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Tony Cottee: Michael Owen Would Be Ideal At West Ham

May 28, 2012 By Stevo Leave a Comment

There has been a few rumours lately about the possibility of ex Liverpool, Newcastle and Manchester United forward Michael Owen coming down to the Hammers on a transfer.

I don’t know how much to read into this and we know that Allardyce is keen to go shopping and pick up a few summer bargains to help give the Hammers the start they need for next season.

Tony Cottee has come and said that West Ham needs some quality additions to the current squad and that Owen should be high on the list of players Allardyce should take a sneak peak at.

Cottee told the Sun newspaper: “A new striker is a must but also a proven Premier League scorer would be ideal. Everyone talks about Owen’s injury record but you know he guarantees reaching double figures in goals, which would take the pressure off the rest of the players.

“I know the fans would be excited about signing someone of his calibre. It would send out a message that the board want back the manager with quality.”

Maybe West Ham legend Cottee has a point. Sir Alex Ferguson was right to sign him and I think he even said something like: “If Michael Owen only sticks ten goals in the box in a season, then I’ll be happy”. A lot of people especially the Liverpool fans trashed the idea of Owen going to Utd but Ferguson proved them wrong I think. Ok, so he hasn’t started that many games and the guy is so injury prone it’s not even funny. I’ve probably started more games than Owen over the last 5 years!

Let us not forget though is Owen’s pedigree. He was the housewive’s choice, had deadly pace and awesome finishing in the box. A lot of that may be in the past now but I think Cottee is more interested in Owen’s ability to bring experience and knowledge to West Ham. Let’s face it, Ferguson used to bring him on for the last quarter of an hour. He may be a valuable addition and as he’s a free agent he just might be tempted for some East End love, who knows?

If he came to the Hammers and played well the fans would love him for sure. Owen’s still only 32 and might have a few good years in him if he can keep injury-free. On the other hand though, a forever injured player sitting on the bench and coining it in would be another story for the Hammer fans, wouldn’t it?

Something tells me that his experience would be invaluable for our young guns up front, especially Vaz Té and Carlton Cole – they would benefit enormously from Owen’s vast experience.

Whatever happens about Tony Cottee’s Owen rumours there’s going to be some action this summer and Upton Park will be a hive of activity regarding transfer news. So if he does come down to the East End I think he’d be welcomed with open arms – we’d then just have to wait to see if he can produce the goods.

 

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Carlton Cole Took Pay Cut To Ensure Hammers Promotion

May 24, 2012 By Stevo Leave a Comment

After all the chit chat about Blackpool’s sour grapes especially from Baptiste of all people, Carlton Cole comes to the rescue with some true Hammers spirit.

Did you know that our boy Cole took a 50% cut in wages to play for the irons, the club he loves, to help get us back to the Premier League where the claret and blues belong? Cole is a gentleman and a scholar in my book and deserves a round of applause!

I mean, there he was on 28 grand a week before the irons dropped off the radar and into the Championship last season and he slashes his wages to 14 grand a week because he loves his team and wanted to get back to the Prem. The guy’s a legend!

Ok, a lot of us would say “Mmmm, 14 grand a week’s not bad either” and rubbished the generosity of the player. But guys and gals, don’t forget that these players have different living standards, higher taxes, businesses to run etc etc and all I can think of is that he’s a great guy.

I wonder if some of the Manchester city stars would take a 50% pay cut “to help out”? i don’t think so, especially with the likes of Nasri et al who have left decent clubs that have made them the players that they are today for some easy cash up the road which has fallen off the back of a camel 🙂 Maybe Jermain Defoe should take a look at himself and make a self examination. You remember, he was that guy that jumped ship and handed in a transfer request the day the Hammers got demoted in 2003 – nice fella.

Don’t forget that Cole was offered a lifeline by Stoke City to stay in the Premier League, too. He turned it down though to help the lads get back up.Such loyalty is rarely seen today especially when you have the likes of City splashing their cash and changing the face of football in the process. Anyway, so much for splashing the cash, they only won the league on goal difference at the death of it.

Carlton Cole had this to say about his pay cut:

“I’ve kept my mouth shut for quite a while but I did take a wage cut to stay in the Championship. Half of my wages just went.

“But I thought ‘You know what? I want to help this club get back where we belong.’

“I didn’t want to leave the ship, I am that sort of guy. I would not have been able to live with myself.

“It is just such a reward today to get to the Premier League again with West Ham at the first time of asking. This was D-Day for all of us”.

Cole believed in Sam Allardyce and his team and that was a big factor that led the player to hang around at West ham and not jump ship. The player doesn’t intend on taking another hit in the wages department and plans to fire the Hammers into the big time and stay there.

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West Ham Back In The Premier League

May 19, 2012 By Stevo Leave a Comment

What an awesome way to end a season! West Ham United are back where they belong – the Premier League. Blackpool came to Wembley with one thing on their mind and that was to snatch a victory and deny the Hammers their legitimate right – The Prem.

I still can’t believe it as I type up this report that West Ham are back in the big time, back in the Premier League. There is certainly going to be some bubbly uncorked tonight in London’s East End I can tell you. Not the cheap Spanish Cava but a few bottles of the good stuff!

Blackpool “brought it” to Wembley and it showed. They gave West Ham a tough time and it had to be Carlton Cole the man to break the deadlock just before the break. That was a great moment, going into the break with a one nil lead at Wembley – the hallowed turf.

After the break, Blackpool surprised the hammers with a goal and it showed they meant business – the Tangerines wanted this as badly as the Hammers and now they had the bit between their teeth.

West Ham showed great resilience though and it was an awesome match with end to end stuff. Blackpool managed to frighten the Hammers on a few occasions but they soaked it up. Stephen Dobbie was particularly good for the seasiders and he wanted this more than anyone. The irons played like warriors this afternoon and Allardyce’s men were in for a treat. The Hammers toughed it out and the clock was ticking. Who would be able to break the deadlock between these two teams who were chasing Premiership glory?

It was our man from Portugal, Ricardo Vaz Té who sealed the deal for the Hammers! West Ham do not win many matches close to the final whistle but this was sublime. Vaz Té’s goal will go down in history and will be remembered for a long time, I can assure you of that lads!

The boys played their hearts out like true lions and they have reaped the spoils. I’m a great believer of what you put into something is what you’ll get out and the Hammers did that today. They played a great game of football and now they have got what they deserved – premiership glory next year.

Well done to Sam Allardyce and his boys. Sam has turned the club around and put them back on the right track – he knows what he’s doing, even if we did have a few scary moments this season!

So that’s it lads, we are back to the Premier League and the boys deserve a decent rest – but only after a champagne celebration of course!

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Tangerines Up In Arms Over Premier League Away Kit

May 17, 2012 By Stevo Leave a Comment

The Tangerines have apparently “got out of their prams” about a “new away kit” that sports the premier League logo on it! I couldn’t stop laughing when I heard this and thought it must be the seasiders new take on Fergie’s mind games!

Therefore the Hammers have come out and denied all rumours of a new away kit with the premier League logo after “somebody” posted a draft version of it online. The tangerines are said to be “riled”, who we play on Saturday at Wembley for Premiership glory in a 90 Million pound showcase.

Ian Evatt, a Tangerines defender has called the Hammers “disrespectful” and overconfident ahead of Saturday’s big game.

And defender Evatt had this to say about the away kit photo scandal:

“If you listen to them, they’re already up aren’t they?” “If I was them I wouldn’t be counting my chickens just yet because what I have learned over the past five or six seasons is these players never give up.
“A guy has just told me that their new kit’s come out with Premier League badges on, which I think is jumping the gun a bit and it’s disrespectful towards our group of players.
“I’m not going to sit here and say Blackpool are going to win, but we’re going to give them a better game than they think we’re going to give them.”

This outburst has surprised the Irons especially as their preparation and build up has been very low key – almost deliberately if you ask me. The Hammers have now responded to Evatt’s rants in a statement by the club:

“West Ham United can confirm that reports of replica shirts being produced with Premier League badges on ahead of Saturday’s play-off final are completely erroneous.
“The photograph of a shirt is a hoax and in no way connected to West Ham United Football Club.
“Comments made as to the conduct of our club in regards to our opponents on Saturday, Blackpool, are also false and have again, nothing to do with the club.”

In my opinion I think the seasiders are playing mind games with us ahead of the Wembley game in a bid to distract our focus and attention. These things happen all the time and anyone who’s worth their salt as a designer could create a mock up and post it on the Net – it’s not that hard believe me!

Ian Evatt should shut up ahead of this game as it doesn’t make too much sense going into a match like this unless you’re up for a few mind games before-hand. There’s just two days to go and the hammers will get to respond to the Tangerines tactics on the pitch with a brace from Vaz Té!

😉

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Olympic Stadium Tenant Process Prolonged

May 15, 2012 By Stevo Leave a Comment

It looks like the Hammers are in for a bit more waiting to see who gets the Olympic stadium after the London 2012 Olympic Games as the bosses at the London Legacy Development Corporation have extended the process. Apparently, a few issues have arisen regarding government body approvals, naming rights and stadium improvements.

The Hammers were expected to hear news about the successful new tenants on 21st May, just two days after the Wembley final play-offs. It looks like the decision has now been postponed.

There are at least 16 parties who registered their interest for securing the 99 year lease on the stadium once the Olympic Games have ended and among them are the University of East London, Essex County Cricket Club and of course, West Ham United. All bids for the prize location can be re-submitted, we are told.

The chief executive of Legacy, Andrew Altman had this to say regarding the process:

“We have been very encouraged by the quality of the bids so far.

“However, a number of issues have arisen during the process and we believe it is sensible to give everyone more time so they can be addressed.

“The fundamentals have not changed and it remains our intention to sign construction contracts for converting the Stadium at the end of October, with the intention of re-opening in 2014 as previously announced.”

“We want to make the process as competitive as possible and extending the competition period will allow all parties that registered an initial interest in the stadium another chance to bid.

We still think the Hammers have a pretty good chance of getting the lease and I personally believe this possibility will greatly increase if the hammers do their job on Saturday and beat the Tangerines at Wembley.
What a great showcase it will be if the Irons get to the Premier League and secure the 99 year lease on one of the sexiest stadiums around 😉

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