Bad news for the Hammers as the club has been dealt a double whammy ahead of the new season.
Andy Carroll, who was looking forward to starting the new season against the Bluebirds is set to miss the first month of the season while on the other side of the channel, monsieur Salomon Kalou has turned down a chance to join West Ham.
24 year old Carroll took a knock on his heel on the last day of the season in the Hammers’ 4-2 victory over Reading. That injury put paid to his England duties in the friendly games against the Republic of Ireland and Confederations cup winners, Brazil.
The £16m record signing has spent much of the pre-season recovering and getting into shape ahead of the Hammers’ new season. However, Sam Allardyce has admitted that he will delay the Geordie’s return, preferring to adopt a more cautious approach.
Allardyce, speaking to the London Evening Standard said: “Andy is making good progress and doing some running.”
“We will look at things over the next week but considering where he is in his preparation, I would have thought that we’re looking more realistically at the match following the international break, which is Southampton away on 15 September.”
West Ham now find themselves in a quandary as Allardyce has yet to find a partner for the big Geordie up front.
West Ham United had been linked with Lille player Salomon Kalou and at one stage were thought to be favourites to bring him back to the Premier League. However, the 28 year old Ivorian frontman has put a spanner in ze works and revealed that he has little desire to leave his club which is about to begin their new season.
Speaking to French newspaper Voix Du Nord, Kalou said that “Rene Girard is a coach who can make progress,”
“In these circumstances I do not see why I need to go elsewhere.”
With Allardyce’s options being given a swift kick up the backside by Kalou, the manager now has only Maiga and Vaz Te to count on ahead of the new season’s opener against new boys Cardiff City.
About Stevo
I have said many times, all the board are interested in is staying up, with Palace and Hull going straight back down we only have to finish above one other side, and they think we can do that with the squad we have playing Sams boot it and knock down system, well this is probably true but there is no way on earth I will be paying to watch it
should have siged Bony as a westham supporter living in holland hes a very good striker already scored 2 goals in his first game.
Despite what many knowledgeable WHU fans have know for years that AC is an overrated accident prone potential donkey, which we signed for the combined price of Bony and BA. WHU are still looking to spend £10/14 M for a support (crutch) for a part time AC [excused playing due to injuries] when £10 M would have retained the services of Carlos. How would a potential strike force of Bony, Ba and Carlos be welcomed by loyal WHU fans? I am prepared to be flamed for posting an honest comment.
What is WHU doing wrong? Remy to Newcastle for a loan fee, QPR bidding for Zapata when we couldn’t get a work permit? We are a London club moving into the Olympic Stadium but probably couldn’t attract a Scottish league 3 player!
I am becoming suspicious that we are NOT in the market for a new striker. Gomis and Remy go to Newcastle. Kalou not interested. Bent not an option. And suddenly Maiga, Diarra and Morrison have been welcomed back to the fold!! We just don’t have the money. We all know the bank debt debt HAS to be repaid or we can’t move to the OS. I think we are going to try to tough it out with the players we have. At least until January. I hope I’m wrong, because we need a real goalscorer to support Carroll.
I agree, we can’t afford a slow start this season. We have to get as many points in the bag as possible.
I’ve heard rumours he’s going to miss the first 2 games. I don’t think we even need him for the home fixtures as much as we do away from home. Kalou is a bit of blow, but I’m sure Sam has his eye on quite a few similar players. I’d like odemwingie, Scott Sinclair or eminike. Either way, buzzing for next season and hopefully Morrison gets to play tonight against braga. He played brilliantly last night against sporting.
Why are we not in the running for Bent
Garenteed 15 – 20 goals and dirt cheap at 6 mill
V worried. Three winnable games that Carroll is going to miss. As with last season, we have a relatively easy start to the campaign and we can’t afford to start slow. With just Maiga and Vaz Te up front I am not optimistic. Need a new signing quick.