Big Sam's List of 25?

Much has been spoken about Big Sam's list of 25 targets for the January transfer window

The tabloids, twitter, facebook, West Ham forums and blogs have speculated on what names might be on the list.

I thought I would join in with this speculation and release my list of 25 targets I expect to be on Sam's list.

The names come from a combination of paper stories, forum rumours, blog articles, twitter, insider Clunge and some wishful thinking.

There are 9 defenders, 9 midfielders and 7 strikers in the list!

Kane Ferdinand          Defender/Midfielder from Southend 
Liam Ridgewell           Defender from Birmingham
Andy O'Brien              Centre Back formally for Leeds before going on strike
Danny Simpson          Defender/Right back from Newcastle
Vedran Corluka          Right Back/Defender from Spurs
Ricardo Costa             Defender from Valencia
Sébastien Squillaci     Defender/Centre Back from Arsenal
Sol Bamba                  Defender/Centre Back from Leceister City
Moustapha Bayal Sall Defender from St. Etienne

Craig Noone              Midfielder from Brighton  
Mervan Celik             Midfielder from GAIS
Jonjo Shelvey           Midfielder From Liverpool
Ryan Hall                  Midfielder from Southend
Andros Townsend     Midfielder/Winger from Spurs
Peter Whittingham    Midfielder/Striker From Cardiff
Albert Adomah          Midfielder/Winger from Bristol City
Victor Moses             Midfielder/Winger from Wigan
George Baldock        Midfielder from MK Dons (Brother of Sam Baldock)

Jordan Rhodes         Striker from Huddersfield   
Andy Johnson           Striker from Fulham
Bobby Zamora          Striker from Fulham
Billy Sharp                Striker from Doncaster 
Nicky Maynard         Striker from Bristol City
Wilfred Zaha            Striker from Crystal Palace
Ryoichi Maeda         Striker from Jubilo Iwata

Feel free to shoot some of these down and/or replace some of your own names

Why Jordan Rhodes is unlikely to come to West Ham!

There have been a lot of rumours about Huddersfield's Jordan Rhodes on twitter and the Hammers forums that West Ham have made enquiries & possibly a bid for the 21 year old Huddersfield goal machine.

He has scored 20 goals in 20 appearances this season which has put him on the radar of Spurs, Celtic, Liverpool and Newcastle.

Yesterday there were rumours that West Ham had made an official enquiry and Huddersfield Town had put a price tag of £4 million on him. Another rumour had West Ham making a £3.5 Million bid for him.

West Ham insider Clunge  confirmed an official bid was in for Jordan  Rhodes but as of 9pm on Wednesday 28th December it was not accepted or rejected!

The Sun also printed a story today 29th December saying we had bid £3 Million but it had been rejected

http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/sport/football/4025060/West-Ham-bid-3m-for-Huddersfields-Jordan-Rhodes.html

However Huddersfield Chairman Dean Hoyle interview puts some doubt that they would part with his services on the cheap. 

“We have no intention of selling and we are not going to,” said Hoyle, who says the club are braced for another round of speculation over the striker’s future.

“We could sell Jordan, but where’s that going to get us?

 

“If we let him go we would have to find another striker in his place and, let’s be fair, we won’t find one as good as him to come to Huddersfield Town – so straight away our chances of promotion would be decreased.

“This club needs to get promotion to be more self-sustaining, so selling Jordan would be short-term gain for long-term pain.

“We need Jordan Rhodes and all our other very good players to win us promotion.”

The boardroom chief added: “Whether Jordan is in League II, League I, the Championship or the Premier League he will score goals, because nearly every chance he gets he finishes.

“He will put the ball in the back of the net and, that being the case, if we get up into the Championship he will be worth even more money.

“So what I’m saying is it doesn’t make any sense – both from a football point of view and economically – to sell one of our very best players in Jordan Rhodes at this point.

Of course his words might mean nothing as everyone has their price, but with Liverpool, Spurs and Newcastle interested I doubt we would be able to compete with their spending power. Sullivan & Gold will not get in a bidding war and pay over the odds for the youngster.

One story says Liverpool could pay as much as £9 Million for Rhodes services.

Time will tell whether I will have to eat my words or not but I am afraid I don't expect us to land him in the transfer window. 

Huddersfield Examiner Story http://www.examiner.co.uk/huddersfield-town-fc/huddersfield-town-news/2011/12/22/why-jordan-rhodes-will-not-be-sold-in-january-huddersfield-town-chairman-dean-hoyle-86081-29994272/#ixzz1hummx2Ur

Early January Target Rumour List (Out & In)

Roundup of the early rumours of who is targeted and who we are targeting for the January transfer window.

Outbound:

Freddie Piquonne will leave if any sensible offers are received   

Freddie Sears will leave if anyone offers his vaulation of 2 million  

Frank Nouble will be released or sold for a modest fee                                                      

Carlton Cole is wanted by Sunderland.  He will only be sold if he hands in transfer request, offered a price significantily above his valuation or we buy someone better.                              

Rumoured that Mark Noble may go to Fulham  and swapped for Bobby Zamora. Sam does not want to swap. Mark Noble will commit his future to the club & in return be offered a new contract.               

Sam Baldock to Chelsea after rumours surfaced of being watched by Chelsea Scouts on three occasions. Don't see it myself.

James Tomkins  to Newcastle. Pardew is interested in Tomkins but the West Ham board say he is not for sale at any price.That said there is little we can do if he puts in a transfer request. West Ham will put a new deal on the table before January transer window opens. 

Inbound Targets:

Andy Johnson remains our top target from Fullham

 
Bobby Zamora from Fulham but not as part of a swap deal.
Liam Ridgewell from Birmingham remains a target. Birmingham are dire financial straights but. However a number of premiership clubs want him too. 

Kane Ferdinand  remains a target from Southend United

Wilfred Zaha from Crystal Palace is a target and said to be valued at £5 Million by Crystal Palace

 

Alex Rodrigo Dias da Costa from Chelsea was rumoured to be a target.  West Ham did look at him have decided his wage demands were too expensive.

Nicolas Anelka . Big Sam confirmed he did speak to Anelka but his wage demands were too high. We could not complete with Chinese team Shanghai Shenhua

Andy O'Brien from Leeds could still be a target.  He will be off loaded by Leeds in January.

Mervan Celik from Swedish clun GAIS is said to be a target

 

Ryoichi Maeda is a japense striker who plays for Júbilo Iwata is said to be a target

David Gold Twitter Question Time v Clunge

In this week's Moore Than Just A Podcast  Episode 13 we covered David Gold's week of answers to West ham fans as well as inside information from Clunge.

Clunge News


Last Tuesday I said that Big sam confirmed that Matty Taylor will start on Saturday 
if he comes through 45/60 mins today in reserve match.


I got this one wrong as they didn't want to risk him for the whole 90 minuites. He did come on though


A Westham insider on ESPN website confirms james tomkins not for sale and will be offered a new deal even though he  still has 3 years left. Wonder who the insider is and where they got that from then ;-)


Leeds may still sack O'Brien and if so he'll sign for us


Henry lansbury hopes to be back for the boxing day game away to Birmingham.


David gold confirms we will buy players in jan and not sell our important players


Very strange rumors that chelsea have had sam baldock watched on 3 occasions and may bid for him in the transfer window.


Carew may be fit for saturdays game vs burnley. Still 7k tickets left


Winston reid out for a further 5 weeks. Baldock hopeful no more than 3 weeks.



As baldock is also injured whu will decide if they will recall hall from oxford.


David Gold confirms he hopes to sign 3 players in Jan. Andy Johnson is Sam's main target but blackburn also want him. No chance with Zamora.

David Gold Twitter Question Time:



@rpburton: how many hammers fans are coming to boro tuesday night?” 


DG: 1,500 dg


@jaydorgan_96: how are derby away tickets selling? Can't wait.. 


DG: 4200 tickets available just over 1000 sold so far. DG


“@Andrew_whu:  you going Reading on the 10th David?” 


DG: Yes I will be there DG


@DaniGood How long will Sam Baldock be out injured?


DG: I don't no how long Sam Baldock will be out, we will have a better idea on Monday but hope its only a grade one torn hamstring DG


@DBernstein1 Will be be top of the league by christmas holidays?


DG: A draw on Tuesday and a win at home to Burnley would leave us in a great position. However that's easier said than done dg


Fan: What fo you think of Karren Brady's comments on football racism? 


DG: I am not defending Karren Brady she is very capable of doing that for her self but she did not say WH fans threw bananas at Clyde Best dg


@Tommy_Ernest If you had to pick the best thing about being a west hanm


DG: Loyalty and passion for West Ham United plus a sense of history. DG

@Jaws2home I remember seeing Clyde Best when he first played for West Ham in 1970 and there was racism at that time. DG. 


@JoeAppleby95: David , how long will it be till Winston Reid is fit?


DG: 4 to 5 weeks before he will be available for selection dg


@Centrallinedan: Do we still have Bentley & Lansbury 


DG: Bentleys contract has been terminated Lansbury is with us to the end of the season dg


@OSBORNE1973: @DavidGoldWHU what is the best vibrator on the Market?” 


DG: Rampant Rabbit from Ann Summers dg


@1andrewlee i paid good money for season ticket but it seems like I'm getting bad deal as the deals for games work out cheaper


DG: It's cheaper to buy a season ticket and you get to choose you seat dg

@ScardSanity What percentage are you confident of promotion at this stage?


DG: We are still the bookies favourites for promotion dg




@Mister_Kirby Hi David, what are your views on safe standing - would it be poss in OS or redeveloped UP? Thanks.


DG: I am in favour of small areas of controlled safe standing dg

@richielevis  if the OS goes pear shaped are you going to go down the bond scheme? I love this club and trust you 100%


DG: thank you for the trust dg


@tekkers84 in business would you say if you don't put your balls on the line you ll never get anywhere??


DG: Adam i wouldn't put it quite like that but you do need determination perseverance and most of all courage good luck dg


@whu647580 Is it true that Ba refused to sign for us without a relegation clause.


DG: that's true without the clause he would not have signed and we didn't think we would be relegated .... Mistake dg


@Sam1993WHUFC: @davidgoldwhu can you see many incomming players in january?


DG: I hope to see some new faces dg


@JonNewsham: @DavidGoldWHU do you pay for tickets? 


DG: DS and I receive no salary or expenses but we do get a free seat. DG


@ClaretNBlues I am mortified if you or any West Ham fans believe I would renege on a promise. Doubt my judgement but not my integrity dg


@dandadon21: @DavidGoldWHU are we looking to further strengthen the squad in jan or do we need to sell 1st? 


DG No need to sell dg


@HP14WHU: @DavidGoldWHU Do you go to every match? Would be great if you do!


DG: I go to every match home and away dg


@robwood4: @DavidGoldWHU @westhamchef Do you fear the mighty BORO. 


DG: No but I respect them they are a good side. DG


@davym66: @DavidGoldWHU hi david, is there any chance of Sam Baldock being sold in january? thanks. 


DG: Extremely unlikely dg


@Coxy25 Is there any truth in the rumour that you once tried to style your hair like Alan Titchmarsh in an attempt 2 fool a librarian?


DG: Good evening Coxy dg


@clem132: has Marek signed a new deal and fee been agreed with old club he was back on the bench on Saturday 


DG: No new deal has been done dg


@lukemullen2: As a West Ham fan I would like to know where WE will be playing our football in Two years? 


DG: It will be at the OS or UP dg


@harris2011_s: why did we get rid of hines and stanislas though they were decent young players 


DG: Sams decision must say I agree DG


@tekkers84: would you be interested in Lansbury should we go up and should he be available? 


DG: Lots of "shoulds" it's Sams call DG


@Coxy25 David, have you ever walked into Argos and pretended to be Rod Stewart in an attempt to get a free Fireman Sam 


DG: what do you mean Coxy "pretend to be Rod Stewart" I am Rod Stewart RS


@TalltreesCarp: is there any sort of clause in Scott Parkers contract for us to be able to buy him back if we are promoted? 


DG: No dg


@GeorgeWestHam:  say no to the oylmpic stadium! The atmosphere will be poooor!”


DG: I'm not sure your right dg


@Kevo0982: are you planning to add to the squad in January? Have you thought bout making beckham an offer? 


DG: We are looking to strengthen dg


@JoshSnow1:  when will Gary O'Neil be fit enough to play?


DG: I hope he will be available in early February dg


@PetersNick: @DavidGoldWHU Do you currently enjoy the style of football west ham play? 


DG: I want to get back to the PL. I enjoy winning dg


@paulturner67 Do you think west ham fans should be balloted on the move to the OS?


DG: There is a consultative committee of about 120 West Ham Season ticket holders who are involved in the process. DG




We covered both on our West Ham Podcast at http://moorethanjustapodcast.podbean.com

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