Big Sam, High Aims

Good to see our manager Sam Allardyce is setting the bar high for our first season back in The Premiership.

Not just content with avoiding relegation which is most promoted clubs ambition, Sam is looking to get The Hammers out of the blocks fast so we don’t have to look over our shoulder at a relegation battle all season.

“My job is to aim as high as we can in the Premier League and not to say fourth from bottom is enough,” said Allardyce.

“Let’s see how far we can get this team at the first time of asking. The real challenge for me is to prepare the team for the best possible start for the first 10 games.

“That will take the pressure off as you’re not in a relegation position every week, which is a constant gnaw at the player’s confidence.

“That’s the way forward if we can achieve it.”

I like to see that we are serious about being a mid-table team and building from there rather than just trying to avoid relegation.

However, I do feel we need quite a bit of strengthening before this is possible with some quality full backs, a centre back, a good holding midfielder, a few tricky wingers and another good front man all needed before we have a solid enough team to carry out Sam’s plan.

Six Players Released

West Ham have released six senior players which includes Julien Faubert, John Carew and Abdoulaye Faye following the club’s promotion to the Premier League.

Faubert was the only player who was released to have been involved in the Hammers’ 2-1 win over Blackpool at Wembley on Saturday that clinched our promotion back to the promised land of the Premier League.

The full list of players are Julien Faubert, John Carew, Abdoulaye Faye, Papa Bouba Diop, Frank Nouble and Olly Lee.

Faubert has featured the most out of the players released and the last time Carew or Diop had a run out was in January.

WHUFC.com “Julien Faubert, Abdoulaye Faye, Papa Bouba Diop, John Carew, Frank Nouble and Olly Lee will all leave West Ham when their current contracts end on 30 June.

“The six professionals have all played their part in a successful 2011-12 season which saw the Hammers gain promotion back to the Barclays Premier League.”

“West Ham would like to thank all of the aforementioned players for their hard work and dedication and wish them luck in their future careers.”

The only other player on his way is Henri Lansbury who has returned to Arsenal after his loan spell expired.

All in all no big shakes, most players did a job for us over the course of the season but we now need to improve the squad to consolidate in the Premier League.

Keeper Signs Permanent Deal

West Ham United have agreed the permanent signing of highly-rated goalkeeper Stephen Henderson.

The 24-year-old stopper who has been on loan since March, has moved to Upton Park on a three-year contract after completing his move from Portsmouth for an undisclosed fee.

Henderson was among the substitutes as West Ham won promotion to the Barclays Premier League by beating Blackpool 2-1 in the npower Championship Play-Off final at Wembley.

“I’m chuffed to bits to get it wrapped up,” Henderson told West Ham TV. “I’m a very happy man today. It’s been absolutely brilliant since I joined and it obviously topped it off on Saturday with us getting to the Premier League. The lads have been brilliant with me and have made me feel welcome so I’m very happy.

“To be honest, I think Saturday was probably the poorest I’ve seen us play in a while! Blackpool had a few great chances to get their noses in the lead but at the end of the day we took our chances and Vaz has popped up at the end.

“It was a fantastic day. The support was a real buzz. It was absolutely brilliant. Considering the trouble I’ve had with Portsmouth and their relegation battle, I’m very lucky to be here and to be a Premier League goalkeeper, I hope.”

Henderson has been capped for Ireland all the way through the youth teams until U-21 level and looks to be a fantastic prospect and an excellent backup for our Number 1 Rob Green.

Hopefully we can follow this up with our star keeper Rob Green signing a new deal as he has been outstanding for us this campaign!

Sour Grapes For Bitter Baptiste

Bitter Blackpool defender Alex Baptiste has had a pop at West Ham’s style of play following the Tangerines 2-1 defeat to The Hammers in the play-off final.

“We were the better side,” the defender told BBC Radio Lancashire. “It was embarrassing at times. They just hoof it long and hope for the best.

“It’s a foul on me for the second goal, so the ref has done us no favours.

“I suppose everyone got what they wanted. Everyone wanted West Ham to win because they’re a team from London.”

Fair enough Blackpool probably had the better of the game, but to say we hoofed it so much it was embarrassing is a bit much! Considering both goals came from some nice build up play and their secret weapon was a 50 yard cross field ball to Ince, it smacks of sour grapes to me.

I think he may have also forgotten the 4-0 and 4-1 wins in the league for West Ham against his Barca like Blackpool!

Other than this deluded gentleman Blackpool on the whole were gracious in defeat and I wish them well for next season.

 

Allardyce To Sue Kean (Reportedly)

Current Hammers Manager and former Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce has reportedly instructed lawyers to sue his former Number 2 and current Blackburn manager Steve Kean.

This action comes following a four minute video released on YouTube overnight, apparently filmed during Rovers pre-season trip to Hong Kong, it shows Kean being very critical of Allardyce and using a series of expletives and going as far as to call Sam “a crook”.

It also shows Kean predicting a top half finish in The Premiership and that Blackburn would win the Carling Cup.

The BRFC Action Group  have claimed responsibility for the footage,  and have long campaigned against Kean and the clubs owners the Venky’s.

A statement from the group says: “We as a group of supporters, elected by its members, are disgusted that our club has been allowed to be pillaged with very little resistance from the regulatory bodies who should act in the best interest of the sport and supporters.

“We are pleased to announce that the Premier League has invited the BRFC Action Group for a full meeting to take place in the next couple of weeks.

“We are further delighted that the Sports Minister has also agreed to a similar meeting to discuss the goings on, behind the scenes, at our club.”

Interesting times to be a Blackburn fan then!

If your interested in seeing the video you can find it here:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9xcB9XfLjL8