West Ham United Blog

Demel closes excellent window for Hammers

In what is expected to be the last incoming transfer of the day, Guy Demel, the tough Ivory Coast defender, has signed from Hamburg for an un-disclosed fee.  This gives us some much needed cover at the back, although it is a shame that hapless Herita did not go anywhere at the same time.  He was offered the chance to go to Celtic but wanted a 12 month rather than the 6 month contract that was on offer with them.  He should have taken the chance while it was offered as his ship has well and truly sailed from Upton Park for me.

Junior Stanislas has joined Zavon Hines at Burnley.  Some are upset at this, but I'd be very surprised if we ever see Junior at a higher level than this.  Despite some rare flashes of skill, his decision making is very poor and he tended the lose the ball alot.  Probably a good signing for them at this level, but I'll be surprised if this one comes back to haunt us.  But we wish him well for the future and he better not score against us!

David Bentley and Henri Lansbury arrive on loan

Presumably as part of the Parker deal, David Bentley has arrived on a season long loan deal.  A strange one, the guy has the gift but has lacked the application in recent years, but if anyone can get the best out of him, Big Sam can.

Henri Lansbury is a very interesting one, my Arsenal supporting firends cite him as a creative midfielder with significant potential.  He made 23 appearances for promotion winning Norwich last season, which is a good omen.  Be interesting to see how he fits in at Upton Park.

A warm welcome to both players to Upton Park, we look forward to seeing you in our colours soon...

 

Parker Gone

Scott Parker has joined bottom of the league side Tottenham Hotspur.  Not sure of the fee as yet but around £5.5m is being mooted.  Scott was a legend for us last season, his team talks and non stop running got him plaudits from all sides.  Despite moving to our rivals, I am sure Scott can look forward to a Tevez-esque welcome whenever we come up against the Spurs. 

In terms of a deal, I think it's great for us.  The income from the fee and removal of the wages from the monthly expenditure will be sound for us financially, and we are cashing on a player who ran his legs into the ground last season.  Can he do that for another 2 or 3 seasons?  It remains to be seen, I hope he stays nothing but fit, but I would speculate he peaked last season and it will be interesting to watch him for Spurs, especially if he is used as part of a squad rather than the first name on the teamsheet as he was at Upton Park.  Anyhow, onwards and upwards, in Big Sam we trust!

Parker hands in transfer request

Scott Parker has handed in a transfer request in order to secure his move to Spurs.  Such a move was likely to be at the request of the club who may saved themselves from paying Parker compensation had they simply decided to sell him without such a request.  Clearly a game of who is blinking first going on and in this instance it appears West Ham have won it.  The fee is likely to be un-disclosed but I reckon around £5.5m will be close to the mark.  Scott goes with our good wishes, even if it is to a small club like Spurs, currently languishing at the bottom of the table.

In other news, Papa Buobs Diop played for a West Ham eleven today in a friendly and we are awaiting international clearance before signing the player up.

West Ham sign Baldock

West Ham have this evening completed the signing of Sam Baldock from MK Dons.  Although a stranger to most when the season started, Sam has had a sterling start to the season and hammers fans are excited about the injection of a genuine finisher with pace up-front, something that has clearly been missing from our opening few games.

Sam signed up too late for Sunday's game but we can expect to see him in a bit of action next weekend.  Welcome to Upton Park young man, run yourself into the ground, try hard and we'll love you for it.

Hammers Update...

Aldershot result was rubbish, hopefully a one-off performance not to be repeated.  Stanislas was the only one to impress and potentially his pace could find a place in our team, although his decision making could still do with improving.

Some transfer grapevine stuff....

Pablo Barrera set to join Real Zaragozoa on a loan with option to buy.  Let's face it, he just ain't gonna settle in here.

Papa Bouba Diop going through medical process with Hammers - the guy is a beast and will add some steel though no pace into the middle, but this move does make sense when you hear that.....

Scott Parker move to Spurs to go through next week in a cash plus players deal.  Not sure what Spurs players we are after, no doubt some pace in the side.  I'd take Jenas and Hutton potentially, they could probably do a job for us.

We have made a bid for MK Dons Baldock after Sam watched him a couple of times - he is the quick striker we have been looking for, though whether he can make the step up remains to be seen.  A positive move however.

That's it for now, let's wipe the Carling Cup out of our heads and focus on a tough trip to Forest on Sunday, come on you Irons!!!

Watford v West Ham Preview

A few things to catch up on then.  First up was Saturday’s win and what a relief.  It was a fixture they would have tripped up the old West Ham too easily, but I have faith that Sam is giving us a resilience now that sees us grind out results like these.  If it wasn’t for the hapless Illunga, we would not have conceded so far this season. 

Before moving on to tonight’s game, I understand Zavon Hines is leaving us for pastures claret and blue, making Turf Moor his new home.  Everyone had high hopes for Zav, especially after he turned Liverpool inside out a couple of seasons back, but injury has hampered him and I’m not sure we are saying goodbye to the future Rooney. 

Robert Green is apparently in contract talks with the club and I’d love it if Greeno stayed.  He does have his faults but I don’t think he ever lacks effort or heart, and that must have been pretty difficult when he had useless Upson playing in front of him last season.  Hope you stay with us Greeno, you are Hammers through and through.

And so to tonight and trying to continue the good run with a win at Watford.  It’s certainly doable, their start to the league has not exactly been covered in glory and they have an inexperienced man at the helm compared to our Sam.  I’d expect a couple of changes and hope that Carlton is ready to be unleashed for a full match.  I’d also drop Illuga, and go like this…

Green

Taylor – Tomkins – Reid – O’Brien

Collison – Parker – Noble – Sears

Nolan

Cole

Bench: Boffin, Faubert, Barrera, Piq and Faye

This team really should be good enough to see off the Hornets, I’m going for a 3-0 in favour of the Hammers, come on you Irons!!!

Doncaster v West Ham Match Preview

The reality of life is the lower tier sets in tomorrow with a trip to Doncaster Rovers.  With our midweek game postponed, I’m hoping the lads are chomping at the bit to right the wrongs of last weekend’s result and put us firmly back on the road to promotion.

I won’t claim to know too much about our opponents, though by all accounts they were unlucky at Brighton last week and pushed aside Tranmere in the Carling Cup, so will no doubt give us a tough game.  But I’d really hope our Premier League quality will sinhe through and we can get a result. 
Team wise, I still have Illunga down as a liability and if Mccartney is fit, I’ll have him in.  Hopefully Sam has learned the lesson that Piq does not do enough up front on his own, in fact, he does not do enough full stop.  I’d like to see….

Green

Mccartney Reid Tomkins O’brien

Taylor Parker Noble Sears

Nolan

Cole

Bench: Boffin, Faye, Piq, Collison and Illunga

Nolan must play much further up front and support the striker, rather than between defence and midfield where he found himself last week.

Prediction – 2-1 to the Hammers, going down to an early scare before a hair dryer from Sam sorts em out.  Come on you Irons!!!

McCartney Returns

George McCartney has returnesd to Upton Park in a season long loan deal from Sunderland.  The selling of George a couple of years back was the catalyst that saw Alan Curbishley leave Upton Park.  George was sold to the Mackems for around £6m, but does not seem to have been rated as he was during his tenure at Upton Park.  He played for Leeds last season and did an okay job by all accounts.  It will be interesting to see how he is now, but we certainly needed an alternative to the error prone Herita Ilunga, so I welcome this move.  Nice to have you back George, hope you can find some of your old form....

West Ham v Aldershot Match Postponed

West Ham have confirmed that due to the muppets (for want of a better word) blighting our city, the Carling Cup match tomorrow is now off.  The game has been called off at the request of the police.  I'm assuming this is more about freeing their resources for other matters rather than any major risk of the match.  This is a real shame as it gave us a chance to bounce back after Sunday's defeat, but I sympathise with the club's position.

Confirmed on official site here