West Ham United
Defences down at Harry's home of horror
Useful information
Rum and deliver: Joe Cole, who was reportedly in outstanding form during a pre-season game
Photograph: RICHARD AUSTIN  |
Summer summary: Hammers cast the net for Arsenal cast-offs but Wanchope gets away.
Transfers in: Davor Suker (Arsenal) free; Nigel Winterburn (Arsenal) undisclosed; Frederic Kanoute (Lyons) £3.7m; Hayden Foxe (Sanfrecce Hiroshima) free.
Transfers out: Paulo Wanchope (Manchester City) £3.65m; Ian Feuer (Wimbledon) free; Manny Omoyinmi (Oxford United) free; Marc-Vivien Foe (Lyons) £6m; Gary Alexander (Swindon Town) £300,000; Neil Ruddock (Crystal Palace) undisclosed; Stephen Purches (Bournemouth) free; Richard Garcia (Leyton Orient) one-month loan; Stevland Angus (Bournemouth) one-year loan.
Other sales: After a close season in which former West Ham striker Geoff Hurst put up some of his memorabilia for auction, Julian Dicks has decided against selling off the collection of limbs he has acquired during his career.
Good luck message to avoid giving at Upton Park: Break a leg. The instruction has been taken literally over the past 18 months by Stuart Pearce (twice), Ian Pearce, Shaka Hislop and Joe Cole.
Tactical profile: Regularly switched formations last season, mainly because of a high number of injuries. Paolo Di Canio and Cole supply much of the invention in the space between midfield and attack, while Trevor Sinclair can play just about anywhere.
Young guns: Pressure on first- team players from youngsters keen to break through is always healthy for a club, and Pearce, 38, knows that any dip in form at left-back may let in the fresh- faced Nigel Winterburn, 36.
Potential of their new signings: Davor Suker is an outstandingly skilful striker who was not given much of a chance at Arsenal, Winterburn probably has a couple of good seasons left in him, and Frederic Kanoute impressed up front when on loan at Upton Park in the latter stages of last season.
Harry Redknapp’s transfer policy made clear: July 20: “Clubs will think again about signing African or non-EU players because you can lose players for weeks on end because of the African Nations’ Cup or another tournament.”
August 3: Redknapp signs Hayden Foxe, of Australia, who may be absent for most of March because of World Cup qualifiers.
Harry’s home of horror: Despite finishing in the top half of the Premiership in the past two seasons, West Ham have conceded four league goals at home on no fewer than seven occasions in that time.
One player West Ham need: Rio Ferdinand - the England defender must not be sold.
Up-and-coming prospects: Cole has just about established himself and Michael Carrick, another young midfielder, may do so this season.
Capital pains backdated: When Everton visit Upton Park on March 31, Gary Charles will face Paul Gascoigne in London for the first time since the 1991 FA Cup final, when the then Nottingham Forest defender planted his leg so provocatively in front of Gazza that the Tottenham Hotspur midfielder had no option but to inflict a career-threatening injury on himself with a knee-high challenge.
Most predictable complaint: “We pay their wage . . .” As well as Foxe, Chile’s Javier Margas will also have his season interrupted by international call-ups, prompting the inevitable reaction from the manager.
Wisest close-season departure: Manny Omoyinmi has not been forgiven by many supporters for playing in the Worthington Cup for West Ham last season while cup-tied, a lapse that cost the club a semi-final place. Sensibly, he has decamped to Oxford United.
Prediction: Ninth in the Premiership.
Useful information
Squad: 1 Shaka Hislop; 2 Gary Charles; 3 Stuart Pearce; 4 Steve Potts; 5 Igor Stimac; 7 Marc Keller; 8 Trevor Sinclair; 9 Davor Suker; 10 Paolo Di Canio; 11 Steve Lomas; 12 Paul Kitson; 14 Frederic Kanoute; 15 Rio Ferdinand; 16 John Moncur; 17 Nigel Winterburn; 18 Frank Lampard; 19 Ian Pearce; 20 Scott Minto; 21 Michael Carrick; 22 Craig Forrest; 26 Joe Cole; 30 Javier Margas; 32 Stephen Bywater.
Stadium: Boleyn Ground
Capacity: 26,054
Address: Green Street, Upton Park, London E13 9AZ
Telephone: 020-8548 2748
Hammersline: 0845 330 1966
Official website: www.whufc.co.uk
An average site with poor design and little to stir Hammers fans. Linking to many unofficial sites could be taken as an admission that they can do better.
Unofficial site: www.westhamunited-fc.com
This unofficial site is for the educated Hammer only. Including book reviews, fine art and critical contributions from supporters. There are also Q&A forums with Hammers’ staff.
Manager: Harry Redknapp
Assistant manager: Frank Lampard
Chairman: Terence Brown
Ticket details: 020-8548 2700 (ticket office); 020-8472 3322 (recorded information). Over 16,000 season ticket holders.
Ticket prices: £27-£45
Cheapest/most expensive adult season ticket: £435/£675
Recommended radio station: Capital Gold 1548 AM
Programme: £2.50
Fanzine: Over Land and Sea
Cost of adult replica shirt: £44.99
Training ground: Chadwell Heath
Directions to ground: A short walk from Upton Park Tube down Green St. The stadium is off Barking Rd (A124). Street parking can be hard to find and there’s a slim chance your car might be prey to some dodgy geezers.
Pubs near the ground: None for away fans, sadly. If travelling from Liverpool St Station, the Hamilton Hall (in the station) is a big pub with decor more suited to a Regency museum.
