West Ham are allegedly inquiring about the services of ex Newcastle flop Jean Alain Boumsong. Although a new centre back is needed, for me personally, this is not the right place to be looking. At 30 he has experience, and has represented France as well as play numerous times in the Champions League, but from what i remember of him, he was always the weak link and i think the management team would be better to look for a younger, more solid defender. My fancy would be Wheater from ‘Boro.
Reports are circulating that ‘Arry is set to make ‘a significant bid’ to bring Scott Parker to Tottenham. It really does seem he has a personal vendetta against the club now and will almost do anything to agitate Hammers fans. If the board are true to their word, we’ll refuse any and all offers for Parker, but i think he may actually be the first to leave Upton Park.
West Ham are set to appoint a new assistant manager this week. Zeljko Petrovic has been assistant to Martin Jol for a number of years now and reports are suggesting he will sign as Grants number 2 and bring countryman and Ajax forward Miralem Sulejmani with him on a season long loan deal.
Other than the Remy saga, which is getting very tiresome now, and the possible arrival of Clerc, there is little else to report for now. However Avram Grant has promised more signings this summer! Lets hope one is Clerc and lets hope Remy makes up his mind soon, one way or the other.
It's amazing how many players are being linked to the club, must be standard practice for all journalists.
What is interesting is that there have been very few "exit" rumours – either means no other clubs are interested or they will all go at the last minute.
Significant Bid? The article mentions £8M. ROTFLMAO!!
Goatygav – brilliant isn't it? 8 million – you have to laugh.
Elsewhere, on BBC breakfast today they did a lot of reporting from live inside the Olympic Stadium… it looks good.
But…
Unless West Ham are planning on playing on an oval pitch that is about twice the size of a regulation football pitch. Don't expect front row seats to be within 60 foot of the pitch. The surface area inbetween the stands is massive. It looked about the width of two football pitches.
Expect Avram Grant to start sporting some glasses soon, as he won't be able to see bugger all from the dugouts!
What a joke.
Tell me about it. I really want to see what the plans are for this EC – to put my mind to rest. What kind of atmosphere will be able to be generated and what sort of view of the game will spectators get?
They may well get new fans through the door with their reduced price tickets, which is great, but I wonder about those who already go regularly. They're probably counting on the existing regular fans to continue to watch in the new stadium – would this happen with the pitch so far away? Doubt it. Especially considering the narrow angles that Binoculars are capable of.
Update – Special report coming on SSN re the Olympic Stadium Legacy within the hour.
If you reduce the percentage of regular fans then atmosphere will be flat. Add to that the fact that theirs a running track between the pitch and the fans!
I worry about the size of the pitch too. If its too big we'll be ripped apart by teams like Arsenal and Man Utd.
At the end of the day mate its going to be worse atmosphere but i'll still probably go.
I went to see Lazio play a few seasons ago and they play in the Olympic stadium in Rome. It was empty, The view was poor but it was still very enjoyable. I guess its just something we'll have to get used to.
Hmmmm. I'd like to think that plans are in place to do bring the pitch nearer to the stands. Construction technology being what it is today I'm sure there's ways this issue can be overcome.
I'm hoping that once we move there they will realise that it'll cost too much to maintain the athletics track and get rid of it. Once gone
Theres just no interest in athletics outside of the Olympics
and with Bolt refusing to run in this country because of the tax rate is there a future for international athletics?
It would be madness to keep a track that will be used once a year to please 10,000 people.
I think the hope is that Athletics will be very popular post the 2012 Games. I'd like to see more kids, including my own, participate and take an interest.
Sol Campbell having medical at Newcastle today (SSN a few moments ago). Personally I wouldn't have minded seeing him sign for us but I won't be crying in to my cornflakes.
Parker won't go Spurs, Sullivan and Gold have stated they want over £20m for him, Spus pulled out of the race to sign Milner because he was out of there reach finanacially, so i can't see this happening at all. Hopefully G&S stay true to there word and keep Scotty Parker. I would love for us to sign Wheater from Boro, would be an excellent addition. As for Remy, Clerc and Caraglio, i just hope this all gets sorted out soon. The Ben-Haim deal has recently gone quiet but there are now reports that we will do a loan deal instead of a permanent deal to resolve any issues, makes more sense to me. I don't mind loaning him but permanently would be awful. I like the idea of Grants no. 2 being Petrovic and him bringing Miralem Sulejmani along with him for a season long loan, sounds good to me as long as he does a good job. Don't be surprised if Raul gets linked to us soon as our 'Marquee signing'. The transfer stories long to continue!
'Arry has always been very loyal/clicky with his buddies and set against his enemies, whilst those responsible for his demise at UP are long gone, his betrayal must still sting. Now he's in a position to really stick the knife in (Ala Gudjohnsson) with cash rich club.
Plus Scott Parker is a lifelong Spurs fan and a move at this stage in his career is the logical move, with Chumps league et al.
So lets just take the money , let Scottie (By far our best performer last season) wear the 'cocks' and move on……
Lets hope Spuds fail miserably…..
Every club Arry has ever manged has hit the rocks after he leaves, West Ham, Portsmouth, Southhampton………im glad he's managing Spurs
Is Parker really a Spurs fan? I feel sick just thinking about him in a spurs shirt.
Parker IS NOT a spurs fan – not sure where that rumour comes from. He has never, to my knowledge, EVER expressed any comments of Tottscum loyalty.
thank god
With regards to Remy could his stalling be connected with the deadlines for Champions League player registration?
Ive had a look at the rules and regulations concerning this which is all rather confusing, ive pasted them below:
18.13 List A has to be submitted by the following fixed deadlines:
a) 21 June 2010 (24.00 CET) for all matches in the first qualifying round;
b) 8 July 2010 (24.00 CET) for all matches in the second qualifying round;
c) 22 July 2010 (24.00 CET) for all matches in the third qualifying round;
d) 9 August 2010 (24.00 CET) for all matches in the play-offs;
e) 1 September 2010 (24.00 CET) for all further matches from the first
match in the group stage up to and including the final.
18.17 For all matches from the start of the round of 16, a club may register a
maximum of three new eligible players for the remaining matches in the
current competition. Such registration must be completed by
1 February 2011 (24.00 CET) at the latest. This deadline cannot be
extended.
I think this post should be changed from "Latest Transfer Update" to "I Say, I Say, I Say..Have you heard the one about….."
Thumbs up.
Jamie O,Hara and David Bentley and Roman Pavlychenko=Scott Parker! Like that equation Hairy?Billy Bonds still says you are a Spiv!
Liking your thinking AussieGraham. Reckon I might just be happy with that if they add some cash!
A player with a serious injury that dates a sperm bank, a player who rates himself even higher than Matty Upson and has the pace of Barry and a player whilst having ability, has a attitude problem. In return for one of the best midfielders in the country?
NAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH.
I dont know why Spurs would go for Parker, they dont really need him. Placios has had a great couple of seasons and in my eyes has been their key man.
I think Spurs will be more focused on bringing in two Centre Backs as Woodgate and King are officially crocked. If i were the Davids i'd be on the phone to them try and swap Upson with either Pav, Bentley or O'Hara (good shout Aussie).
its quite surprising the difference in quality between the midfielders / strikers and the defenders we're linked with. We havent been linked with any decent center backs. Reece i too would like to see Wheater here!
We seriously need to start firming up our defence. Surely its the highest priority now?
Nail on the head SC – We're presently lightweight at the back.
There are articles around quoting Sullivan and Gold mentioning that 'technology' exists to have cricket, athletics and football in the same stadium. I assume therefore there will be some sort of Japan 2002 style approach to wheeling in and out the pitch/track etc?
Cheers Col. The technology I was thinking of was more to do with retractable seating to bring the fans closer to the action. Having just seen a report from the inside of the stadium this looks like a non-runner (skews the pun) as the front row of seats are miles away from where a full sized pitch would be.
The SSN report didn't mention anything about footie being played there after the games.
I think the French stadium was built with retractable seats, but then that as the design from the outset. Over here the Government decided to build the stadium first before deciding how it should be used after the games.
One option were the track to be removed would be for them to dig down lowering the pitch and allowing seats pitch side. I think this is what was done in barcelona
i'd hate parker to go spurs and i'm sure G&S no all west ham fans feel the same so i'm sure they wont sell him to spurs at least. i do like the sound of giving them upson for bentley pav or o'hara…. but i no someone close to o'hara and he said he'd love to join west ham under grant but he dosent get on with mark noble.
Miralem Sulejmani could well b a good loan move if it comes off, give him a season to prove himself.
Paulo Ferreira would be a good right back for us altough i'd rather clerc who is younger.
Jean Alain Boumsong i think would be a good centre back alongside da costa gettin ben haim on loan would b alot better than signing him permantley
1 of those right backs, ben haim ON LOAN and someone like boumsong would certainly tighten up our defence.
We need to stop fretting over the new stadium … too many rumours going around. I think it will be fine and no further from the pitch than the current East stand at UP.
As for the transfer news, there is very little substance to say we'll have anyone new in by the end of the week ? I think Reny will come in time after the Frogs realise its the best deal they are gonna get and that the two daves have shown there is no more faving around.
Those looking for names going out of the door need to look no further than Carlton Cole … if Remy arrives then thats where the finanace is … as for Berahmi, why unsettle him now by trying to offload him when he maybe the perfect replacement for a £15m Scotty Parker?
The big concern I have is more to do with Green and Upson … nothing has been said about Upson wanting to stay and Green has canned contract talks … Ben Haim is not a bad CH but he is not as good as Matty … Ch is my real concern for the new season … everything else looks to be falling into place …
The old Stamford Bridge used to have a running track round it and I’m sure I remember “the Shed” and us Hammers fans in the open at the opposite end creating enough of an atmosphere, trading suitable insults…
If you ask me the stadium looks spectacular, see video below:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q2xgwvynCF0
But i share everyone else's problem which is how far we will be away from the football pitch, i struggle to see how this problem would be resolved.
Braderz, cheers for the clip mate, I have no problems seeing what £125m will do to convert the stadium … at Manc city, after the Commonwealth games they excavated deeper and then squared off the arena to put the seats closer to the pitch. My immediate thoughts were of how shallow the seating looked and not steeper getting the fans at the back up above the game not away from it if that makes sense … its early days but lets be honest, under the current Goverment there is no way this will become another white elephant
No Worries Soldier_Tom, i thaught it was an intersting clip, the stadium does look beautiful and i can picture it with Claret and Blue seats, im just hoping that something can be done to get us fans closer to the pitch, well the move is still a fairly long way off so i am sure if we do get it that things will be explained to us.
Nice one Braderz – completely with you on that one. Despite my concerns It's potentially awesome & a great thing for the club and community.
The stadium looks great in that clip and the view isnt great but it is a clear view.
The stadium is great, but for scale look at the workmen on the "pitch" at 40 seconds into the clip.
Boumsong,he's minging!!!!!!
Chris, I'd hate to work with you mate … your wit is as sharp as any squaddie I know … minging tho is rather complimentary tho … ask any geordies and they'll have a few worse expelletives to throw at you, for me he was top premiere league dog toffee
Lol! Come on Chris – stop messing about and say what you mean xD
Report here saying Spurs want to buy the Stadium, this has got to be BS considering they have already started work on their new ground, sounds like another pathetic attempt by Spurs to try and annoy us, they are so sad.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-10762…
A spurs mate of mine reckons they're just showing interest to scare their council into giving planning permission.
They've had a few issues and the council are playing hard ball. I bet if there was a real danger of them moving the council will buckle.
Apparantly the Argentinian Striker Caraglio is on trail this week proving his fitness.. A £5m fee with his club Rosario Central has already been agreed. With him possibly signing and Remy also, i cant help but think Cole may be on his WAy???
Louisc, i think Cole has been squared away to finance the Remy deal … I have always been a better the devil you know type, however if 4-3-3 is the formation of Grants choice then Remy suits it far better than Cole. it will allow the better technical players such as Diamante to exploits the channels Remy's pace will open up …
Not sure on the Argintinian tho … looks another Dyer come Ashton if reports in South America are to be believed ..
I Agree, it looks like Cole will be on this way out, possibly to Stoke or another prem team, although i heard a crazy rumour in the guardian suggesting Real Madrid would are interested!! £12m for a player who blows hot and cold and has had niggling knee injuries would be good business, especially if Remy scores more having cost roughly the same amount. Another plus would be that Remy is only 23, meaning we should recoup more than we paid for him a few years down the line
Anyone here fancy us signing Raul? Just putting it out there. I wouldn't be too sure he'd do well in the Prem but might just have the class. I've always thought of him as a West Ham type of player. Intricate skills with extremely clever movement and a decent finisher.
Gav, I'm not so sure on this one … rather the money went on Remy … what do you think Raul would bring to the club ? … maybe a good replacement for Cole in a 4-3-3 ? … I would rather we had one or two steady signing Remy and Cambell would be the perfect additions right now and let Cole and Upson go … if Cambell goes to the Magpies I'll be intrigued to know the deal … and why we never went after him …
I think we should have gone for Campbell if only to have his experience around the place for a year. That said I think we would make a massive mistake not going for Silvestre, still only 32, bags of experience and very versitile in where he can play.
I also dont know why we haven't gone after Dida as cover / competition for Rob Green as he is on a free.
silvestre is way to injury prone and would demand quite a lot of cash, but i agree, campbell would have been a real coup! not too sure about dida as i never rated him that much.
Dida has won the Champions League twice as a palyer along with a host of other honours and while I was never bowled over by him I have always assumed there was something about him that I simply wasn't seeing or I simply didnt see him play enough to get a proper opinion of the guy
At 36 and with his experience he would make a superb addition to the squad. Green, Kuruzc and Stech could all learn something from having him at the club
Celtic, I agree with your sentiments there … Silvestre can play CH or LB and has bags of experience … wrong side of 30 but I think along with Cambell they would develop both Da Costa and Tompkins alot better than they are adjusting right now … I like matty Upson but he is too much a nice guy and not the authoritarian that Lucash was … Cambell would push both of them and and to take him for two years with those two in the wings along with Spence and N'gala I feel it is a positive way ahead ..
He has not been the player he was for a few seasons now and I doubt he could cut it in the Prem at this stage in his career.
not too sure about the boumsong link. i have always kind of liked the guy but he is prone to a lot of mistakes, like upson i suppose. although i hope he leaves, im not sure it would actually be best for the club. at the moment our center-backs are da costa, gabbs, tomkins (although i can see him goin right back at some stage, and young matt fry. if we sell upson we may find it hard to replace him. my personal replacement would have been campbell but it seems that ship has sailed as SSN are reporting he is having a medical at newcastle.
the remy deal needs sorting out ASAP, as does cole. remy will need time to settle in as will all the new recruits and with only three weeks left till the start of the season they will all need to really knuckle down.
i like raul but we have no chance of getting him. im also quite dissapionted about guti from real madrid who has just signed for beshiktas. i normally tend to watch quite a lot of la liga games and when ever ive seen him play he has not dissapointed. i dont think he would have cost that much either.
hearing reports about the olympic stadium today and the link provided by braderz it a little bit worrying. i dont know if its the camera angle but it actually looks pretty small. also hearing reports that the track will not be adjusted for seating is also worrying. for me, upton park is a fortress and if we move it needs to stay that way. but if the seats are further away i just cant see the atmosphere being the same! look at the emirates and the city of manchester stadium. the area behind both goals restricts the fans from getting anywhere near a good enough distance from the action and the atmosphere is never really that good there compared to anfield and manure.
but on a good note, were apperently close to sealing a deal to make the assistant coach at ajax avram grant's no.2. with this appointment he will apperently try to bring young sulemanji with him, can't be that bad can it…
Bazza, i see where you are coming from on the Emmirates and City of Manure stadiums, however I am still glass half full on this one … excavate deeper, square off the oval and take the seating closer to the touchline … the trouble is .. to survive long term you need garanteed revenue and huge corporate input … is this West ham's chance to stay in the top flight and compete … or are we going to be a lower half Premiere league side … are the days of the fans coming first gone forever ?
i know mate, one of my biggest dissappointments is that apperently we will never own the place, because we will continuenly rent it. yes i think the squaring off idea would be good but overall i think they really do need to sort it out quickly. knowing spurs they will probably get their new home and the O.S and just decorate it for christmas just to piss us off!
Barrera parker Hitzlsperger LBM
…………….Cole…….Piquonne…….
Looks powerful to me!
very good formation but im not too sure cole will be here at the start and im sure grant will use the 4-3-3 like this:
remy?
LBM Faubert
Parker
hitz noble