WHUFC.com
Gianfranco Zola was in positive mood as his players returned for vital
pre-season training
06.07.2009
West Ham United have reported back for the first day of pre-season training
in high spirits with the manager summing up the feelgood factor in the camp.
Gianfranco Zola sported his usual broad smile as the players took to the
lush green Chadwell Heath pitches on a sunny summer's day. The manager and
his coaching staff were all in before 9am and ready to go for a busy week
that would see day-long programmes involving a range of fitness tests,
medical checks and a series of exacting training sessions.
"It feels very good to be back," Zola told WHUTV. "We are here very much
willing and ready to start this new season. We have a lot of enthusiasm and
are looking forward to getting started.
"I had a very, very good rest and like everybody else, I recharged my
batteries to start the new season. This is the most crucial time of the
year. We need to make sure we work well because it will have a lot of
benefits in the future."
England trio Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Carlton Cole, along with Luis
Boa Morte after his spell with Portugal, all have a few extra days off while
Under-21 duo James Tomkins and Mark Noble, along with Jonathan Spector -
after his five games at the FIFA Confederations Cup with the US - are due to
link up with the squad in Austria next week.
Luis Jimenez is yet to arrive at the club after his summer switch from
Internazionale, with the forward just finalising some personal matters.
Scott Parker, the new Hammer of the Year, was doing well as he returns to
full fitness following the groin injury that curtailed his involvement at
the end of last season, while Julien Faubert was back after his loan spell
at Real Madrid.
The early morning session saw Zola, Steve Clarke and Kevin Keen working with
the players with Academy director Tony Carr and reserve-team coach Alex Dyer
also getting involved. Fitness coach Antonio Pintus was also particularly
busy and Valon Behrami cut a welcome sight as he jogged around the pitches
four months after his cruciate knee ligament injury and is on track for a
return in August.
Although the club can not officially confirm the new squad numbers until the
start of the 2009/10 campaign, some changes look likely. Herita Ilunga is
due to switch from No3 to No23 - a number he previously wore during his
career in France - Matthew Upson is set to swap No15 for No5 and Jimenez is
likely to wear the No11 shirt.
Youngsters James Tomkins, Jack Collison and Junior Stanislas are all due to
move up the order at No24, No25 and No30 respectively. However, fans should
note that all squad numbers, including these, are subject to change until
confirmed with the Premier League prior to the big kick-off on Saturday 15
August.
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Napoli tickets on sale
WHUFC.com
Tickets for the second annual Bobby Moore Cup fixture will go on sale on
Tuesday morning
06.07.2009
Tickets for the second annual Bobby Moore Cup fixture will go on sale to
season ticket holders on Tuesday 7 July from 9am.
West Ham United will take on Italian Serie A side SSC Napoli at the Boleyn
Ground on Saturday 8 August, with kick-off at 3pm.
The match will be the traditional curtain-raiser for the new season with
Gianfranco Zola sure to field a strong lineup just a week before the big
kick-off in the Barclays Premier League.
As was the case in last year's inaugural Bobby Moore Cup fixture against
Villarreal, the club will use the match to raise funds and awareness for the
main charity partner - the Bobby Moore Fund for Cancer Research UK
(Registered Charity No. 1089464).
As such, £1 from the sale of every match ticket will go to the Fund to help
tackle bowel cancer. In addition, West Ham United will match each £1 raised
to double the total amount donated to the charity. This initiative follows
on from a number of events last season, which was the first year of the
formal three-year partnership agreement signed with the Fund.
The match will present the first chance for Hammers supporters to see the
club's summer signings - including Chile forward Luis Jimenez - in action on
home turf alongside favourites like Hammer of the Year Scott Parker, with
Roberto Donadoni's side expected to provide stern opposition.
Napoli are expected to parade their own stars in the shape of Slovakia
playmaker Marek Hamsik and Argentina striker Ezequiel Lavezzi, as well as
their new arrival, Italy striker Fabio Quagliarella.
Advanced prices for season ticket holders start at £10, with all under-16
tickets priced at £5.
Academy members will be able to purchase their tickets from 9am on Wednesday
15 July, with adult prices starting at £13. All Youth Academy tickets are
priced at £5.
A general sale will begin from 9am on Saturday 18 July, with adult tickets
priced from £16, senior citizen tickets available from £6.50 and all
under-16 tickets priced at £5.
Should any tickets remain, they will be available at the Boleyn Ground on
the day of the match at increased prices.
Last year's inaugural match ended in a 1-1 draw between West Ham and
Villarreal, with the Bobby Moore Cup being shared by both clubs.
Carlton Cole fired the Hammers ahead after just 53 seconds before Spain
winger Santi Cazorla levelled matters nine minutes before half-time.
The match also saw the memory of West Ham great Bobby Moore honoured with
the retirement of his No6 shirt. Matthew Upson wore the No6 during the first
half before presenting his shirt to Moore's wife Stephanie. The England
defender then wore the No15 after the interval.
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Pre-season is under way
WHUFC.com
Ex-Hammers defender Tony Gale says pre-season training has changed since his
playing days
06.07.2009
Pre-season training has changed immeasurably since the days of the Boys of
86, according to former West Ham United defender Tony Gale.
West Ham's modern-day squad - including the welcome sight of a jogging Valon
Behrami - returned to Chadwell Heath on Monday to work under the watchful
eye of fitness coach Antonio Pintus.
Gale, who was a mainstay of the Hammers side that finished third in the
First Division table 23 years ago, used to get himself fit for the new
campaign by pounding the streets wearing a bin-liner.
Having taken it easy during his summer break, Gale admitted he would take
drastic measures to loose any excess weight before returning to Chadwell
Heath.
Nowadays, the preparation is more scientific, but the players' pre-season
work is still geared towards the same goal - ensuring they are in the best
possible shape come the big kick-off.
"Pre-season is all about hard work," said Gale, who made 368 first-team
appearances for the club. "I don't think it's as much hard work now as it
was when I was playing because the boys look after themselves a lot more
during their break. However, they don't get as long a break as we did.
"I used to look forward to my breaks but I do remember, about two weeks
before coming back, the bin liners used to go on and I'd be running around
the streets trying to lose weight and get back for pre-season training."
Gale also pointed out that today's players are given their own specific
fitness regimes to follow, rather than the 'all-for-one' mentality that
predominated two decades ago.
"Nowadays, I think conditioning training is gauged for the individual rather
than the group," said Gale. "As a group at West Ham, they'd have us all
training together and all doing the same things, so you'd have little Mark
Ward lifting the same weights as me and me doing the same sprint training as
a little Mark Ward.
"It's more controlled now and the players really don't have any excuses
because it's lovely to work in that environment."
While fitness drills have moved on since Gale's time, the condition of the
pitches has also improved, with new techniques ensuring the playing surfaces
are lush regardless of the time of year.
"Looking at the pitches, we used to have scorched, bone-hard surfaces and
there used to be a lot of injuries, particularly knees, ankles and achilles
injuries, in pre-season training. It was hard work."
Following a week of training at Chadwell Heath, the squad will take on Blue
Square Premier outfit Grays Athletic at the New Rec on Sunday 12 July before
heading to Austria for a fortnight.
There, the players will continue their training, while also playing
friendlies against local side SC Raiffeissen Furstenfeld and German UEFA Cup
finalists Werder Bremen. Further matches have been provisionally arranged
against Turkish club Bursaspor and Slovenian side ND Mura 05.
On their return from Austria, the players will have a short break before
flying to China. There, West Ham will take on Tottenham Hotspur in the
Barclays Asia Trophy on 29 July, with a possible final against Hull City or
Beijing Guoan to follow two days later.
Gale believes both trips will be of huge benefit to manager Gianfranco Zola
and his players.
"The training camp in Austria will be a lovely environment to work in," said
Gale. "It will get the lads away from Chadwell Heath, because they spend
enough time there over the course of the season, to a specific training camp
where they can work in some great facilities in great weather.
"After that they will be off to China. We've got Spurs over there which
we're all looking forward to, then it's back here for the Bobby Moore Cup
against Napoli [at the Boleyn Ground on 8 August]. I'm looking forward to a
really good season from them."
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Vultures in trouble ... again
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 7th July 2009
By: Staff Writer
Sheffield United could potentially face a multi-million pound claim from
Preston North End after Blades goalkeeper Paddy Kenny failed a drugs test.
Kenny was tested postive for a banned substance following a test taken prior
to last season's Championship semi-final play-off - a tie that the Blades
won 2-1 on aggregate and saw them coin in from a lucrative play-off final
tie with Burnley. The goalkeeper was credited with a major part in the
second semi-final which Sheffield United won 1-0; the Daily Mail noted how
Kenny produced a 'full-length save from Jon Parkin' during the second half.
The goalkeeper also had a hand in the Blades' goal in the first leg, the
Mail again reporting how "Kenny sent a ball upfield, Lonergan did well to
save at Greg Halford's feet and the ball squirted out to the right where it
was retrieved by Ward, who delivered a cross that was thumped home on the
full by Howard."
Kenny - who is likely to receive a lengthy ban and fine from the FA
following his failed test - could also cost his club massive damages should
Preston decide to proceed with legal action. North End could now claim that
they were denied the chance of appearing in a showpiece Wembley play-off
final and the chance of reaching the Premier League as a result of the
goalkeeper's presence - and with Lord Griffiths setting a precedent in last
year's case with West Ham United when he declared that one player can affect
not just one game, but the course of an entire season - the Blades could now
be on the receiving end of a decision which proved so lucrative for them in
the Carlos Tevez case.
Griffiths on Tevez: September 2008
"We think it more likely than not on the evidence that we heard, that even
over the final two games of the season, West Ham would have achieved at
least three points less overall without Mr Tevez. He played outstandingly
well in the two wins that West Ham secured in those last two games."
Bramall Shame: getting away with murder
June 2007: Premier League investigate claims that the Blades broke rule U18
relating to third-party influence in the transfer of Steve Kabba to Watford.
September 2008: Sheffield United win millions in damages from West Ham
United at the fourth attempt in the Carlos Tevez case.
November 2008: Sheffield Utd defender Chris Morgan leaves Barnsley striker
Iain Hume fighting for life after a vicious on-field assault.
January 2009: Blades accused of third-party influence in the transfer of
Matthew Spring from Luton to Charlton.
March 2009: Sunderland, Preston, West Bromwich Albion and Leeds United
announce plans for legal action against the Blades for failing to comply
with 'certain contractual conditions'.
April 2009: Barnsley FC announce plans to sue United for the loss of Iain
Hume.
June 2009: Former Sheffield Utd boss Neil Warnock's Crystal Palace fined
£20,000 and deducted one point for fielding an ineligible player.
July 2009: Blades 'keeper Paddy Kenny - who played in all three Championship
play-off ties - fails a drugs test.
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Neill future still uncertain
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 6th July 2009
By: Staff Writer
Lucas Neill's agent says that his client remains in talks with West Ham
United. Paddy Dominguez, Neill's Australian-based manager confirmed that
whilst a deal is yet to be struck, the West Ham and Socceroos captain
remains interested in extending his stay in London. So far the Hammers have
offered Neill a 'take-it-or-leave-it offer', something which the 31-year-old
has thus far refused to accept. However a deal may yet be done, according to
Dominguez - although he warned that other clubs were interested in signing
the player. "It has always been the preference of Lucas that he wants to
remain at West Ham - but it is up to the club administration to execute
that," he said. The ownership has changed a number of times since Lucas has
been at the club. Now it's different because they are bankers. We are giving
them every opportunity to reach agreement but there are other EPL and
Continental clubs in the mix."
Dominguez also claimed that Gianfranco Zola had told Neill that he wished
for him to remain at the club. "Zola has been speaking with Lucas," he
added, "and from his point of view, he not only wants him at the club next
season but to remain as the captain of the club."
Hammers CEO Scott Duxbury told KUMB.com last week that Neill had been
looking for a new deal on the same terms as his 'Magnusson' contract - but
made it clear that the club would not budge an inch on their latest offer,
which remains on the table. "Lucas has been given a contract that would make
him one of our top earners, certainly slightly more than the established
senior players that you see every week," he said. "But that's still there
for him to accept."
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Fortune heads for Celtic
Striker in Glasgow to discuss move
Last updated: 6th July 2009
SSN
Striker Marc-Antoine Fortune has travelled to Glasgow for talks with Celtic,
his French club Nancy have revealed. Celtic are one of number of club keen
to secure Fortune's services, with Hull City, Fulham, West Ham and
Portsmouth also said to be interested. Parkhead boss Tony Mowbray worked
with the Frenchman during his loan spell with West Brom next season. Nancy
announced on their official website that Fortune was in Glasgow to "visit
the Celtic set-up". But general manager Nicholas Holveck added: "Any
decision has still to be made." Nancy are thought to have accepted a number
of bids of around £3.8million for Fortune. Nancy also confirmed that Celtic
were interested in midfielder Landry N'Guemo, who is being tracked by other
clubs. Mowbray last week admitted he was hoping that the lure of Celtic and
their personal relationship would encourage Fortune to snub a more lucrative
deal in England. "My advantage is I have worked with him - he knows me as a
coach, I know his strengths and weaknesses," he said. "I don't think it's
any secret that the English Premier League clubs get £30-35million each year
off their television deals and the Scottish clubs don't. "But what I do know
is we have a huge pulling power from the support and the history and
tradition of this club. "Believe it or not, there's a lot of footballers who
play for the love of the game as well as the money that goes with it. "To
play for a club fighting for championships, hoping to compete in the
Champions League is a much bigger draw than taking the money sometimes and
going and fighting against relegation and playing in a league when there are
only really four teams who can ever compete to win that league."
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West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola is determined to re-sign Lucas Neill
Neill's agent, Paddy Dominguez, says Zola is desperate to re-appoint the
Australian defender as Hammers captain despite reservations over player's
wage demands
The London Paper
by: James Masters
7 July 2009
GIANFRANCO ZOLA is desperate to keep Lucas Neill at West Ham and is ready to
re-appoint the Australian as captain - according to the player's agent.
Neill left Upton Park at the end of last season after failing to agree a new
deal with the club and has only recently re-entered into negotiations. But
Neill's representative, Paddy Dominguez, says Zola is determined to re-sign
the defender, despite reservations over the player's wage demands. "Zola has
been speaking with Lucas and, from his point of view, he not only wants him
at the club next season but to remain as the captain of the club," Dominguez
said. "It has always been the preference of Lucas that he wants to remain at
West Ham. But it is up to the club administration to execute that. "The
ownership has changed a number of times since Lucas has been at the club.
Now it's different because they [the owners] are bankers. "We are giving
them every opportunity to reach agreement but there are other EPL and
Continental clubs in the mix."
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Fulham in Pole position to beat West Ham for £3.5m striker Pawel BrozekBy
Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 12:34 PM on 06th July 2009
Daily Mail
Fulham are in talks to sign Wisla Krakow striker Pawel Brozek - the Polish
League's player of the season. The 26-year-old had also been monitored by
West Ham United, as well as Russian clubs Rubin Kazan and Lokomotiv Moscow.
But Wisla have confirmed Roy Hodgson's team have made their move and the
Poland international is keen on a move to England. 'If I were to leave, it
would be now. The English Premier League is the best league in the world and
I would love to play in it,' he said. Brozek, who has been the top
goalscorer in Poland for the last two seasons, had a trial with West Ham in
2004 but was recalled when Wisla changed their managed. He has scored 90
goals in 197 appearances for Wisla and reports put his price-tag at about
£3.5million. A spokesman for the Polish club said: 'Fulham are currently
inspecting Pawel in Austria. They have already started to hold talks with
him and his agent.'
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West Ham to push through deal for Barcelona's Gudjohnsen
06.07.09 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United are ready to sign Barcelona striker Eidur Gudjohnsen. The
Daily Star Sunday says Fulham, Everton and Aston Villa have also declared an
interest in the former Chelsea star. But Hammers boss Gianfranco Zola knows
the player well from their days together at Stamford Bridge.
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