West Ham United Blog | Analysis & News
News, Results, Transfers, Gossip
West Ham United travel to the Stadium of Light to take on Martin O’Neils Sunderland team this weekend.
With Andy Carroll still out injured and Mali international Modibo Maiga away on international duty, Big Sam Allardyce may hand a debut to new loan signing Marouane Chamakh.
It will be too late to include Brazilian striker Paulista who is having a medical with West Ham United today and could be unveiled later on this Friday. [Read more…]
West Ham United are closing in on the capture of the Swedish left-back Martin Olsson who plays for Blackburn Rovers.
Manager Sam Allardyce has targeted a left-back after George McCartney injured his knee and young Dan Potts as the only other recognized left-back in the squad. [Read more…]
West Ham United have taken American international player Graham Zusi on trial.
26-year-old Zusi – not to be confused with the white goods maker Zanussi – currently plies his trade in the MLS for Kansas and recently finished third in the MLS Player of The Year award.
Zusi is an attacking midfield player and is considered one of the brightest and best players in the MLS, West Ham United have beaten a lot of interested parties to the punch by securing the player on trial with a view to making a more permanent move for Zusi should he be successful.
West Ham United have officially re-signed Joe Cole on an 18-month-contract.
Cole, 31, is a former West Ham United Academy graduate and will once again don the number 26 shirt which he wore during his first spell at the club.
News broke on Wednesday that Cole was in talks with West Ham about returning to East London and yesterday it was reported he was undergoing a medical.
Speaking to WHUFC.com Cole said:
“It is a great move for me,” confirmed the 31-year-old. “Coming back here brings back all the memories of the pitches I learnt how to play on. This is where I learnt my trade and I’m happy to have another chance to be here. I’ve always loved West Ham and I hope I can give the club a few memorable seasons.
“The timing was right for me to come back and I’m happy. I’m back in London and I’m delighted to be here. I want to be here and I want to make an impact.
“The place has not changed much to look at, but I think Sam has done a great job with the team. A few years ago, the club was in a bad way and Sam has done brilliantly. All in all, it will always be West Ham and the history will always be here and everywhere I go around the world, people love West Ham. Everywhere I go, people know me for having started here.”
Cole also said:
“It was a big thing in me coming back – the fact that everybody here wants me to do well. The fans have always been great for me, whenever I have been back and also when I’ve been in the area visiting family.
“I feel like I owe the club a little bit as well because if it wasn’t for West Ham I wouldn’t be a footballer. This club’s great youth-team coaches taught me the trade.”
Cole will add some much-needed creativity into the West Ham team and I am sure his signing will give the whole place a lift! Welcome home Joe we have missed you!
West Ham finally got that winning feeling back with a 2-1 victory over Norwich City yesterday.
Mark Noble put West Ham ahead after only 3 minutes were on the clock when we were awarded a penalty after Winston Reid was having his shirt tugged so much it was almost ripped from his back!
Noble is getting better and better with his spot kicks and I have not felt this confident about a penalty take in a long time.
Norwich tried to hit back straight away and were getting in some dangerous areas, the visitors then thought they should have had a penalty of their own when Winston Reid looked to have handled the ball, however the replays show a Norwich player leaning all over Reid and a penalty would have been harsh.
West Ham continued to apply pressure and double their lead on 23 minutes when Joey O’Brien scored from close range with a nice sidefoot at goal after some neat build up play from the Hammers’.
Second Half
Norwich came out looking very lively in the second half and really pushed West Ham back looking for a goal to get back into the match, however the best chance fell to Carlton Cole who somehow spooned his shot over from within the 6-yard-box when it should have been 3-0 and game over.
As the second half went on it became a nervy affair with West Ham looking to hold on having not won in the previous 4 outings, both teams continued to threaten though and both teams hit the woodwork in search of goals.
Norwich could and should have had a penalty when James Tomkins clipped Harry Kane in the box with the forward through at goal, however luck was on West Ham’s side and the ref waved away the protests, however the Canaries did manage to pull a consolation goal back on 90 minutes when defender Martin scored at the death.
Overall West Ham rode their luck a little bit but 3-points is all that matters and now the club need to look at getting some more players in this transfer window.
