lost out on an important player or one who would not necessarily have 'fitted in' or who may have gone missing in difficult matches when the going got tough?
Elsewhere, West Ham recently took three 'free agent' defenders on trial. Two of those have had unsuccessful at trial, but the third, John Mensah, is still with the club and awaiting a final decision. Personally, I have a feeling that we will sign Mensah on, at least, at short-term deal. This is extra defensive assurance, but will be prove to be a good deal for the club, given Mensah's recent less an impressive fitness record?
Finally, it would appear that West Ham's name has emerged, as an innocent party, in reports of an alleged tax avoidance practice, and possible money laundering scam, operating in South America. It would appear that South American clubs are trading the registration of players and loaning them on to European clubs to reduce their tax liabilities. West Ham and Porto have both been named as European clubs who innocently loaned players under these circumstances. And of course, in West Ham's case, the player in question was Brian Montenegro-Martinez, the teenage winger/striker who was with us on loan last season, did very well for the Development Squad and then pomptly disappeared in May, without barely a mention! BMM was apparently loaned to us by Deportivo Maldonado, but has apparently since returned to his Paraguayan club, Tacuary FC!
There is no suggestion whatsoever that West Ham were involved in the practice/scam or had any knowledge of it. So, it is not another Tevez third party interest situation. However, it does demonstrate once again how complicated player ownership can be in South America and how careful British clubs need to be when purchasing or loaning players from there.
SJ. Chandos.
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Powell to use West Ham target or ex-Arsenal youngster at left back
London 24
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
5:56 PM
Charlton manager Chris Powell is confident his side can cope without injured defender Rhoys Wiggins. Left back Wiggins is expected to be out for around two months after suffering a fractured foot in the Addicks' 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Friday. Powell moved 21-year-old right back and alleged West Ham target Chris Solly to left back against Palace, with summer signing Lawrie Wilson slotting in on the right. Powell says he could also call on former Arsenal youngster Cedric Evina to fill in for Wiggins. "Sadly, Rhoys is going to miss six to eight weeks, and that's a shame because he was a key player for us last year," Powell told Charlton's official website. "We know that we have to get on without him and hopefully he will come back fighting fit. "I moved Chris Solly across to left back on Friday - he will play in any position that I ask him to and won't bat an eyelid, and will be absolutely first class because that's the sort of player he is. "That gave a chance to Lawrie Wilson, who I felt grew into the game against Palace, and of course I've got young [Cedric] Evina who has been around and played a few games last season."
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West Ham couldn't afford pricey Dimitar Berbatov, admits Big Sam
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has revealed the club tried to sign Dimitar Berbatov from Manchester United last month but could not match Fulham's offer for the veteran striker.
Metro.co.uk
The 32-year-old was desperate for regular match time after falling down the pecking order at Old Trafford and sealed his return to London on transfer deadline day.
A move to Serie A side Fiorentina was initially on the cards but the Bulgarian bailed on them at the last minute to pen a two-year-deal with Fulham. Former club Tottenham made a last ditch enquiry into his services and Allardyce has now confirmed West Ham were also interested, but money proved to be a stumbling block.
'We couldn't afford him. The problem was the transfer fee and the size of the salary was out of our domain this season in terms of our budget,' Allardyce revealed.
'Fulham created their own transfer funds. They knew Clint Dempsey was moving on, and one or two others, and that gave them the opportunity to go big.'
The move prompted West Ham to eventually opt for a loan deal for Liverpool's Andy Carroll, who could be set for an early return from injury this weekend.
Berbatov opened his Fulham account at the weekend with a brace against West Brom.
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Guy Demel showing his international quality for West Ham
Here Is The City
by Dan Coombs
@hitcdancoombs
West Ham signed Guy Demel last August, and after an injury-hit first season, supporters are finally seeing his true worth. Guy Demel is a player who is highly regarded, or at least he was prior to his move to West Ham. The Hammer surprised everybody by snapping him up last August, a player who many Premier League clubs would have been glad to sign, nevermind one in the Championship. Sam Allardyce is renowned for his pull in the transfer market, and the acquistion of Demel was proof that he still had it, even in English football's second tier. He was included in our 'best deals of deadline day', and finally it looks like he is showing his quality.
For the Ivory Coast international had a bad start at West Ham, in fact it wasn't really much of a start at all, with injury preventing him from making a first team start until November, and then he was ruled out between December and April. He made 10 appearances in total, seven in the league, and three in the play-offs, including a start in the play-off final win over Blackpool at Wembley. His end of season performances were enough to persuade Sam Allardyce he was worth pursuing with, and after a full pre-season, he has come back in full health. He has been a real bonus for the Hammers this campaign, playing a key role at right-back in the Hammers keeping three clean sheets in four games. Demel also played in the play-off semi-final against Cardiff where his side kept clean sheets in both matches, before winning the final 2-1. Which means in his last seven appearances, the club have conceded in just two. It is a fine record, which is down not just to him, but the full defensive unit. What's more is that this season the tough tackler has only given away two fouls in his four matches. It should be no surprise to see Demel proving his worth, he is a player who has played at the very highest level, in the World Cup in 2010 where he infamously clashed with Cristiano Ronaldo. The 31-year-old has also featured in the Champions league for Hamburg, where he played for a decade, previously with Borussia Dortmund. One word of warning to the Hammers is that Demel signed on a two year deal, meaning it will expire next summer. West Ham do have an option to extend it by a further year, and based on his showings and fitness so far this season they would be wise to do so.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
James Collins was pleased to play his part in another shut-out against Norwich City
18.09.2012
James Collins believes West Ham United are beginning to state their intentions for this season after a solid point away from home at Norwich City on Saturday.
Another strong defensive display resulted in Collins and his team-mates picking up their third clean sheet in four Barclays Premier League games. The No19 put in his usual all-action display and was understandably pleased to notch up another clean sheet, both for his fellow defenders and the rest of the team. "The manager has said to us about the importance of keeping clean sheets, because it always gives you a chance of winning any game," Collins said. "We have been working on that and apart from the match at Swansea, we have been on target. "Against Norwich we had chances, so did they and people watching will probably wonder how it stayed 0-0. There were lots of opportunities for us both, but no one could stick the ball in the back of the net, so I suppose you could say a draw was a fair result. For us it was another clean sheet and a point to take home."
Collins and central defensive partner Winston Reid were impressive once again, with the latter named Man of the Match for his efforts. For Collins, though, the point was a chance to bounce back from the difficult afternoon at Swansea City three weeks earlier. "We were bitterly disappointed that day in Swansea, me personally as well. Individual mistakes cost us but since then we have been spot on and long may it continue. "It was a hard match against Norwich as there was a quick tempo throughout the game, but that is part of our plan - to put teams on the back foot as soon as we can and we did that again. Unfortunately, we couldn't get the goal we wanted but on another day we will."
Collins had words of praise for all of his team-mates but especially goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen, who played his part in making sure a point at least was going back to east London. "I felt as a team we gave a strong performance - we stood firm to them and the basis of our performances has been in trying to keep clean sheets.
"Jussi made some great saves. He is right up there with the best keepers I have played with, he talks well on the pitch and in the dressing room. He has played in the Premier League for longer than I can remember now. "His experience meant that for some of the shots, he already knew which way they were going to go and that is great for helping us boys in front of him."
The Wales international, who returned to West Ham from Aston Villa in the summer, was also confident that a decision to award Norwich a free-kick on the edge of the penalty area - instead of a spot kick - was correct, with his tackle on Andrew Surman falling just outside the box. "I was pretty confident it was outside the area but fair play to the referee, he made a great decision. We saw it again and the ref said before making a decision he looked at where the marks were on the pitch, from me sliding in to making the tackle. They were outside the box, so he made the right decision."
As a team that has just been promoted, Collins knows that it is important to get as many points as possible early on. It is an ambition that manager Sam Allardyce and his coaching staff have drilled into the players since the first day of pre-season. "During pre-season, we were talking about getting off to a good start, taking it on from last season when the boys got promoted at Wembley and finishing the season well. "We haven't come back up to this league just to stay up. If we can, we want to do more. I think we have shown that in our performances already that we have it in us to finish as high as we can."
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The Big Interview - Jussi Jaaskelainen
WHUFC.com
Jussi Jaaskelainen talks precious points, clean sheets and his reunion with Big Sam
17.09.2012
Jussi Jaaskelainen is no stranger to the Barclays Premier League, but the West Ham United goalkeeper has further staked his claim as top-flight great after an impressive start to the 2012/13 season. After ending 14 years with Bolton Wanderers, Jaaskelainen joined West Ham and has instantly established himself as Big Sam's No1, keeping three clean sheets in four league starts. Speaking after the 0-0 draw at Norwich City, the former Finland international was delighted to have added another one to his growing collection.
Jussi, that's another game, another clean sheet and another point on the board. You must be delighted with the start both you and the club have made?
JJ - "It has been a very good start to the season. You can see we are continuing to build together as a team and to have kept three clean sheets in four games is obviously a very good start. But to come away from home against a good side in Norwich with another clean sheet and another point is very pleasing."
You haven't been tested as much as you could have been this season, particularly against Fulham, but on Saturday you really proved your worth to the team with a number of impressive stops?
JJ - "Sometimes you have to be there to help out the team in certain situations and on Saturday I was able to do just that. The biggest disappointment for us was to not get a goal in the first half and that maybe in the second half our attacking play didn't have the same quality it could have."
You are 37-years-old now, so do you still get the same buzz when you hear the fans leaving the game saying 'Jasskelainen really helped our side earn a point today' and so on?
JJ - "To me it doesn't matter what people say, it is all about the involvement. I have a new challenge this season at a new club after being at the same one for 14 years playing week in week out. So now I hope to get into that same rhythm again and keep picking up clean sheets and points along the way."
West Ham United were without a first-choice goalkeeper when you arrived. Has that helped you settle, knowing that the club need you?
JJ - "For me it is always the same wherever you are. I try to work hard throughout the week to make sure I am ready for the game on Saturday. It helps that I have played in the Premier League before and I already know Sam (Allardyce) and his backroom staff. I really like the way they look after their players and hopefully I can repay them by keeping my performance levels at the same heights they have been so far this season. As a goalkeeper it is all about consistency."
Is being second-choice goalkeeper a difficult and frustrating position to be in, or is it more about remaining focused and taking your chance when called upon?
JJ - "Yes, but that is the way it is. Last season I was injured over the Christmas period so the manager had to put his trust in another goalkeeper, but that is what football is like. I was lucky enough to play for 14 years week in week out but I also had times in my career where I was on the bench. When this happened I made sure I kept working hard to ensure that when I got my chance I was ready and I took it."
Winston Reid narrowly beat you to the Man of the Match award on Saturday, which was a controversial decision wasn't it?!
JJ - "It doesn't matter! I would take a clean sheet over man of the match every week of the season.. Winston is a very good player and he has started the season well. The whole team is also defending well and we still have the likes of Tonks (James Tomkins) ready to come in and impress. We have very good strength in depth, I know Sam likes to bring in quality players and you can see the squad is very good, hopefully we will all stay fit and if we don't the players who don't start every game need to ensure they're ready to step in."
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Fifty shades of grey: a homage to old Hammers
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 16th September 2012
By: Rich Hobday
The Fifty Shades Trilogy - Fifty Shades of Grey, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed - has sold over 40 million copies worldwide, in 37 countries – mainly to undersexed, under-satisfied mums.
That is either 40 million wives with more exciting sex lives or 40 million disappointed wives, who realise their beer-bellied partners are no match for the Fifty Shades hero called Christian. It's created a new genre of literary works – branded 'Mummy Porn' – whetting a newly found appetite for sex, bondage and fetish amongst women of a certain age. Increasing sales at Mr Gold's Anne Summers empire in the process?
Maybe we should thank Fifty Shades for helping to pay Andy Carroll's wages. In the interests of research I borrowed a Fifty Shades book from one of said undersexed mums (not my wife) but excitement was minimal. I get more excited by West Ham United and our very own hero called Christian - Christian Dailly.
Of course, unlike Fifty Shades, we have more than one hero to worship. West Ham provides more excitement and passion than any of the 969 pages of the trilogy. There is, however, similarity between Fifty Shades and the Hammers - in the words of one literary critic: "Fifty Shades will excite you, obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever". No better way of describing West Ham United.
Like the trilogy's hero Christian Grey, West Ham hold a power over us – they excite, yet disappoint. They make us laugh, they make us cry. West Ham is simply our life. Whatever they do, however badly they treat us – we love them and we come back for more.
Like 40 million people, my brief encounter with Fifty Shades stirred something inside me. It fired my passion. A passion to create a new trilogy. To pay homage to West Ham heroes and villains - the cause of our pain, heartache and tears. The reason for our being.
Read a nostalgic review of our oldest players in "Fifty Shades of Grey", a salute to legendary centre midfielders in "Fifty Shades Parker" and a spit in the direction of those overpaid Hammers in "Fifty Shades Greed"...
"You'll never win anything with kids" - Alan Hansen, August 1995
"You need experience when the chips are down" John Lyall, August 1989
Every successful team needs a mix of youth and experience; young and old. But how old is too old? 35 is the age we consider moving from the blistering pace of league football to the sedentary stroll of the local vets league. The pitches set against a backdrop of rolling countryside. The teams against a backdrop of rolling subs, rolling stomachs, and rolling joints.
But many 'vets' have excelled for West Ham over the years, including in the Premier League – the best league in the world. They may have grey hair, but they have guile. They may lack pace but they play with grace. From Teddy Sheringham to Les Sealey we have had some vintage claret, who just got better with age. From front to back, West Ham's golden oldies have excelled – keepers, defenders, midfielders and strikers – leaving youngsters in their wake.
My top 10 'vets' defy age and have pushed their bodies to the brink, for the cause of West Ham United.
The day after West Ham's promotion in 1993, back pages were full of West Hams golden oldies – David Speedie and Clive Allen. Both scored. Both were old. Both were past their best. But they were mere babes at 33 and 32 respectively. They had nothing on perhaps the best veteran, Billy Bonds – the most capped Hammer, the original captain brave heart.
A career of 793 games, spanning 21 seasons, saw Bonzo play into his 42nd year. He was still marauding like a bearded pirate, covering every inch of grass, tackling, blocking and battling to the end. No-one was fitter, no-one more passionate and having retired once, he came back for another two seasons, such was his importance and dedication to the club.
He eventually hung up his boots in 1988, still leading the long distance runs in training, still with a fire in his belly – Bonzo was the mount Everest of old players – the top man, a number one, top of the heap. His desire, his hunger, his passion, puts to shame the little effort of many who've worn the beloved claret and blue, before and since. He is the benchmark to which all over 35's should aspire.
Goalkeepers are deemed to be mad. They are also angry. But they seem to improve with age. Even now, Brad Friedel, at 41, is holding down the number one spot at Tottenham, showing quick reactions and agility unbefitting someone of his age. We have seen our very own Les Sealey (39) Shaka Hislop (37) and Ludek Miklosko (35) keep goal with distinction – a mantle handed over to our most recent number one, Jussi Jaaskelainen, who at 37 still seems sharp.
Shaka, Ludo and Les have a special place in the hearts of Hammers. Although Sealey only played four times, his presence was formidable both on and off the pitch. His debut was up front against Arsenal, as a substitute where he snarled, moaned and kicked his way into our hearts. On or off the pitch Sealey spent all game scowling and kicking out in frustration. He wanted perfection. That passion is what West Ham is all about.
Les was a one off and sorely missed. Ludo is a legend. 315 games and the longest goal kick in the world ensured his place as a crowd favourite. How Big Sam would love his long kicks onto Carroll's head. Ludo's name still rings round Upton Park in honour…. his name is Ludek Miklosko; He comes from near Moscow...
At the back we have been blessed with Alvin Martin (37), Nigel Winterburn (37) and Stuart Pearce (39). Alvin is one of the all time greats at West Ham – a hero, legend, an icon. I grew up watching the Hammers of the 1980s, whose players have a special place in my heart. From the FA Cup winning team of 1980 to the Boys of '86, these are true West Ham legends - Brooking; Bonds; Lampard; Stewart – Martin; Gale; Cottee; McAvennie. Over 3700 West Ham games between them.
Alvin Martin, aged 37 was better than most of the centre backs since, collectively. For me he was simply the best. Pearce played with passion, commitment and anger rarely seen. His legs the size of tree trunks, his face red with rage. He famously played on with a broken leg, not letting that small knock keep him off the pitch. He scared players into playing better. You dare not say no to Stuart Pearce - perhaps the reason he was simultaneously, manager of England U21's, Caretaker of the full England team and GB Team manager. No-one dare say no.
If Pearce was the ultimate hard man, Winterburn I'm afraid was not. Undoubtedly a great full back, but a fighter ? No. His Arsenal spat with Paolo Di Canio was brilliant. Nigel tried to incite Paolo but shit himself as it looked like Di Canio would smash him in the face. You wouldn't want Nigel on your side in a fight, but you would want him on your side on the pitch. Winterburn still had what it took and showed at 37, in 82 games, he was still a class act for the Hammers.
In midfield we have seen the silky John Moncur aged 36, still running and tackling all over the pitch. No game went by without the Moncur turn. Nothing looks better – Mark Noble obviously thinks so. Moncs played for nine seasons, 176 games, 884 Moncur turns, and three sendings off. Latterly, the cheeky chap Moncs, turned to religion, but I'm sure he misses the terrace chants of "He's here he's there; He's every-f*cking-where..."
Up front we have witnessed international strikers playing into their early forties. Teddy Sheringham still had the best football brain on display as he became the oldest outfield player in Dec 2006, against Man City. A natural goal scorer and play maker, Teddy could link up midfield and attack like no other. In his one season in the Championship he scored 20 goals and created many more for Marlon Harewood and Bobby Zamora, in our promotion season.
His age didn't affect his never-existing pace – but his brain was the quickest around. He stood head and shoulders above the Championship plodders and journeyman, and was a joy to watch. He could guide the ball with head or chest into the path of our attacking midfielders. He obviously loved using the chest – a skill he fine tuned when dating Jordon. His touch and ability to cushion the ball continued in the FA Cup Final, when in May 2006, Sheringham became the third oldest player to appear in an a final, at 40 years and 41 days old. He remained a West Ham player until after his 41st birthday.
Teddy was the coolest at the club on the ball, and the coolest in the clubs. Flings with Nicola Smith (Mandy Smith's sister), and a string of Page 3 models, showed he never took his eye off the goal. He even bagged Miss GB, Daneille Lloyd, when he was on the judging panel. Anyone who can play Premiership football and bag Page 3 models in their 40s is simply a legend.
Ian Wright enjoyed a brief spell with West Ham and although past his best still added bite and speed up front. For me he is worth a place in my top 10 simply for getting sent off against Leeds, and smashing the shit out of the ref's dressing room.
Others who didn't make my top 10 "Shades of Grey" included Rob Lee, a real silver fox, Bernard Lama the talented but erratic 'keeper and Les Ferdinand, who made 14 appearances for us as we were relegated in 2003. Lee Chapman looked over 40 for much of his career, and had a lack of speed to match – but he was only 34 when he left West Ham, so can't be included. Maybe he needs to visit his wife's surgeon for some facial age reduction treatment.
I would also have loved to include Peter Shilton, who signed for West Ham aged 47 in 1996 – but he never made an appearance, despite being named as a substitute several times.
Between them, these top 10 ageing Hammers played over 2,100 times for West Ham, scoring 134 goals. Grey-haired heroes stand up – if you can – and take a bow.
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The twelfth man
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 18th September 2012
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce is still mulling over offering a contract to former Lyon defender John Mensah, according to reports. As previously reported here on KUMB.com, Mensah - who is a free agent having been released by the French club this summer - recently spent time on trial with the Hammers at Chadwell Heath. And although West Ham are yet to make the Ghanaian a concrete offer fresh reports suggest that the 29-year-old could yet become the manager's 12th signing of a busy summer.
Allardyce's summer spending spree began back in May when he signed goalkeeper Stephen Henderson from Portsmouth. That was followed by the arrival of Jussi Jaaskelainen and Momo Diame in June. July saw three more players added to the roster with George McCartney, Modibo Maiga and Raphael Spiegler arriving in London. And last month James Collins, Alou Diarra, record signing Matt Jarvis and Andy Carroll took Allardyce's quota of new faces to 11. Meanwhile is it also reported that free agents Mikael Silvestre and Anthony Vanden Borre, who have also spent time with West Ham recently, will not be offered contracts.
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West Ham linked with 'money laundering' row
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 18th September 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are at the centre of a new third-party row involving former loan striker Brian Montenegro. Last August the club announced that they had taken the teenage striker on a season-long loan from Uruguayan club Deportivo Maldonado. However it has now been revealed that the young striker, now 19, never actually played for the club. According to a report published by Bloomberg, West Ham were one of three European clubs duped within the last 18 months as a result of unauthorised player trading - a system designed to greatly reduce tax burdens on South American football clubs. According to lawyer Rodrigo Garcia, Montenegro is said to have been part of an elaborate scheme whereby Uruguayan clubs traded player's registrations which enables them to reduce the level of tax owed from 20 to five per cent.
Juventus, who paid Deportivo Maldonado €500,000 to take Marcelo Estigarribia on loan - and Porto, who signed Alex Sandro for €9.6million - have also been cited by the report, which insists that FIFA were aware of the situation but, according to one source, choose to "turn a deaf ear" to it.
The Argentinian tax agency claimed in a recent report that the arrangements, which involve "offshore companies" could be used for money laundering purposes. There is no suggestion that West Ham United are either involved with or aware of such practices. "Montenegro, who turned 18 in June, has joined the Hammers on a season-long loan from Uruguay-based Club Deportivo Maldonado," announced the club's website on 29th August 2011. However since leaving east London following the culmination of his year-long stay in the UK, the player has returned to Paraguayan club Tacuary - for whom he played between 2006 and 2011 - the club from whom Deportivo Maldonado obtained his registration.
The loan fee West Ham paid for Montenegro has never been disclosed. West Ham were fined £5.5million by the Premier League in April 2007 over the deal which saw Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano arrive in east London after the club were found guilty of faling to disclose the full documentation relating to the transfers. Two years later United reached an out-of-court settlement with Sheffield United after an independent tribunal chaired by Lord Griffiths found that Tevez's influence had cost the Blades their top flight status. The settlement cost West Ham in the region of £25million.
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Still the Academy of Football?
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 15th September 2012
By: Robert Watson
West Ham has been deemed as the Academy of Football in past times when we produced brilliant youth players such as Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick, Jermaine Defoe, Glen Johnson, Rio and Anton Ferdinand, Joe Cole plus more. Most of these players have gone onto play for world-class teams (of course including West Ham). Just imagine if we still had these players now. But in recent years, the youth system hasn't produced that class of players.
First of all, let's look at the positives of the youth system. Tony Carr (MBE) has been at the forefront of our Academy since 1973 and I'd like to say what a marvellous job he's done spotting/finding probably the best youth players; he is up there with the best in the world as youth directors go. He was rightly awarded a testimonial in 2010 where many of his ex-youth players showed up for a game which also included Paolo Di Canio and then West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola ( hich I was lucky enough to watch).
West Ham have recently been granted Elite Player Performance Plan Category 1 which will definitely help improve our Academy.
Now onto the players we have produced who are regular first teamers at the club at present. The main two who spring to mind are Mark Noble and James Tomkins; both homegrown boys who have been with West Ham pretty much all of their careers. They always give their all for the team and are 100 per cent committed in everything they do; they bleed claret and blue. This can also be said of Watford-born Jack Collison, who is similar to Tomkins and Noble in having joined the Academy when he was also very young (16) albeit via Cambridge United.
All three are regulars in the first team squad now (injury permitting) and enjoyed a brilliant season in the Championship. Although Jack only came back for the last few games, he played a crucial part in our play-off semi final victory against Cardiff. Noble and Tomkins enjoyed one of their best seasons at the club whilst Noble has started off superbly in the 2012/13 campaign, especially against Fulham.
In my opinion that was one of his best ever performances for West Ham; he was simply unplayable. Tomkins has had to be happy with a place on the bench because of how well Winston Reid and James Collins have played, but when he has featured he's looked solid. When he came on against Fulham he defended very well against a difficult opponent in Dimitar Berbatov.
All three have been great players for us and I hope they stay at West Ham for the whole of their careers. Tomkins and Noble have represented England at Under 21 level and Collison is a Welsh international. The Board now need to give Noble a new long term contract as we really do not want to see him go!
Apart from those three players however there haven't really been any youth players who have succeeded in the first team for a prolonged period. There was a spell when the likes of Junior Stanislas and Zavon Hines enjoyed a run in for the first team under Zola but when Sam Allardyce came in were quickly sold to Burnley.
For me, that was the right decision as they didn't really shine. Hines scored one goal at Turf Moor and now is at Bradford City whilst Stanislas was just too lightweight and never really performed on the wing, his skills seemed to get him nowhere. I believe Allardyce made the right choice selling those two players.
The summer transfer window saw us release both Frank Nouble (bought from Chelsea) and Cristian Montano, both of whom I was fairly disappointed in seeing leave. I watched Nouble in a few development/reserve games and he was the stand-out player. He failed to many many first team appearances but when he got his one and only start in the Championship he grabbed a goal against Derby (away).
Meanwhile Montano had a few loan spells in which he impressed and he looked to be a good player, another with a bit of flair and pace down the wing. However I've got to trust Allardyce's judgement, and wish both of those players all the best in their careers.
Lastly, we sold Freddie Sears to Colchester. Sears is a West Ham fan through and through but he never really did cut it after scoring the winner against Blackburn on his debut back in 2008. Perhaps the pressure got to him but he never really lived up to the expectation. I never rated him; maybe it was because he was often played out wide instead of in his favoured central striking position. But whenever he ran at a player he never seemed to have a chance; his skill or pace just never seemed to work. I also wish Sears all the best in his career at Colchester and any future clubs.
Players need game time and most of these players didn't get it at West Ham. Maybe this is a factor why they were sold/released? I believe Stanislas said outright that the fact he didn't get any game time was the reason he moved, or is it just the fact the youth we're producing isn't good enough?
At the moment we seem to have some bright young players coming through including the likes of Jordan Spence, Danny Potts and Rob Hall - all three of whom have played for the first team. From what I've seen, they all look to be definite stars for us in the future!
But onto that burning question: are we still THE Academy of Football? I'd probably have to say no; the talent we've produced recently hasn't been up there with the talents we've produced in the past not equal to the likes of Southampton who've produced Gareth Bale, Theo Walcott, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain etc. But there's no doubt we're still producing half decent players - even if they're not quite the same quality as those we have in the past.
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Jussi - I'll repay Big Sam
Veteran keeper delighted with newly-promoted West Ham's start
Last Updated: September 18, 2012 2:15pm
SSN
West Ham goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen admits he wants to repay Sam Allardyce for giving him the chance to play regular Premier League football again. Jaaskelainen, 37, agreed to join the newly-promoted Hammers when his contract at relegated Bolton Wanderers expired during the summer. The ex-Finland international made over 500 appearances for the Trotters after arriving from VPS Vassa in 1997. But he found himself relegated to the bench last season after losing his place to Adam Bogdan in the New Year. And Allardyce, who bossed Jaaskelainen at the Reebok Stadium, quickly moved to sign the experienced keeper to replace England international Robert Green as his No.1. Jaaskelainen has been magnificent as the Hammers have kept three clean sheets in their opening four Premier League matches - and he has no intention of letting his standards slip.
Consistency
"I try to work hard throughout the week to make sure I am ready for the game on Saturday," he told West Ham's official website. "It helps that I have played in the Premier League before and I already know Sam (Allardyce) and his backroom staff. "I really like the way they look after their players and hopefully I can repay them by keeping my performance levels at the same heights they have been so far this season. "As a goalkeeper it is all about consistency." On West Ham's start, he added: "You can see we are continuing to build together as a team and to have kept three clean sheets in four games is obviously a very good start."
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Let's Pay Tribute To Our Defenders
West Ham Till I Die
I doubt many of us would have put much money on three clean sheets in our first four games. But that's what has happened, and we ought to pay tribute to the players who have achieved such a great defensive start. OK, we had the blip against Swansea, but two of the three goals conceded there were errors which just wouldn't normally happen. I think Winston Reid's form has been a revelation. When you think of how he performed in his first season with us, you'd think he was a different player. And in some ways he is. He's a young player who has matured and has learned from his mistakes. James Collins was simply awesome against Villa and has the potential to be one of our players of the season. Guy Demel has looked more confident with every game he plays and Joey O'Brien has done well filling in at left back. But perhaps some praise is owed to Jussi Jaaskelainen too. I've said before that I don't think he was the goalkeeping signing we should have made, but three clean sheets tell their own story. That's not to say he has inspired total confidence - he hasn't. But apart from his howler at Swansea he hasn't really put a foot wrong.
I just hope I can write a similar post in four games' time!
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West Ham Were Interested in Dimitar Berbatov!
West Ham Till I Die
Sam Allardyce has recently confirmed that the club were, indeed, keen to sign Dimitar Berbatov in the summer transfer window. Apparently, although the player left Man Utd for a modest £5m fee, the player's personal terms were too rich for West Ham's blood. Whereas, Fulham were better able to utilise the sizeable fees from departing players to finance the deal and salary package.
Berbatov, although 32 years of age, is undeniably still a talented player. But would he have fitted in to Allardyce's plans at West Ham? Moreover, he may be renowned as a top class forward, but he is not noted for his industry and preparedness to roll his sleeves up and graft for the cause. So, have we lost out on an important player or one who would not necessarily have 'fitted in' or who may have gone missing in difficult matches when the going got tough?
Elsewhere, West Ham recently took three 'free agent' defenders on trial. Two of those have had unsuccessful at trial, but the third, John Mensah, is still with the club and awaiting a final decision. Personally, I have a feeling that we will sign Mensah on, at least, at short-term deal. This is extra defensive assurance, but will be prove to be a good deal for the club, given Mensah's recent less an impressive fitness record?
Finally, it would appear that West Ham's name has emerged, as an innocent party, in reports of an alleged tax avoidance practice, and possible money laundering scam, operating in South America. It would appear that South American clubs are trading the registration of players and loaning them on to European clubs to reduce their tax liabilities. West Ham and Porto have both been named as European clubs who innocently loaned players under these circumstances. And of course, in West Ham's case, the player in question was Brian Montenegro-Martinez, the teenage winger/striker who was with us on loan last season, did very well for the Development Squad and then pomptly disappeared in May, without barely a mention! BMM was apparently loaned to us by Deportivo Maldonado, but has apparently since returned to his Paraguayan club, Tacuary FC!
There is no suggestion whatsoever that West Ham were involved in the practice/scam or had any knowledge of it. So, it is not another Tevez third party interest situation. However, it does demonstrate once again how complicated player ownership can be in South America and how careful British clubs need to be when purchasing or loaning players from there.
SJ. Chandos.
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Powell to use West Ham target or ex-Arsenal youngster at left back
London 24
Tuesday, September 18, 2012
5:56 PM
Charlton manager Chris Powell is confident his side can cope without injured defender Rhoys Wiggins. Left back Wiggins is expected to be out for around two months after suffering a fractured foot in the Addicks' 1-0 defeat to Crystal Palace on Friday. Powell moved 21-year-old right back and alleged West Ham target Chris Solly to left back against Palace, with summer signing Lawrie Wilson slotting in on the right. Powell says he could also call on former Arsenal youngster Cedric Evina to fill in for Wiggins. "Sadly, Rhoys is going to miss six to eight weeks, and that's a shame because he was a key player for us last year," Powell told Charlton's official website. "We know that we have to get on without him and hopefully he will come back fighting fit. "I moved Chris Solly across to left back on Friday - he will play in any position that I ask him to and won't bat an eyelid, and will be absolutely first class because that's the sort of player he is. "That gave a chance to Lawrie Wilson, who I felt grew into the game against Palace, and of course I've got young [Cedric] Evina who has been around and played a few games last season."
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West Ham couldn't afford pricey Dimitar Berbatov, admits Big Sam
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has revealed the club tried to sign Dimitar Berbatov from Manchester United last month but could not match Fulham's offer for the veteran striker.
Metro.co.uk
The 32-year-old was desperate for regular match time after falling down the pecking order at Old Trafford and sealed his return to London on transfer deadline day.
A move to Serie A side Fiorentina was initially on the cards but the Bulgarian bailed on them at the last minute to pen a two-year-deal with Fulham. Former club Tottenham made a last ditch enquiry into his services and Allardyce has now confirmed West Ham were also interested, but money proved to be a stumbling block.
'We couldn't afford him. The problem was the transfer fee and the size of the salary was out of our domain this season in terms of our budget,' Allardyce revealed.
'Fulham created their own transfer funds. They knew Clint Dempsey was moving on, and one or two others, and that gave them the opportunity to go big.'
The move prompted West Ham to eventually opt for a loan deal for Liverpool's Andy Carroll, who could be set for an early return from injury this weekend.
Berbatov opened his Fulham account at the weekend with a brace against West Brom.
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Guy Demel showing his international quality for West Ham
Here Is The City
by Dan Coombs
@hitcdancoombs
West Ham signed Guy Demel last August, and after an injury-hit first season, supporters are finally seeing his true worth. Guy Demel is a player who is highly regarded, or at least he was prior to his move to West Ham. The Hammer surprised everybody by snapping him up last August, a player who many Premier League clubs would have been glad to sign, nevermind one in the Championship. Sam Allardyce is renowned for his pull in the transfer market, and the acquistion of Demel was proof that he still had it, even in English football's second tier. He was included in our 'best deals of deadline day', and finally it looks like he is showing his quality.
For the Ivory Coast international had a bad start at West Ham, in fact it wasn't really much of a start at all, with injury preventing him from making a first team start until November, and then he was ruled out between December and April. He made 10 appearances in total, seven in the league, and three in the play-offs, including a start in the play-off final win over Blackpool at Wembley. His end of season performances were enough to persuade Sam Allardyce he was worth pursuing with, and after a full pre-season, he has come back in full health. He has been a real bonus for the Hammers this campaign, playing a key role at right-back in the Hammers keeping three clean sheets in four games. Demel also played in the play-off semi-final against Cardiff where his side kept clean sheets in both matches, before winning the final 2-1. Which means in his last seven appearances, the club have conceded in just two. It is a fine record, which is down not just to him, but the full defensive unit. What's more is that this season the tough tackler has only given away two fouls in his four matches. It should be no surprise to see Demel proving his worth, he is a player who has played at the very highest level, in the World Cup in 2010 where he infamously clashed with Cristiano Ronaldo. The 31-year-old has also featured in the Champions league for Hamburg, where he played for a decade, previously with Borussia Dortmund. One word of warning to the Hammers is that Demel signed on a two year deal, meaning it will expire next summer. West Ham do have an option to extend it by a further year, and based on his showings and fitness so far this season they would be wise to do so.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Tuesday, September 18
Daily WHUFC News - 18th September 2012
Manager on Monday
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce is hoping his defence can keep up the good work when
Sunderland visit on Saturday
16.09.2012
Sam Allardyce made a strong case for the defence after West Ham United's
fourth clean sheet in five games this season helped them to a goalless
Barclays Premier League draw at Norwich City on Saturday. A combination of
bravery, organisation and discipline from the Hammers repelled the home
side's repeated assaults at goal, leaving Big Sam to look ahead at the
club's upcoming fixtures with renewed optimism. Sunderland are the next to
see if they can become the first visiting team to register a Boleyn Ground
away goal this season when they arrive in east London on Saturday. "We're
satisfied with the point away from home and it's another clean sheet - the
basis and the structure to build any successful side on," Allardyce said.
"We're going to eventually start scoring goals as we didn't quite find the
clinical edge that we had against Fulham. "Being defensively strong is
critical because every time you don't concede a goal you know you've got a
point at least. You know for a fact that if you tot up 38 points in a season
now, it's likely that you'll be safe as nobody has gone down in the last
eight years with that amount."
The post-match interviewers were quick to quiz Allardyce on whether
Saturday's match had been the best performance yet from his new man between
the sticks, Jussi Jaaskelainen. Big Sam was quick to concur and explained
how pleased he was that the Finland international is feeling the benefits of
working with goalkeeping coach Martyn 'Marge' Margetson. "Yes I think it was
his best performance as that's the busiest he's been. Even though we lost
3-0 against Swansea City he wasn't very busy. The big man is there to do a
job and he did the job superbly for us. There were probably no world-class
saves in there but the ones he did make were very good. "I've got a great
goalkeeping coach here called Martyn Margetson, who is also the goalkeeping
coach for Wales. I know Jussi's strength was the coaching that Fred Barber
used to give him when I was with him at Bolton and I knew that when he got
with Marge, he would put him into a good frame of mind and re-kindle all of
the old experience that he's got. "When you're in the mid-30s today you can
still be a very good goalkeeper if you want to be. When you look at someone
like Brad Friedel, it shows that being in your mid-to-late-thirties isn't a
problem any more. It's about using that experience and having that
dedication to keeping your body right to play in goal, which Jussi does."
Jaaskelainen may not be the only one to enjoy the benefits of West Ham's
current watertight defence though, as the manager feels that assured
defending can also benefit the work his strikeforce do further up the pitch.
Carlton Cole caused the Canaries' defence problems for the first 57 minutes
on Saturday before being replaced by Modibo Maiga, who added his touch and
guile to several promising attacks. "The good thing is that the front
players know that one goal is going to win us the game as defensively we're
so good. That is critical to the success of the side. The confidence
throughout the team grows and the strikers know that if you miss one it's
not going to bother us too much if we can continue to defend like we do.
They know if they get the next one then it could win us the game. It's been
critical for the points total that we've gathered already and hopefully
we'll continue for a long period of time. "We are a team that has just come
up and we will have our periods when the opposition will come and be on top
of their form. We won't worry too much about that if we keep our mind on the
job and of course it promotes good attacking football. Our lads win the ball
back and we can keep probing as an attacking side to break down the
opposition."
With Andy Carroll still recovering from his hamstring injury, Cole and Maiga
both looked keen to impress with some tireless running on a very warm
September afternoon in East Anglia. That kind of attitude is exactly what is
needed as the competition for places hots-up according to Big Sam. "Carlton
Cole knows all about the Premier League. He's got stiff competition as he's
seen a centre forward come in from Liverpool that they paid a lot of money
for. He can either think that he's going to shrivel up or roll up his
sleeves and fight. When you've got competition it's got to bring the best
out you. I know he'll roll his sleeves up as he did against Norwich and
that's what we want to see. "In terms of Andy's recovery, I don't think
there's much chance for Sunderland. We would try and hope if we can get him
back before the next international break. I think it's a long-shot at the
moment but we'll try."
Friday was the first time Allardyce was able to get his whole squad together
after international commitments saw his side scatter all over the globe. But
after a summer of hard work identifying and securing a host of new talent
for his squad, the manager was able to finally reflect on a job well done.
"We've got a group of players that are getting to know each other day by
day. There are a lot of new faces that have come to the club again. I know
all about our boys from last season and I hope the new faces will make us
better and stronger as we go on."
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Hendon pleased with Baggies point
WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon was content with Sunday's 1-1 Development Squad draw at West
Bromwich Albion
17.09.2012
Ian Hendon was content after watching his side earn a 1-1 Barclays Under-21
Premier League draw with West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns. Yassine El
Ghanassy opened the scoring for the home side after five minutes but the
Development Squad were only behind for three minutes as Rob Hall levelled
from a free-kick at The Hawthorns. After losing 2-0 to Bolton Wanderers in
their previous fixture, Hendon was happy to see his side bounce back against
an experienced Baggies line-up.
"Overall I am pleased with a point because we played a very good team
containing a few first-team players and we competed every step of the way,"
he confirmed.
"We worked hard defensively before the game because we have been conceding
from a lot of set-pieces and I think you could tell. We stood firm and
looked strong when defending free-kicks and corners."
Hendon continued by paying tribute to his side's work ethic and attitude,
after they displayed a different side to their game than in previous
encounters.
"You saw a very different side to our game on Sunday," explained Hendon. "We
didn't have the majority of possession like we have had in previous games,
but we worked hard, stuck at it and ground out a result. "We, like most
weeks, had a very young team out there, so to see them come through and get
a result - particularly after going a goal down after five minutes - was
very pleasing."
Hall made his Barclays Premier League debut in the 3-0 home win over Fulham
recently and showed his sublime ability by equalising with a direct
free-kick.
"We equalised soon after we went behind. Rob scored a great free-kick and
showed again why he is in and around the first team. He is a very good
player.
"Seb Lletget also had a very good game in the centre of midfield. We didn't
have much of the ball, particularly in the second half, and he worked
tirelessly to break
down the play."
Next on the agenda for the Development Squad is a tricky looking encounter
against unbeaten Group A leaders Arsenal at Rush Green on Friday evening.
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Hall on song
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 17th September 2012
By: Staff Writer
Rob Hall's early strike was enough to earn Ian Hendon's Development Squad a
point from their weekend trip to West Bromwich Albion. Hall, who in one of
several youngsters on the verge of the first team squad struck on eight
minutes to cancel out Yassine El Ghanassy's fifth minute opener for the home
side. And recent signing Raphael Spiegel was also on form, making what have
been described as "a number of first-class saves" to ensure United grabbed a
share of the spoils. The on-loan El Ghanassy put the Baggies ahead with a
well-taken strike into the bottom left hand corner after running
unchallenged from inside his own half. But Hall notched the equaliser with
an equally stunning effort as his 25-yard free kick found the back of the
net. The young Hammers have now taken seven points from their opening four
fixtures in Group 1 of the Barclays Under-21 Premier League leaving them in
third spot behind leaders Arsenal - who have a 100 per cent record so far
and a game in hand - and Reading, also on seven points.
West Ham Utd: Spiegel; Driver (c), Moncur, Chambers, Fanimo; Spence,
Turgott, Lletget, Hall; McCallum, Lee (Ruddock 76).
Subs not used: Hunt, Rosique, Wearen, Powell.
West Bromwich Albion: L Daniels; Hurst, D Daniels, Tamas, Gayle; Thorne (c),
Mantom; Sawyers (Allan 68), El Ghanassy (Nabi 82), Rosenberg (Roofe 76);
Berahino.
Subs not used: Lewis, O'Neil.
Referee: S.Garrett
Also in action over the weekend against West Bromwich Albion were Nick
Haycock's under 18's, who grabbed their second win of the campaign with a
comprehensive 4-0 victory on Saturday. Goals from Kieran Sadlier (2), Nathan
Mavila and substitute Taylor Miles gave the young Hammers three more
Barclays U18 Premier League Group 1 points, taking their tally to seven from
four games - the same as both the development squad and first team. "It
could have been more than four-nil," manager Haycock told whufc.com. "It was
a good all-round display from the boys. We have raised the bar with this
performance and set our standards for the season ahead." West Ham rise to
third in the Group 1 table behind leaders Bolton (10 points) and Reading (8
points).
West Ham Utd: Larkins, Siafa (Girdlestone 65), Shaw, Onnariase, Nasha,
Cullen, Bywater, T.Tombides (Homans 70), Mavila, Sadlier (Miles 75),
Boakye-Yiadom.
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Dicks set for Irish role?
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 17th September 2012
By: Staff Writer
Julian Dicks is hoping to return to management with League of Ireland
Premier League club Shamrock Rovers. The Hoops, the Republic's most
successful club of all time are based in Dublin and play at the Tallaght
Stadium which has a capacity of just over 6,000. Over the weekend former
West Ham and Liverpool star Dicks - who was last in management in 2011 at
Grays Athletic - become the latest manager linked with replacing Stephen
Kenny, who was fired last week following the derby defeat against Bohemians.
And last night Dicks, speaking to KUMB.com, confirmed that he had applied
for the post. "It's true that I've put my name in to the hat," he said.
However he conceded that he faced stiff opposition from the likes of current
Hibs manager Pat Fenlon - the fans' choice to succeed Kenny - and Brian
Laws, the former Burnley manager who is also considered to be a front-runner
for the vacancy. Since ending his playing career, Dicks has held two jobs in
management - firstly at Eastern Counties League Premier Division club
Wivenhoe Town in 2009 and then at Grays Athletic, whom he managed between
September 2009 and May 2011.
In December of last year he was offered the opportunity to take over at Blue
Square Bet South outfit Dorchester Town but failed to agree personal terms.
Since then, the 44-year-old former left back has been working primarily as a
freelance coach and radio pundit - as well as penning a column here on
KUMB.com - but still harbours hopes of returning to full time management.
Shamrock Rovers chairman, Jonathan Roche, announcing the departure of Kenny
last week said: "We have not taken this decision lightly and we are
extremely disappointed with the turn of events. However, the club feels that
this is the right decision at this time."
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You'll win nothing with digs
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 17th September 2012
By: Staff Writer
David Gold has hit out at the BBC's Alan Hansen after the TV pundit
criticised West Ham United's co-chairman for interacting with supporters.
According to Gold, Hansen made a number of disparaging comments about the
76-year-old following an item he recorded for the BBC back in October 2010.
Speaking via his Twitter account over the weekend, Gold accused the former
Liverpool and Scotland defender of insulting him, whilst referring to him as
a "pompous fool". "I can't remember exactly [what he said]; I think he said
a good chair is a chairman that doesn't sign autographs or intereacts with
fans," Gold told followers of his Twitter feed. "He also implied that a good
chairman shouldn't have a football opinion. Alan Hansen is a pompous fool
and owes me an apology. "It's interesting that after my feature on Match of
the Day, the BBC sent my a copy of the show - but cut out the insulting
comments by Alan Hansen."
Gold, who was at Carrow Road on Saturday to watch West Ham earn their first
away point of the new season also told supporters that the World Cup
winners' statue - which was erected at the junction of Green Street and
Barking Road nine years ago - would be unlikely to make the move to
Stratford should United move there, as planned, in two years' time. "I would
be in favour of leaving the statues where they are and putting up replicas
at the new stadium," he said.
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Sam Allardyce believes West Ham keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen's confidence is
back
Last Updated: September 17, 2012 10:49am
SSN
Sam Allardyce believes Jussi Jaaskelainen's confidence has been rekindled
since moving to West Ham United and has praised the goalkeeper's impact.
Jaaskelainen joined the Hammers in the summer to replace Robert Green and
had previously spent over seven years playing under Allardyce at Bolton
Wanderers. The 37-year-old lost his place at Bolton in the second half of
last season, but Allardyce feels the Finn is back to his best after an
impressive display in Saturday's 0-0 draw at Norwich City. "The big man is
there to do a job and he has done the job superbly well for us," said the
West Ham boss. "I know that Jussi's strength was the coaching that Fred
Barber used to give him at Bolton, which he lost. "I knew that when he got
here with Martyn Margetson, that Marge would sort him out, put him back into
a right good frame of mind and rekindle all the old experience he used to
have. "Perhaps he had lost faith in himself a little bit and lost faith
because he wasn't playing, but Marge has rekindled his confidence and put
him in the right frame of mind."
Allardyce continued: "When you have got the experience that he has got and
are in your mid-30s, today you are still a very good goalkeeper if you want
to be.
"If you look at Brad Friedel, he is 41 now, so we know that being in your
mid to late 30s is not a problem anymore. "It is using that experience and
having the dedication to keep your body right, which Jussi does."
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Sport Football News Alan Hansen
By Mike Walters Comments 17 Sep 2012 22:31
The Mirror
'Hansen's a pompous fool': West Ham chief in Twitter blast at MOTD pundit
West Ham co-owner David Gold has branded Match Of The Day pundit Alan Hansen
a "pompous fool" in an amazing Twitter attack. Gold has not forgiven Hansen
for a throwaway remark he made about football club chairmen two years ago.
The Hammers' joint chairman had granted the BBC access all areas - including
to his palatial Surrey home and the directors' box at Upton Park - for a
behind-the-scenes feature on Match Of The Day 2. But, in the subsequent
studio discussion, hosted by presenter Colin Murray, Hansen was allegedly
dismissive of chairmen who sign autographs and pose for photographs with
fans. Gold was understood to be livid that his matchday hospitality should
be compromised by an obtuse comment.
And, buoyed by the Hammers' encouraging start on their return to the Premier
League mainstream (seven points and three clean sheets from four games),
Gold went on the warpath - and not because their goalless draw at Norwich
was the last game shown on MOTD on Saturday. Responding to a follower's
unconnected observation about Hansen, Gold posted: "I can't remember
exactly, I think he said a good chairman doesn't sign autographs or interact
with fans. He also implied that a good chairman shouldn't have a football
opinion. Alan Hansen is a pompous fool and owes me an apology. "It's
interesting that after my feature on MOTD, the BBC sent me a copy of the
show but cut out the insulting comments by AH. "The date of the interview
staring (sic) Alan Hansen was 3rd October 2010. Would love to get
unexpurgated copy."
Gold is not thought to have any problems with the BBC as a corporation or
Match Of The Day itself. His long-running beef is with Hansen, a
Double-winning Liverpool captain in 1986 and regarded as the doyen of
football pundits. When it was revealed in the summer that Hansen was paid
£40,000 a show, and was staying with Match Of The Day after agreeing to a
£500,000 wage decrease, Gold tweeted: "I see one of the worst and most
pompous pundits on BBC has taken a big pay cut. I'm stunned he gets paid at
all."
Gold and his long-time business associate David Sullivan bought a 62 per
cent majority stake in West Ham in January 2010, pumping around £100 million
into the club to save the Hammers from collapse. Their decision to axe
manager Gianfranco Zola and replace him with Avram Grant backfired, but Sam
Allardyce won promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt.
* WEST HAM manager Sam Allardyce has turned down the chance to sign free
agents Mikael Silvestre, John Mensah and Anthony Vanden Borre. The trio
joined the Hammers on trial last week, but Allardyce was not impressed and
has put a block on any permanent deals. Ex-Manchester United and Arsenal
defender Silvestre is without a club after leaving Werder Bremen, former
Portsmouth midfielder Vanden Borre was last at Belgian club Genk and
centre-back Mensah, once of Sunderland, left Lyon in July.
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Allardyce challenges 'reluctant' Carroll to prove worth to Liverpool during
West Ham spell
Goal.com
18 Sep 2012 00:50:00
By Andrew Kennedy
Sam Allardyce has admitted that Andy Carroll was reluctant to leave
Liverpool and join West Ham on loan in the summer transfer window, but has
challenged the striker to prove his quality at Upton Park. The 23-year-old
endured a difficult year-and-a-half spell at Anfield following his £35
million switch from Newcastle, and after the arrival of new Reds boss
Brendan Rodgers, was made surplus to requirements at the club. West Ham's
early attempts to land Carroll were unsuccessful, with the England
international reported to prefer a return to Sports Direct Arena, however,
the Hammers eventually landed their man on the penultimate day of the
transfer window on a season-long loan deal. And Allardyce believes he can
show his worth to Liverpool during his time in east London, while also
helping to secure the club's Premier League survival. "Andy wasn't really
keen to leave Liverpool, which you can understand, because he was a big
transfer from Newcastle and wanted to show what he could do there. Wanted to
show Brendan what he could do," Allardyce said. "We tried in the early
stages of pre-season, but it just wasn't to be at the time. I think our
pursuit of Andy wasn't going to be successful until almost the death in
terms of the end of the transfer window. "But I think in the end he saw he
wasn't going to get those opportunities at Liverpool. First-team football
was what he wanted and what we could offer him, and ahead of a lot of other
Premier League clubs we were able to seal a deal thanks to the quick work of
[co-chairman] David Sullivan. "Andy's matured a lot since I worked with him
as a 19-year-old at Newcastle. He's been through the mill a bit, some
[critcism] deserved and some harsh. But now it' s all about his football,
he's totally focused on it and he wants to be playing football, and playing
first-team football. "And for us to get him on loan is a major coup for a
football club like us who are trying to establish ourselves back in the
Premier League."
Carroll's West Ham debut may have been cut short by injury, with a hamstring
problem ruling him out for up to six weeks, but the former Bolton boss
hailed his performance in the 3-0 win over Fulham as "one of the best" he
had seen since joining the club. "The lift that Andy gave everybody and the
reception he got from the West Ham fans lifted everybody. "For me it's
probably one of the best performance I've seen since I've joined West Ham.
"We overran them in the first half and the quality of our goals said
everything really and we missed even more chances to make it more than
three."
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Juventus, West Ham Get Players as Uruguay's 'Ghost' Deals Mount
By Alex Duff - Sep 17, 2012 11:01 PM GMT
Bloomberg.com
Juventus (JUVE), AS Roma (ASR) and Porto agreed to pay a combined 11.1
million euros ($14.6 million) to hire players from Club Deportivo Maldonado,
a Uruguayan soccer team for which they never appeared, according to
stock-market filings. England's West Ham took a striker on loan. South
American teams and investors in the players' transfer rights move the
athletes' registrations through Uruguayan clubs to reduce tax on the trades
to as little as 5 percent from 20 percent, said Rodrigo Garcia, a lawyer at
Laffer Abogados in Madrid who has advised teams on such deals. Argentina's
tax authority said last month that the arrangements were irregular, and
Brazil's sports minister Aldo Rebelo said soccer ruling body FIFA should
outlaw the "ghost" club deals. At least $70 million of transfer fees went
through nine Uruguayan clubs in the same way since 2000, according to
Bloomberg News calculations. Uruguay's soccer federation declined to comment
yesterday. "This has been going on for years without anybody paying much
attention," Garcia said by telephone. "FIFA doesn't look on it favorably but
turns a deaf ear." The trades would only break FIFA rules if investors or
other third parties interfered in player movement, Garcia said.
'Tax Avoidance'
FIFA, which didn't immediately respond to a request for comment for this
story, is seeking to improve regulation of the $3 billion transfer market.
In 2010, the soccer authority made it compulsory to disclose bank details of
where transfer money goes via an Internet-based system. Mark Goddard, who
oversees the system, said at the time that soccer is "the last area of the
commercial world where large amounts of money can be moved without oversight
or regulation."
Deportivo Maldonado is a second-division team in Uruguay, where even the top
sides are traditionally weaker than Brazilian and Argentine counterparts in
continental competition. Trades through Uruguayan clubs amount to "damaging"
tax avoidance, with the transfer fees sometimes directed to offshore
companies, the Argentina tax agency said in an Aug. 24 statement. The
arrangement could be used to launder money, Brazil's Rebelo said in an Aug.
30 interview.
In February, FIFA began investigating after Mario Bursztyn, president of
Club Atletico Rentistas, said transfer fees involving Brazilian players
including "Hulk," whose real name is Givanildo Vieira de Souza, were
redirected through the Uruguayan team to a bank account in the name of Sao
Paulo-based player agent Juan Figer. The players concerned never appeared in
games for Rentistas. Bursztyn said in a Feb. 8 interview that Rentistas
received a monthly retainer fee under the arrangement.
Porto Signing
Figer follows all the rules of his profession, his spokesman Jose Aparecida
Miguel said in an e-mail at the time. Miguel didn't immediately return a
call and e-mail seeking comment for this story. In the Deportivo Maldonado
trades, Brazil's Alex Sandro joined Portuguese champion Porto (FCP) for 9.6
million euros. Marcelo Estigarribia went to current Italian champion
Juventus on loan last season for 500,000 euros and Paraguay teammate Ivan
Piris moved to Roma on loan for 700,000 euros this season. West Ham took
Brian Montenegro, another Paraguayan, on loan from Maldonado last season
without disclosing if a fee changed hands.
Porto spokesman Rui Cerqueira didn't return a call and e- mail seeking
comment on the arrangement. Juventus's Claudio Albanese declined to comment
about its hiring of Estigarribia, who is now on loan at Sampdoria. West Ham
said it had no comment, and Roma officials didn't immediately provide a
comment. Roma paid 300,000 euros for an option to sign Piris permanently for
4 million euros after this season, according to an Aug. 1 team statement.
Maldonado official Jorge Lopez said he was unable to discuss the trades.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Nigel has a plan! Reo-Coker on verge of signing for Championship strugglers
Charlton
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 22:30, 17 September 2012 | UPDATED: 22:30, 17 September 2012
Daily Mail
Nigel Reo-Coker is on the verge of joining Championship strugglers Charlton
on a free transfer. The 28-year-old former West Ham and Aston Villa
midfielder, who left Bolton at the end of last season, has been looking for
a club all summer and Chris Powell is prepared to take him on.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce is hoping his defence can keep up the good work when
Sunderland visit on Saturday
16.09.2012
Sam Allardyce made a strong case for the defence after West Ham United's
fourth clean sheet in five games this season helped them to a goalless
Barclays Premier League draw at Norwich City on Saturday. A combination of
bravery, organisation and discipline from the Hammers repelled the home
side's repeated assaults at goal, leaving Big Sam to look ahead at the
club's upcoming fixtures with renewed optimism. Sunderland are the next to
see if they can become the first visiting team to register a Boleyn Ground
away goal this season when they arrive in east London on Saturday. "We're
satisfied with the point away from home and it's another clean sheet - the
basis and the structure to build any successful side on," Allardyce said.
"We're going to eventually start scoring goals as we didn't quite find the
clinical edge that we had against Fulham. "Being defensively strong is
critical because every time you don't concede a goal you know you've got a
point at least. You know for a fact that if you tot up 38 points in a season
now, it's likely that you'll be safe as nobody has gone down in the last
eight years with that amount."
The post-match interviewers were quick to quiz Allardyce on whether
Saturday's match had been the best performance yet from his new man between
the sticks, Jussi Jaaskelainen. Big Sam was quick to concur and explained
how pleased he was that the Finland international is feeling the benefits of
working with goalkeeping coach Martyn 'Marge' Margetson. "Yes I think it was
his best performance as that's the busiest he's been. Even though we lost
3-0 against Swansea City he wasn't very busy. The big man is there to do a
job and he did the job superbly for us. There were probably no world-class
saves in there but the ones he did make were very good. "I've got a great
goalkeeping coach here called Martyn Margetson, who is also the goalkeeping
coach for Wales. I know Jussi's strength was the coaching that Fred Barber
used to give him when I was with him at Bolton and I knew that when he got
with Marge, he would put him into a good frame of mind and re-kindle all of
the old experience that he's got. "When you're in the mid-30s today you can
still be a very good goalkeeper if you want to be. When you look at someone
like Brad Friedel, it shows that being in your mid-to-late-thirties isn't a
problem any more. It's about using that experience and having that
dedication to keeping your body right to play in goal, which Jussi does."
Jaaskelainen may not be the only one to enjoy the benefits of West Ham's
current watertight defence though, as the manager feels that assured
defending can also benefit the work his strikeforce do further up the pitch.
Carlton Cole caused the Canaries' defence problems for the first 57 minutes
on Saturday before being replaced by Modibo Maiga, who added his touch and
guile to several promising attacks. "The good thing is that the front
players know that one goal is going to win us the game as defensively we're
so good. That is critical to the success of the side. The confidence
throughout the team grows and the strikers know that if you miss one it's
not going to bother us too much if we can continue to defend like we do.
They know if they get the next one then it could win us the game. It's been
critical for the points total that we've gathered already and hopefully
we'll continue for a long period of time. "We are a team that has just come
up and we will have our periods when the opposition will come and be on top
of their form. We won't worry too much about that if we keep our mind on the
job and of course it promotes good attacking football. Our lads win the ball
back and we can keep probing as an attacking side to break down the
opposition."
With Andy Carroll still recovering from his hamstring injury, Cole and Maiga
both looked keen to impress with some tireless running on a very warm
September afternoon in East Anglia. That kind of attitude is exactly what is
needed as the competition for places hots-up according to Big Sam. "Carlton
Cole knows all about the Premier League. He's got stiff competition as he's
seen a centre forward come in from Liverpool that they paid a lot of money
for. He can either think that he's going to shrivel up or roll up his
sleeves and fight. When you've got competition it's got to bring the best
out you. I know he'll roll his sleeves up as he did against Norwich and
that's what we want to see. "In terms of Andy's recovery, I don't think
there's much chance for Sunderland. We would try and hope if we can get him
back before the next international break. I think it's a long-shot at the
moment but we'll try."
Friday was the first time Allardyce was able to get his whole squad together
after international commitments saw his side scatter all over the globe. But
after a summer of hard work identifying and securing a host of new talent
for his squad, the manager was able to finally reflect on a job well done.
"We've got a group of players that are getting to know each other day by
day. There are a lot of new faces that have come to the club again. I know
all about our boys from last season and I hope the new faces will make us
better and stronger as we go on."
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Hendon pleased with Baggies point
WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon was content with Sunday's 1-1 Development Squad draw at West
Bromwich Albion
17.09.2012
Ian Hendon was content after watching his side earn a 1-1 Barclays Under-21
Premier League draw with West Bromwich Albion at The Hawthorns. Yassine El
Ghanassy opened the scoring for the home side after five minutes but the
Development Squad were only behind for three minutes as Rob Hall levelled
from a free-kick at The Hawthorns. After losing 2-0 to Bolton Wanderers in
their previous fixture, Hendon was happy to see his side bounce back against
an experienced Baggies line-up.
"Overall I am pleased with a point because we played a very good team
containing a few first-team players and we competed every step of the way,"
he confirmed.
"We worked hard defensively before the game because we have been conceding
from a lot of set-pieces and I think you could tell. We stood firm and
looked strong when defending free-kicks and corners."
Hendon continued by paying tribute to his side's work ethic and attitude,
after they displayed a different side to their game than in previous
encounters.
"You saw a very different side to our game on Sunday," explained Hendon. "We
didn't have the majority of possession like we have had in previous games,
but we worked hard, stuck at it and ground out a result. "We, like most
weeks, had a very young team out there, so to see them come through and get
a result - particularly after going a goal down after five minutes - was
very pleasing."
Hall made his Barclays Premier League debut in the 3-0 home win over Fulham
recently and showed his sublime ability by equalising with a direct
free-kick.
"We equalised soon after we went behind. Rob scored a great free-kick and
showed again why he is in and around the first team. He is a very good
player.
"Seb Lletget also had a very good game in the centre of midfield. We didn't
have much of the ball, particularly in the second half, and he worked
tirelessly to break
down the play."
Next on the agenda for the Development Squad is a tricky looking encounter
against unbeaten Group A leaders Arsenal at Rush Green on Friday evening.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hall on song
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 17th September 2012
By: Staff Writer
Rob Hall's early strike was enough to earn Ian Hendon's Development Squad a
point from their weekend trip to West Bromwich Albion. Hall, who in one of
several youngsters on the verge of the first team squad struck on eight
minutes to cancel out Yassine El Ghanassy's fifth minute opener for the home
side. And recent signing Raphael Spiegel was also on form, making what have
been described as "a number of first-class saves" to ensure United grabbed a
share of the spoils. The on-loan El Ghanassy put the Baggies ahead with a
well-taken strike into the bottom left hand corner after running
unchallenged from inside his own half. But Hall notched the equaliser with
an equally stunning effort as his 25-yard free kick found the back of the
net. The young Hammers have now taken seven points from their opening four
fixtures in Group 1 of the Barclays Under-21 Premier League leaving them in
third spot behind leaders Arsenal - who have a 100 per cent record so far
and a game in hand - and Reading, also on seven points.
West Ham Utd: Spiegel; Driver (c), Moncur, Chambers, Fanimo; Spence,
Turgott, Lletget, Hall; McCallum, Lee (Ruddock 76).
Subs not used: Hunt, Rosique, Wearen, Powell.
West Bromwich Albion: L Daniels; Hurst, D Daniels, Tamas, Gayle; Thorne (c),
Mantom; Sawyers (Allan 68), El Ghanassy (Nabi 82), Rosenberg (Roofe 76);
Berahino.
Subs not used: Lewis, O'Neil.
Referee: S.Garrett
Also in action over the weekend against West Bromwich Albion were Nick
Haycock's under 18's, who grabbed their second win of the campaign with a
comprehensive 4-0 victory on Saturday. Goals from Kieran Sadlier (2), Nathan
Mavila and substitute Taylor Miles gave the young Hammers three more
Barclays U18 Premier League Group 1 points, taking their tally to seven from
four games - the same as both the development squad and first team. "It
could have been more than four-nil," manager Haycock told whufc.com. "It was
a good all-round display from the boys. We have raised the bar with this
performance and set our standards for the season ahead." West Ham rise to
third in the Group 1 table behind leaders Bolton (10 points) and Reading (8
points).
West Ham Utd: Larkins, Siafa (Girdlestone 65), Shaw, Onnariase, Nasha,
Cullen, Bywater, T.Tombides (Homans 70), Mavila, Sadlier (Miles 75),
Boakye-Yiadom.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dicks set for Irish role?
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 17th September 2012
By: Staff Writer
Julian Dicks is hoping to return to management with League of Ireland
Premier League club Shamrock Rovers. The Hoops, the Republic's most
successful club of all time are based in Dublin and play at the Tallaght
Stadium which has a capacity of just over 6,000. Over the weekend former
West Ham and Liverpool star Dicks - who was last in management in 2011 at
Grays Athletic - become the latest manager linked with replacing Stephen
Kenny, who was fired last week following the derby defeat against Bohemians.
And last night Dicks, speaking to KUMB.com, confirmed that he had applied
for the post. "It's true that I've put my name in to the hat," he said.
However he conceded that he faced stiff opposition from the likes of current
Hibs manager Pat Fenlon - the fans' choice to succeed Kenny - and Brian
Laws, the former Burnley manager who is also considered to be a front-runner
for the vacancy. Since ending his playing career, Dicks has held two jobs in
management - firstly at Eastern Counties League Premier Division club
Wivenhoe Town in 2009 and then at Grays Athletic, whom he managed between
September 2009 and May 2011.
In December of last year he was offered the opportunity to take over at Blue
Square Bet South outfit Dorchester Town but failed to agree personal terms.
Since then, the 44-year-old former left back has been working primarily as a
freelance coach and radio pundit - as well as penning a column here on
KUMB.com - but still harbours hopes of returning to full time management.
Shamrock Rovers chairman, Jonathan Roche, announcing the departure of Kenny
last week said: "We have not taken this decision lightly and we are
extremely disappointed with the turn of events. However, the club feels that
this is the right decision at this time."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
You'll win nothing with digs
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 17th September 2012
By: Staff Writer
David Gold has hit out at the BBC's Alan Hansen after the TV pundit
criticised West Ham United's co-chairman for interacting with supporters.
According to Gold, Hansen made a number of disparaging comments about the
76-year-old following an item he recorded for the BBC back in October 2010.
Speaking via his Twitter account over the weekend, Gold accused the former
Liverpool and Scotland defender of insulting him, whilst referring to him as
a "pompous fool". "I can't remember exactly [what he said]; I think he said
a good chair is a chairman that doesn't sign autographs or intereacts with
fans," Gold told followers of his Twitter feed. "He also implied that a good
chairman shouldn't have a football opinion. Alan Hansen is a pompous fool
and owes me an apology. "It's interesting that after my feature on Match of
the Day, the BBC sent my a copy of the show - but cut out the insulting
comments by Alan Hansen."
Gold, who was at Carrow Road on Saturday to watch West Ham earn their first
away point of the new season also told supporters that the World Cup
winners' statue - which was erected at the junction of Green Street and
Barking Road nine years ago - would be unlikely to make the move to
Stratford should United move there, as planned, in two years' time. "I would
be in favour of leaving the statues where they are and putting up replicas
at the new stadium," he said.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce believes West Ham keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen's confidence is
back
Last Updated: September 17, 2012 10:49am
SSN
Sam Allardyce believes Jussi Jaaskelainen's confidence has been rekindled
since moving to West Ham United and has praised the goalkeeper's impact.
Jaaskelainen joined the Hammers in the summer to replace Robert Green and
had previously spent over seven years playing under Allardyce at Bolton
Wanderers. The 37-year-old lost his place at Bolton in the second half of
last season, but Allardyce feels the Finn is back to his best after an
impressive display in Saturday's 0-0 draw at Norwich City. "The big man is
there to do a job and he has done the job superbly well for us," said the
West Ham boss. "I know that Jussi's strength was the coaching that Fred
Barber used to give him at Bolton, which he lost. "I knew that when he got
here with Martyn Margetson, that Marge would sort him out, put him back into
a right good frame of mind and rekindle all the old experience he used to
have. "Perhaps he had lost faith in himself a little bit and lost faith
because he wasn't playing, but Marge has rekindled his confidence and put
him in the right frame of mind."
Allardyce continued: "When you have got the experience that he has got and
are in your mid-30s, today you are still a very good goalkeeper if you want
to be.
"If you look at Brad Friedel, he is 41 now, so we know that being in your
mid to late 30s is not a problem anymore. "It is using that experience and
having the dedication to keep your body right, which Jussi does."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sport Football News Alan Hansen
By Mike Walters Comments 17 Sep 2012 22:31
The Mirror
'Hansen's a pompous fool': West Ham chief in Twitter blast at MOTD pundit
West Ham co-owner David Gold has branded Match Of The Day pundit Alan Hansen
a "pompous fool" in an amazing Twitter attack. Gold has not forgiven Hansen
for a throwaway remark he made about football club chairmen two years ago.
The Hammers' joint chairman had granted the BBC access all areas - including
to his palatial Surrey home and the directors' box at Upton Park - for a
behind-the-scenes feature on Match Of The Day 2. But, in the subsequent
studio discussion, hosted by presenter Colin Murray, Hansen was allegedly
dismissive of chairmen who sign autographs and pose for photographs with
fans. Gold was understood to be livid that his matchday hospitality should
be compromised by an obtuse comment.
And, buoyed by the Hammers' encouraging start on their return to the Premier
League mainstream (seven points and three clean sheets from four games),
Gold went on the warpath - and not because their goalless draw at Norwich
was the last game shown on MOTD on Saturday. Responding to a follower's
unconnected observation about Hansen, Gold posted: "I can't remember
exactly, I think he said a good chairman doesn't sign autographs or interact
with fans. He also implied that a good chairman shouldn't have a football
opinion. Alan Hansen is a pompous fool and owes me an apology. "It's
interesting that after my feature on MOTD, the BBC sent me a copy of the
show but cut out the insulting comments by AH. "The date of the interview
staring (sic) Alan Hansen was 3rd October 2010. Would love to get
unexpurgated copy."
Gold is not thought to have any problems with the BBC as a corporation or
Match Of The Day itself. His long-running beef is with Hansen, a
Double-winning Liverpool captain in 1986 and regarded as the doyen of
football pundits. When it was revealed in the summer that Hansen was paid
£40,000 a show, and was staying with Match Of The Day after agreeing to a
£500,000 wage decrease, Gold tweeted: "I see one of the worst and most
pompous pundits on BBC has taken a big pay cut. I'm stunned he gets paid at
all."
Gold and his long-time business associate David Sullivan bought a 62 per
cent majority stake in West Ham in January 2010, pumping around £100 million
into the club to save the Hammers from collapse. Their decision to axe
manager Gianfranco Zola and replace him with Avram Grant backfired, but Sam
Allardyce won promotion back to the top flight at the first attempt.
* WEST HAM manager Sam Allardyce has turned down the chance to sign free
agents Mikael Silvestre, John Mensah and Anthony Vanden Borre. The trio
joined the Hammers on trial last week, but Allardyce was not impressed and
has put a block on any permanent deals. Ex-Manchester United and Arsenal
defender Silvestre is without a club after leaving Werder Bremen, former
Portsmouth midfielder Vanden Borre was last at Belgian club Genk and
centre-back Mensah, once of Sunderland, left Lyon in July.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce challenges 'reluctant' Carroll to prove worth to Liverpool during
West Ham spell
Goal.com
18 Sep 2012 00:50:00
By Andrew Kennedy
Sam Allardyce has admitted that Andy Carroll was reluctant to leave
Liverpool and join West Ham on loan in the summer transfer window, but has
challenged the striker to prove his quality at Upton Park. The 23-year-old
endured a difficult year-and-a-half spell at Anfield following his £35
million switch from Newcastle, and after the arrival of new Reds boss
Brendan Rodgers, was made surplus to requirements at the club. West Ham's
early attempts to land Carroll were unsuccessful, with the England
international reported to prefer a return to Sports Direct Arena, however,
the Hammers eventually landed their man on the penultimate day of the
transfer window on a season-long loan deal. And Allardyce believes he can
show his worth to Liverpool during his time in east London, while also
helping to secure the club's Premier League survival. "Andy wasn't really
keen to leave Liverpool, which you can understand, because he was a big
transfer from Newcastle and wanted to show what he could do there. Wanted to
show Brendan what he could do," Allardyce said. "We tried in the early
stages of pre-season, but it just wasn't to be at the time. I think our
pursuit of Andy wasn't going to be successful until almost the death in
terms of the end of the transfer window. "But I think in the end he saw he
wasn't going to get those opportunities at Liverpool. First-team football
was what he wanted and what we could offer him, and ahead of a lot of other
Premier League clubs we were able to seal a deal thanks to the quick work of
[co-chairman] David Sullivan. "Andy's matured a lot since I worked with him
as a 19-year-old at Newcastle. He's been through the mill a bit, some
[critcism] deserved and some harsh. But now it' s all about his football,
he's totally focused on it and he wants to be playing football, and playing
first-team football. "And for us to get him on loan is a major coup for a
football club like us who are trying to establish ourselves back in the
Premier League."
Carroll's West Ham debut may have been cut short by injury, with a hamstring
problem ruling him out for up to six weeks, but the former Bolton boss
hailed his performance in the 3-0 win over Fulham as "one of the best" he
had seen since joining the club. "The lift that Andy gave everybody and the
reception he got from the West Ham fans lifted everybody. "For me it's
probably one of the best performance I've seen since I've joined West Ham.
"We overran them in the first half and the quality of our goals said
everything really and we missed even more chances to make it more than
three."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Juventus, West Ham Get Players as Uruguay's 'Ghost' Deals Mount
By Alex Duff - Sep 17, 2012 11:01 PM GMT
Bloomberg.com
Juventus (JUVE), AS Roma (ASR) and Porto agreed to pay a combined 11.1
million euros ($14.6 million) to hire players from Club Deportivo Maldonado,
a Uruguayan soccer team for which they never appeared, according to
stock-market filings. England's West Ham took a striker on loan. South
American teams and investors in the players' transfer rights move the
athletes' registrations through Uruguayan clubs to reduce tax on the trades
to as little as 5 percent from 20 percent, said Rodrigo Garcia, a lawyer at
Laffer Abogados in Madrid who has advised teams on such deals. Argentina's
tax authority said last month that the arrangements were irregular, and
Brazil's sports minister Aldo Rebelo said soccer ruling body FIFA should
outlaw the "ghost" club deals. At least $70 million of transfer fees went
through nine Uruguayan clubs in the same way since 2000, according to
Bloomberg News calculations. Uruguay's soccer federation declined to comment
yesterday. "This has been going on for years without anybody paying much
attention," Garcia said by telephone. "FIFA doesn't look on it favorably but
turns a deaf ear." The trades would only break FIFA rules if investors or
other third parties interfered in player movement, Garcia said.
'Tax Avoidance'
FIFA, which didn't immediately respond to a request for comment for this
story, is seeking to improve regulation of the $3 billion transfer market.
In 2010, the soccer authority made it compulsory to disclose bank details of
where transfer money goes via an Internet-based system. Mark Goddard, who
oversees the system, said at the time that soccer is "the last area of the
commercial world where large amounts of money can be moved without oversight
or regulation."
Deportivo Maldonado is a second-division team in Uruguay, where even the top
sides are traditionally weaker than Brazilian and Argentine counterparts in
continental competition. Trades through Uruguayan clubs amount to "damaging"
tax avoidance, with the transfer fees sometimes directed to offshore
companies, the Argentina tax agency said in an Aug. 24 statement. The
arrangement could be used to launder money, Brazil's Rebelo said in an Aug.
30 interview.
In February, FIFA began investigating after Mario Bursztyn, president of
Club Atletico Rentistas, said transfer fees involving Brazilian players
including "Hulk," whose real name is Givanildo Vieira de Souza, were
redirected through the Uruguayan team to a bank account in the name of Sao
Paulo-based player agent Juan Figer. The players concerned never appeared in
games for Rentistas. Bursztyn said in a Feb. 8 interview that Rentistas
received a monthly retainer fee under the arrangement.
Porto Signing
Figer follows all the rules of his profession, his spokesman Jose Aparecida
Miguel said in an e-mail at the time. Miguel didn't immediately return a
call and e-mail seeking comment for this story. In the Deportivo Maldonado
trades, Brazil's Alex Sandro joined Portuguese champion Porto (FCP) for 9.6
million euros. Marcelo Estigarribia went to current Italian champion
Juventus on loan last season for 500,000 euros and Paraguay teammate Ivan
Piris moved to Roma on loan for 700,000 euros this season. West Ham took
Brian Montenegro, another Paraguayan, on loan from Maldonado last season
without disclosing if a fee changed hands.
Porto spokesman Rui Cerqueira didn't return a call and e- mail seeking
comment on the arrangement. Juventus's Claudio Albanese declined to comment
about its hiring of Estigarribia, who is now on loan at Sampdoria. West Ham
said it had no comment, and Roma officials didn't immediately provide a
comment. Roma paid 300,000 euros for an option to sign Piris permanently for
4 million euros after this season, according to an Aug. 1 team statement.
Maldonado official Jorge Lopez said he was unable to discuss the trades.
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Nigel has a plan! Reo-Coker on verge of signing for Championship strugglers
Charlton
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 22:30, 17 September 2012 | UPDATED: 22:30, 17 September 2012
Daily Mail
Nigel Reo-Coker is on the verge of joining Championship strugglers Charlton
on a free transfer. The 28-year-old former West Ham and Aston Villa
midfielder, who left Bolton at the end of last season, has been looking for
a club all summer and Chris Powell is prepared to take him on.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
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