Birmingham: Randolph says Blues have lost home fear factor http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32541934
West Ham keen on a deal for Birmingham stopper by Josh Dixon - May 5, 2015 Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is reportedly looking at Birmingham’s Darren Randolph as a potential back-up to goalkeeper Adrian, with current back-up Jussi Jaaskelainen set to leave in the summer. http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32592134 Darren Randolph: Birmingham City hope for goalkeeper stay Birmingham City have still not given up on persuading ... Republic of Ireland goalkeeper Darren Randolph to stay at St Andrew's. The 27-year-old was expected to move on this summer after the end of his contract, but Blues are in "continuing negotiations" with Randolph. http://www.bbc.com/sport/0/football/32592134
http://www.whufc.com/News/Articles/2015/May/30-May/Darren-Randolph-The-First-Interview In his first interview with whufc.com, Randolph is looking forward to returning to the Boleyn Ground, ten years after making his top-flight debut as a teenager with Charlton Athletic. “My initial reaction to joining West Ham is excitement,” said the Bray-born stopper. “It was a tough decision turning down Birmingham's offer of a new contract because of the second part of the season we had and the team we had built.
Hopefully, the bench. The 28-year-old has not moved to Upton Park to simply sit on the bench and admits it was a tough decision to leave Birmingham. “My initial reaction to joining West Ham is excitement,” Randolph told the club’s official site... “I’ve played for the last five seasons so I would like to think I can come in and challenge for a place in the team. Adrian’s had a fantastic season so it is going be tough, but it is a challenge I look forward to.” http://www.london24.com/sport/footb...e_hammers_star_after_tough_decision_1_4093913
He tells some of his story in this article: He also had to learn how to cope with personal setbacks in his career. “Like when it was time to leave Charlton and there were no clubs around,” he recalls. “Everyone was, like, we know who you are but you’ve not played many games and we want a goalkeeper with more experience. And that’s when I went up to Scotland, really to just get some games and try and get myself back out on the radar.” http://www.irishexaminer.com/sport/soccer/darren-randolph-takes-scenic-route-to-the-top-340304.html
Starts today in Europa League action: TEAMS: Here are your starting XIs for tonight's game at Astra Giurgiu #ASTWHU #COYI #WHUFC pic.twitter.com/dev9WdMdfE— West Ham United (@WestHam) August 6, 2015
I don't get why West Ham didn't take the EL seriously. They got lucky they even qualified for it. Their absolute best case scenario in league play is to qualify for the EL but what's the point if you don't take it seriously.
Because the EL doesn't bring in much money, especially in the early rounds, but costs you a lot in player's bonuses (appearance fees, win premiums, goal scorers' bonus, etc) even if you don't sign extra players for it. If you've got a small squad, continuing in the Europa League after Xmas can stretch your already-thin cover to breaking point. Add in a run of injuries - and the EL is associated with increased incidences of stress-related injuries - and your club can find itself in a relegation struggle by Easter. Alan Pardew can fill you in on how a side that finished a (very impressive) 5th was struggling against relegation the next season and sent his career as 'Toon coach of the rails; permanently. Add to that, Bilic is a new coach hired for the specific purpose of completely changing the Hammers' playing style, and you have the EL as a distraction the club really doesn't need this season.
Looks like the Hammers are not overly excited about Darren: from espnfc: 16.54 BST: Not transfer news as such, but this may well speed up a potential deal... West Ham have had their appeal against Adrian's red card at the weekend rejected by the Football Association, which could reportedly see them hurry a move through for Queens Park Rangers' Rob Green, having been said to be unimpressed with back-up keeper Darren Randolph.
Too late. He was subbed in on 42' when Shay Given pulled up with a muscle strain, so he's now cap-tied to Ireland. He now has the dubious pleasure of trying to keep a clean sheet against a full-strength Germany for the whole of the Second half. Germany have 70% possession
Randolph involved in rending the space-time continuum, with a classic Route-One assist on Shane Long's 70' goal against Germany!!!!!! Germany pushed up almost onto the halfway line and Randolph put his big toe through a loose backpass to send a clearance over the top of the German defence for Long to run onto and smash into the net. Ireland 1-0 up on 75' and I'm mainlining chacha (Georgian fruit vodka - lethal stuff) right now
The balance of the universe has been upended!! MC (cubed) = E (squared) Ireland 1 - Germany 0 Scenes of absolute pandemonium in Dublin. Edit: Ireland are now on track for Euro 2016 where we'll get hammered in all 3 games - and I couldn't give a flying fiddler's fcuk on the Cliffs of Moher if we do.