Saturday, July 31

Daily WHUFC News - 31st July 2010

Ipswich Town match preview
WHUFC.com
All the early team news and background for Saturday's friendly trip to
Ipswich Town
30.07.2010

Pre-season friendly
Ipswich Town v West Ham United
Portman Road
Saturday 31 July 2010
Kick-off: 3pm

Introduction

• West Ham United will travel to Championship club Ipswich Town for their
fifth pre-season friendly ahead of the 2010/11 Barclays Premier League
season.
• The Hammers will only have to make the short trip up the A12 to Suffolk
for what promises to be an entertaining game against Roy Keane's side, who
ended last season 15th in the Championship.
• West Ham will be looking to make it five wins from as many matches in
pre-season. So far, Avram Grant's men have secured victories over League One
outfit Peterborough United (2-1), German side VfL Borussia Monchengladbach
(2-0), Greek champions Panathinaikos (1-0) and League One outfit MK Dons
(2-0)
• Saturday's fixture could see Pablo Barrera and Frederic Piquionne make
their debuts for the club after a full week's training at Chadwell Heath.
• The match will be the first of three final pre-season friendly matches
contested before the Barclays Premier League season commences with a trip to
Aston Villa on Saturday 14 August. Following Wednesday's fixture, Grant and
his squad will travel to League One outfit Southend United on Tuesday before
completing their preparations with the visit of Spanish Primera League club
RC Deportivo La Coruna to the Boleyn Ground on Saturday 7 August.
• Kieron Dyer joined Ipswich Town as a child, signing as a trainee. He made
his senior Ipswich Town debut in the 3-1 home Division One win over Crystal
Palace on Boxing Day 1996. He went on to total 112 appearances and 12 goals
over three seasons at Ipswich Town. He signed for Newcastle United for £6m
in July 1999.

Last meeting

• West Ham United last visited Ipswich for a pre-season fixture on 4 August
2008, when Dean Ashton scored a hat-trick in a 5-3 victory for the visitors.
Craig Bellamy and Mark Noble were also on target.
The lineups were:

Ipswich Town: R Wright, D Wright, Balkestein (Bruce 65), McAuley, Smith,
Shumulikoski, Haynes (Peters 82), Garvan (Miller 76), Counago (Rhodes 76),
Lisbie (Lee 65), Quinn (Trotter 82)
Subs not used: Supple, Naylor

West Ham United: Green (Stech 60), Neill (c), Ferdinand (Davenport), Upson,
Widdowson, Behrami (Mullins 62), Noble, Parker, Etherington (Reid 45),
Bellamy (Hines 23), Ashton (Stanislas 83)
Subs not used: Stokes, Collison, Spence

• The most recent competitive meetings between the two clubs came in the
Division One play-offs at the climax of the 2004/05 season. A 2-2 draw at
the Boleyn Ground was followed by an unforgettable 2-0 win at Portman Road
in the second leg.

Last time out
Wednesday 28 July 2010
Pre-season friendly

MK Dons 0-2 West Ham United

West Ham United: Green (Wessels 46), Tomkins, Gabbidon (Spector 46), Upson
(Da Costa 46), Daprela (Ilunga 64), Kovac (Hitzlsperger 64), Parker (Noble
64), Diamanti (Faubert 64), Ben-Hatira (McCarthy 64), Stanislas (Boa Morte
64), Caraglio (Cole 64)
Sub not used: Sears
Goals: Faubert, Cole
Tuesday 29 July 2010
Pre-season friendly

Bury Town 0-1 Ipswich Town
Goal: McAuley

West Ham United

• Avram Grant's West Ham United will be aiming to continue the bright start
they have made to their pre-season schedule, which has seen them defeat
League One new boys Peterborough United (2-1) at London Road, German
Bundesliga challengers VfL Borussia Monchengladbach (2-0) in Ruhpolding,
Greek double winners Panathinaikos (1-0) in the Austrian town of Kitzbuhel
and MK Dons (2-0) at stadium:mk.
• West Ham will continue their pre-season preparations with a Tuesday visit
to League One side Southend United before completing their warm-up fixtures
with the visit of Spanish Primera Division club RC Deportivo La Coruna to
the Boleyn Ground for the SBOBET Cup tie on Saturday 7 August.
• Carlton Cole has been in fine form in pre-season, scoring in the victories
over Peterborough, Monchengladbach and MK Dons with just 45 minute run-outs
in each contest. Benni McCarthy also enjoyed a fine evening against the
Germans, netting his first goal for the club with a fine half-volley.
• Thomas Hitzlsperger has made a bright start to his West Ham career
following his summer arrival from SS Lazio, scoring his first goal for the
club with a direct free-kick in the 1-0 victory over Panathinaikos.
• Julien Faubert is also off the mark this summer, netting the first against
MK Dons in midweek, having assisted on McCarthy's goal against
Monchengladbach.
• West Ham United have gone 311 minutes without conceding this summer since
Peter Kurucz was beaten by Peterborough United's Dave Hibbert in the 49th
minute of the meeting on 14 July. Since then there have been clean sheets
against VfL Borussia Monchengladbach, Panathinaikos and MK Dons.
• Grant's side will kick-off their Premier League campaign with a trip to
Aston Villa on Saturday 14 August.

Ipswich

• Roy Keane has seen plenty of activity in his squad this summer. Most
recently, defender Alex Bruce has joined Leeds United this week with Owen
Garvan and Jonathan Stead due to join Crystal Palace and Blackpool
respectively.
• Republic of Ireland midfielder Mark Kennedy, a player Keane knows well,
has joined from Cardiff City and got 45 minutes in the midweek 1-0 win
against Bury Town, when Gareth McAuley scored the only goal midway through
the second half.
• Keane is expected to give his youngsters a chance to shine this season,
including highly-rated left-back Shane O'Connor.
• Ipswich will begin their Npower Championship campaign away to
Middlesbrough on Saturday 7 August.
Team news
• West Ham United manager Avram Grant should give debuts to Pablo Barrera
and Frederic Piquionne.
• Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Jonathan Spector should get their second
run-outs of the summer after returning to action against Peterborough United
on Wednesday. Valon Behrami is still being nursed back carefully although he
has been in training.
• Triallist goalkeeper Stefan Wessels will not be involved, having left the
club after a week of training and Grant is expected to stick with his
first-team squad for the match.
• Kieron Dyer sat out in midweek to focus on strength work. The former
Ipswich favourite is expected to get an extended run-out on Saturday.
• Freddie Sears, fresh from a four-goal haul for the reserves on Thursday,
is also unlikely to figure while one of Marek Stech and Peter Kurucz will
provide cover for Green in goal.
• Long-term injury absentees Zavon Hines and Jack Collison (both knee) will
not be available.
• For Ipswich, Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop has yet to complete his
move so may not figure while Mark Kennedy may make his home bow after his
move from Cardiff. Another former Sunderland man in Conor Hourihane may get
his first taste of Portman Road, though.
• Most notably, Ipswich's highly-rated 17-year-old forward Connor Wickham,
an England youth international, may not play again until September with an
ankle problem while David Norris, the midfielder, is also out with a back
problem. Winger Luciano Civelli will be out for two weeks with a knock.
General information
• The weather forecast is for a generally sunny day with some cloud.
Temperatures are expected to peak at around 21C in the afternoon.
• Tickets are priced at £20 for adults, £15 for Over-60s, Under-20s,
full-time students and disabled supporters, and £5 for Under-16s.

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Barrera excited about debut
WHUFC.com
The pre-season trip to Ipswich Town should mark Pablo Barrera's first
appearance in the claret and blue
30.07.2010

It may not have the glamour of a World Cup showdown at Soccer City but
winger Pablo Barrera is raring to step out at Portman Road against Ipswich
Town on Saturday for his first appearance for West Ham United. The Mexican
international's last run-out was in his country's FIFA World Cup Round of 16
showdown with Argentina in Johannesburg but 34 days later, he will open a
new chapter of his career in rather more tranquil surroundings in Suffolk.
Speaking exclusively to whufc.com, the 23-year-old winger said: "I am really
excited. I don't know much about the team we are playing but I'm really
looking forward to my first game. I don't mind how much time I get - I just
want to start playing with my new team and get up to speed."

Barrera, signed from Mexican club Pumas in mid-July, flew back into London
on Sunday and began training with his new team-mates this week. He added:
"I've only been training for four days and I'm not yet at 100 per cent
physically. I'm getting there little by little. I had two-three weeks off
after the World Cup, although I did some training in Mexico with Pumas
before the move to West Ham happened."

The presence of Roy Keane in the opposition dugout means little to Barrera,
who confessed to being unaware of the identity of the former Manchester
United captain. His only concern is to make a good first impression in a
Hammers shirt. "I don't know our opponents and don't know the manager - I'm
just excited about my first game."

West Ham supporters will feel the same judging by the tantalising glimpses
of his wing play seen during his three substitute appearances at the World
Cup.
Barrera, who will be joined as a debutant by Frederic Piquionne, added that
manager Avram Grant had asked him to produce more of the same once he has
found his feet in the East End. "The manager's spoken to my agent and he
told him that he wants me to keep playing as I did in the World Cup, to play
out wide and play my own game." Starting, hopefully, at Portman Road.

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Upson heading home
WHUFC.com
Matthew Upson will return to his native Suffolk when West Ham United face
Ipswich Town on Saturday
30.07.2010

Matthew Upson returns home to Suffolk on Saturday feeling decidedly upbeat
about West Ham United's chances ahead of the new Barclays Premier League
season. The Hammers will be in pre-season friendly action at Ipswich Town
this weekend, just 25 miles from the England defender's birthplace in the
north of the county. With a host of friends and family members set to cheer
him on, the 31-year-old expects Avram Grant's side to put on an impressive
show against the Tractor Boys. Having enjoyed an extended summer break
following his exertions at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Upson returned to action
in Wednesday's 2-0 friendly victory at League One outfit MK Dons, looking
his assured self alongside Wales international Danny Gabbidon. On Saturday,
Upson is expecting a slightly tougher test against Roy Keane's Ipswich, who
will compete in the Championship in 2010/11. "I'll have a couple of people
texting me for tickets!" he told WHUTV. "It's a good fixture for us. They're
a good team with a good manager and I think they'll be up for it. "I think
these games are designed to get various things out of them. The obvious
object is to win the games, but you're looking at everything - fitness,
tactics and all other aspects of the game. It was a good exercise for us and
a good game. "For me, it was my first 45 minutes since I've been back. It's
very good to have competition for places - it's an essential for every good
squad and good team and keeps everyone on their toes. "It was good at the
training camp out in Germany. We worked hard but when it was relaxed it was
relaxed and we had some down time, which was important. It was hot and, for
me, it looks like it's been a pretty successful summer so far."

Upson believes manager Grant will begin to finalise his plans for the new
season at Portman Road before giving his first-choice XI a chance to impress
when Spanish giants RC Deportivo La Coruna visit the Boleyn Ground on
Saturday 7 August. With the likes of Thomas Hitzlsperger, Pablo Barrera and
Frederic Piquionne - both of whom could make their first-team debuts at
Ipswich - added to an already talented squad, the captain believes the
future is bright.
"You will see signs at Ipswich but definitely that last fixture of the
pre-season calendar before the big kick-off, you generally see close to what
the starting XI is going to be and the shape we're going to play. It's
interesting times. "It's been a good camp. There have been some good
additions and I think this is the strongest squad I've seen at the club in a
good couple of seasons. The manager has bought some good players and
hopefully we'll improve on last season."

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Extra friendly announced
WHUFC.com
West Ham United will travel to Southend United for a pre-season friendly on
Tuesday night
30.07.2010

West Ham United are pleased to announced the addition of an extra pre-season
friendly to the club's schedule. The Hammers will head to the Essex seaside
on Tuesday, with Avram Gant's side taking on League Two newcomers Southend
United. With under a fortnight to go until the start of the new Barclays
Premier League campaign, the club will take a full first-team squad to Roots
Hall, with kick-off at 7.45pm. The last time the two sides met in a
competitive fixture saw a Marlon Harewood brace defeat the Shrimpers 2-0 at
the Boleyn Ground in the League Cup second round in August 2004. The last
friendly meeting was 28 July 2007, when Bobby Zamora, Craig Bellamy and
Freddie Ljungberg scored in a 3-1 away victory for the Hammers. Next week's
friendly comes just days after the West Ham youth team tasted success at the
same venue, having won the Southend Youth Challenge Cup last weekend.
Tickets for the match are priced at £10 for adults and £5 for concessions.
West Ham have been allocated 2,700 tickets, which are on general sale now.
Tickets ordered today online or by telephone will be posted to supporters,
and will also be available from the West Stand Ticket Office until 3pm
Tuesday. Any remaining tickets will be on sale through the North Stand
turnstiles on the night of the game. However, the club would strongly
recommend supporters purchase tickets in advance for this fixture. Please
check whufc.com on the day of the game for matchday information. Southend
United's Commercial Department also has a number of corporate hospitality
packages available at prices to suite all budgets. For details, call the
Blues' corporate sales manager Junior Garrod on 01702 304128. West Ham will
travel to Championship side Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon before
playing host to Spanish club RC Deportivo La Coruna in SBOBET Cup in aid of
the Academy on Saturday 7 August.

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Hammers team up with Apsley
WHUFC.com
Avram Grant's team will look the part in the new season with a new
partnership with Apsley Tailors
30.07.2010

Apsley Tailors have teamed up with West Ham United to design, fit and supply
the squad with bespoke suits and accessories for the 2010/11 season.
Established in 1889, Apsley offers luxury, handmade, bespoke tailoring of
exceptional quality, in great speed and for excellent value from showrooms
on Pall Mall, London.

Apsley said: "Apsley are proud and excited to be in partnership with West
Ham United. Over the years Apsley have been tailors for the British Military
and Royal Navy as well as many diplomatic houses, members clubs and
corporate companies in the UK and worldwide. We are delighted to add West
Ham United to the list of our prestigious clients."

A bespoke suit from Apsley starts from just £450, so to get your new suit
for the new season call 0207 925 2238 to book a fitting or visit the website
for further information.

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Sears scores four
WHUFC.com
Bishop's Stortford found Freddie Sears too hot to handle in the friendly
meeting with the Hammers
29.07.2010

Freddie Sears continued his electric form with all four goals as a West Ham
United XI cruised to victory away to Bishop's Stortford. The Conference
South hosts were no match for the England Under-21 international with Sears
a lively presence from start to finish. Indeed, the striker, who scored four
goals at the same stadium for the reserves against West Bromwich Albion two
years ago next month, could have had five or six - such was his play. The
20-year-old, who has been working hard on his physique and fitness over the
summer, was content with his haul, though, and to continue where he left off
after impressing manager Avram Grant during last week's training camp in
Germany. He got a welcome extended run-out under his belt as well, having
been rested in the senior side's win at MK Dons on Wednesday. "It was nice
to come and get a full 90 minutes and the result followed," Sears told
WHUTV. "The team played really well. We went forward and looked good. "It
was one of those games where everything I tried came off for me in the end,
you just need an early goal. The confidence was flying then and they just
seemed to all come along."

Sears began the scoring with a spot-kick on 31 minutes after the impressive
Cristian Montano was bundled over in the penalty. There was never any
question that Sears would step up and score, given his penalty prowess of
the past. He then added two in quick succession on 41 and 44 minutes before
rounding it in style with a breakway goal on 69 minutes. "it was nice to get
the penalty. It gets you going, you either score or you miss but I was
confident I was going to score. That set me in good stead really. The last
goal summed it all up. I started the move and I have ended up getting a toe
on it to score. It is just a shame i couldn't get any more!"

Reminded of his previous four-goal show against West Brom, Sears was quick
to pay tribute to the setting of Woodside Park on the Essex-Herts border -
as well of course as the role of his team-mates on the night. "It is a
lovely ground. The stadium is nice and all the people around here are
friendly, it is a good place to come and play."

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Depor to mark Boleyn bows
WHUFC.com
The big match against RC Deportivo La Coruna will be Pablo Barrera's first
real taste of the Boleyn Ground
30.07.2010

There is just over a week to go until West Ham United welcome RC Deportivo
La Coruna to the Boleyn Ground for the SBOBET Cup. Supporters can make sure
of their seat now for the glamour pre-season friendly against the Spanish
giants on Saturday 7 August, which will be the first chance to see new
signings such as Thomas Hitzlsperger and Frederic Piquionne in action at
home. Perhaps the most intriguing battle will be between Mexico's FIFA World
Cup wingers Pablo Barrera and Andres Guardado. Barrera - the Hammers' third
new recruit of the summer - could make his first appearance for the club
this Saturday at Ipswich Town as a warm-up while Guardado is Deportivo's
star man and has just pledged his future to the Riazor club. The match will
be the ideal way to judge how ready Avram Grant's men are for the new
Barclays Premier League season with it all getting under way just seven days
later away to Aston Villa. With advanced ticket prices starting at just £10
for season ticket holders, fans are advised to move fast to make sure of
their seat. Deportivo, who finshed tenth in La Liga last term, have enjoyed
an illustrious recent history, winning the Spanish title for the first time
in their history in 2000 and finishing as runners-up in each of the
following two seasons. The Galician club reached the UEFA Champions League
semi-finals in 2003/04.

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Hammers in ringer riddle
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 30th July 2010
By: Staff Writer

West Ham have angered Argentinian club Rosario Central by apparently
fielding Milton Caraglio without permission. The 21-year-old forward arrived
in London earlier this week and featured for the Hammers in the 2-0 win at
MK Dons on Wednesday night. However the desicion to play Caraglio has left
his club furious, as they claim West Ham fielded the Argentinian without
permission. "It's a shame what happened. We knew nothing of this, it is an
outrage," one senior source is quoted as saying by Le Capital. Eduardo
Masias, the club's financial director added that "it would have been wiser
[for Caraglio] to play yesterday's friendly between Central and Tiro
Federal, as the player is still under contract."

Caraglio - who failed to impress in his 60 minutes on the field at Milton
Keynes - was, according to Rosario, supposed to be in London for talks over
a potential £5million move and to undertake a medical should those talks
prove fruitful. They maintain that they were never asked if Caraglio could
play in a competitive friendly match. West Ham are yet to comment.

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Do you want to go to the seaside?
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 30th July 2010
By: Staff Writer

West Ham have announced that they will face Southend United at Roots Hall on
August 3rd. The Shrimpers - who were relegated from League One last season
after an horrendous end to the campaign which coincided with them having to
sell their best players in order to stay afloat - host what is expected to
be a strong Hammers outfit next Tuesday, for what will be the latest in a
long line of recent meetings. The last time the two clubs met was in a
specially-arranged behind-closed-doors friendly back in October 2008 when an
Irons XI triumphed 2-1 at Chadwell Heath. Prior to that, Alan Curbishley's
side beat the Blues 3-1 in July 2007 in a match to celebrate Southend's
centenary through goals from Bobby Zamora, Craig Bellamy and Freddy
Ljungberg. Such has been the turnaround in playing staff, of the players who
featured that day three years ago only Rob Green, Danny Gabbidon, Mark Noble
and Carlton Cole remain at the club.

Remaning first team pre-season fixtures

Ipswich Town (a) Saturday, 31 July

Southend United (d) Tuesday, 2nd August

Deportiva La Coruna (h) Saturday, 7th August

First team pre-season results

Peterborough 1-2 West Ham United (Cole, Edgar)

Borussia Monchengladbach 0-2 West Ham United (Cole, McCarthy)

Panathanaikos 0-1 West Ham United (Hitzlsperger)

MK Dons 0-2 West Ham United (Faubert, Cole)

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Potters urged to sign Cole
Etherington wants Hammers striker to join him at Stoke
By James Dall Last updated: 30th July 2010
SSN

Matthew Etherington has urged Stoke City to sign West Ham United striker
Carlton Cole. Etherington made the switch from Upton Park to the Britannia
Stadium in January 2009 and has impressed since the transfer. The left
winger has now moved to advocate the acquisition of Cole, although it
remains to be seen if new Hammers boss Avram Grantwould allow the forward to
leave. Etherington's comments follow reports linking Stoke manager Tony
Pulis with an interest in 26-year-old Cole. "If West Ham are willing to let
him go, it would be a good move for him to come here," Etherington told The
Sentinel. "Given the ideas the manager has and the way the club want to push
forward, I'd definitely recommend it. "Coley is a London boy, he's got a
young kid and is settled down there, but he has been this way before on loan
at Aston Villa and Wolves. "It wouldn't be a problem for him living up here,
just as it hasn't been for me." He continued: "I would tell him it was the
best move I could have made. It has helped me no end in pushing my career
on. "I have been in touch with him this summer by text, just more or less to
say 'how are you?' He's one of those who's a bit elusive is Coley." "On his
day, he's one of the best strikers in the Premier League. When he's on it,
he's unbelievable - and I've witnessed that first hand at West Ham. "When
Gianfranco Zola came in as manager, he gave him a lot of confidence and it
got him his England call-ups. "He's one of those players you've got to put
an arm around and tell him how good he is to give him confidence.
"But a fully-fit Carlton Cole would be a massive asset for Stoke."

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Faubert backs Green to recover
Hammers stopper says team-mate can bounce back from gaffe
Last updated: 30th July 2010
SSN

West Ham defender Julien Faubert insists Robert Green is strong enough to
withstand any backlash from his World Cup howler this season. Hammers keeper
Green came under fire after fumbling a tame effort by Clint Dempsey during
England's 1-1 draw with USA in South Africathis summer. But Faubert insists
the 30-year-old is equipped to cope with the inevitable abuse he will
attract away from Upton Park this term. "Greenie knows what will probably
happen in all our away games," said Faubert. "But I don't think he will care
about the abuse because he is such a strong character and in training he is
the same person - always happy and smiling. "For me, Greenie is still the
best goalkeeper in England. "It was all the great saves he made last season
that kept West Ham in the Premiership."

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Hammers reject 9million Cole bid
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today

WEST HAM have snubbed Stoke's £9million bid for striker Carlton Cole. But
Hammers boss Avram Grant is braced for Potters chief Tony Pulis to up his
offer for the England hitman. Stoke's move comes just 48 hours after West
Ham also turned down Tottenham's £8m move for midfield star Scott Parker.
Pulis is a long-time admirer of Cole, 26, who hit 10 Premier League goals
despite missing a large chunk of last season with a knee injury. And Stoke
winger Matthew Etherington is urging the Britannia boss to pull out all the
stops to get his former Upton Park team-mate. Etherington said: "It would be
a good move for him to come here. "Given the ideas the manager has and the
way the club want to push forward, I'd definitely recommend it. "Coley is a
London boy but it wouldn't be a problem for him living up here - just as it
hasn't been for me. I'd tell him it was the best move I could have made."
West Ham hope to tie up a deal for Tal Ben Haim in the next 48 hours. The
Portsmouth defender, 28., will be on loan until January after a groin
problem caused him to fail a medical, scuppering a four-year contract.

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West Ham caught in new transfer row over Argentine striker Milton Caraglio
Published 11:13 30/07/10 By Football Spy
The Mirror

West Ham are being dragged into another transfer row involving an
Argentinean striker due to allegations that Milton Caraglio did not have
permission to play in Tuesday night's friendly win against MK Dons .
Newspaper reports in South America suggest that R osario Central only
allowed their £5m-rated striker to travel to Europe this week in order to
sort out his Italian passport , and were therefore somewhat surprised to see
him play 64 minutes of the Hammer's pre-season win. West Ham manager Avram
Grant, meanwhile, is undecided on whether to firm up his interest in
Caraglio with a bid .

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West Ham boss Avram Grant still not made up his mind over £5m bid for
Argentina striker Milton Caraglio
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 1:53 PM on 30th July 2010

West Ham manager Avram Grant is undecided as to whether spend £5million on
Argentinian striker Milton Caraglio after a trial at Upton Park. The
22-year-old has spent his whole career at Argentinian side Rosario and
scored eleven goals over the last two seasons. Caraglio was called up to the
Argentina team by Diego Maradona earlier this year but a knee injury ruled
him out of World Cup contention. The 6ft 2in forward has already undergone
a medical at Upton Park and played for more than a hour in West Ham's 2-0
friendly victory over MK Dons.

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Upson upbeat on his return to Portman Road
Greenun24
By Elvin King
Saturday, 31 July, 2010
7:55 AM

ENGLAND World Cup goalscorer Matthew Upson returns to his native Suffolk
this afternoon (kick-off 3pm) looking for a near full strength West Ham side
to turn in an impressive display. Upson, who used to train at Portman Road
as a schoolboy having been raised near Diss on the Norfolk border, is now a
crucial figure in the Hammers defence. He believes that manager Avram Grant
will begin to finalise his plans for the new season against Roy Keane's side
before giving his first choice side a chance to impress against Deportivi La
Coruna at Upton Park on August 7. Pablo Barrera and Frederic Piquionne are
set to make their senior Hammers debuts and with Keiron Dyer, Thomas
Hitzlsperger, Scott Parker and Carlton Cole also in the squad, Ipswich are
set to be in for a big test. "I'll have people texting me for tickets," said
Upson. "And it's a good fixture for us against a good team with a good
manager. "I think they'll be up for it – and so will we. "It will be a
tougher test for us than Wednesday's 2-0 win at MK Dons and these games are
designed to get various things out of them. "The obvious object is to win,
but you're looking at everything – fitness, tactics, and other aspects of
the game. "There will be signs at Ipswich but the last fixture in the
pre-season calendar you generally see what the starting XI is going to be
and the shape we're going to play."
Dyer, 31, is set to start for the Hammers looking to make an impact this
term after a number of injury-ravished seasons. Raised just a goal kick away
from Portman Road, Dyer has already come through 45 minutes of action three
times with the Hammers this pre-season. Dyer was a product of the Town
academy and he made a big hit as a teenager before being sold to Newcastle
in July 1999 for £6million. Income from his transfer helped George Burley
build a side that won promotion to the Premier League the following year.
Keane is also set to play his strongest XI to give fans an indication of the
side he plans to field at Middlesbrough when the Championship season starts
a week today. David Norris is expected to be available to face the Hammers
after suffering a back problem with Jon Walters and Tamas Priskin the likely
front runners with young Luke Hyam possibly playing in front of the back
four. Town fans will get their first sight of new signing Mark Kennedy at
left back, while Conor Hourihan, who was signed from Sunderland last month,
could get a midfield berth. "Conor has a good attitude and has a chance to
become a player," said Keane. "We were short of players and started with him
at Leiston and Bury on consecutive nights, which was a bit unfair on him.
"But when I was his age I would have played every night and he did well."

Damien Delaney, Connor Wickham, Luca Civelli, Colin Healy and Alan Quinn
will all be missing through injury with Town having one more game – at home
to a Tottenham XI on Tuesday – before the visit to the Riverside in seven
days.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Friday, July 30

Daily WHUFC News - 30th July 2010

Bishop's Stortford 0-4 West Ham United XI
WHUFC.com
Freddie Sears was the star of the show with all four goals in the reserves'
friendly win on Thursday
29.07.2010

Bishop's Stortford v West Ham United XI
Woodside Park
Friendly match
Thursday 29 July 2010

Full-time - Bishop's Stortford 0-4 West Ham United

90min - The referee blows the full-time whistle on what has been a
professional and clinical display from the Hammers. Freddie Sears was the
star of the show but there was plenty of attacking intent throughout the
side.
88min - Fry steps in again just as Antonine was ready to pounce. Brown then
tidies up with a header back to Kurucz, who has been largely untroubled. A
quick counterattack sees Montano slipped in by Edgar but he is flagged
offside.
86min - A sixty-yard pass from Lee gets Montano in behind. The Colombian
attacker hits it first time and produces a smart stop from Morgan. From the
resulting corner, Edgar plays in a speculative shot that actually hits the
post and rebounds to safety. Another corner, sees Fry head over.
85min - Fry does the job at the back again. He has stayed strong despite the
physical strength of the home strikers.
84min - It is all West Ham and Montano has just shown a lovely piece of
trickery on the halfway line to flick the ball to his team-mate while
looking the other way.
83min - Montano does well again and supplies Sears for the volley. The
striker gets a whack on the boot and is unable to connect.
81min - Montano is too hot to handle and he only just misses out on
supplying Hall.
80min - Free-kick West Ham in a menacing position on the corner of the area.
Montano was too tricky for his marker. Edgar takes but blasts it against the
wall.
77min - Well up Fry. He beat the imposing Antoine with ease. The defenders
have done their job tonight. On the counter, Montano tries to win a penalty
but the referee waves it away. Lette Jalow is off for Chi Ebreadu.
75min - Edgar does well to pick out Hall but he is crowded out. The ball
eventually finds its way to Sears but he misjudges it. When the play
eventually shifts to Spence, he has a go from range but it is well over.
Angus is off for Chris Sargent.
73min - Sears is the star of the show but there has been some strong
supporting performances. Abdulla has certainly weighed in.
72min - Kim Seok Beom is on for Kim Jin Gu as the hosts make another change.
70min - Robert Hall is on for Moncur. Hall is straight on the attack and
looks lively.
69min - Great play by Abdulla along the touchline and into the area. He
slips the ball into the six-yard box and Sears is on hand to flick the ball
nonchantly into the net.
69min - GOAL! Can you guess who?
68min - Moncur has been impressive. He must be one of the youngest players
on the pitch but has been dominant and shown a lovely range of passing.
67min - Unlucky Montano. He fires just wide of the goal after being picked
out at the back post by Abdulla. He hit with some force and the keeper was
worried.
64min - Deflected shot from Sears, He still wants a fourth it seems despite
having bagged three already.
62min - There are 464 fans here tonight and they will hope to see a few more
goals before the end.
61min - Cynical foul on Edgar. Substitution for Bishop's Stortford. Ted
Llewellyn is on for Querry.
60min - Fry heads away the danger. He has been given a testing evening by
Lai Mas Lette Jallow. Kurucz throws the ball 60 yards to Abdulla in
midfield. Impressive that.
58min - Home captain Matt Jones is off with Ritchie Jones on.
57min - Wasted ball there from Jin Gu, just as the hosts had worked their
way into the Hammers half. It just has not clicked for Bishop's Stortford in
the final third tonight.
55min - Sears fires in again but Morgan saves. The striker had played a
superb one-two with Spence before jinking past two defenders to find room
for the shot.
54min - Montano gets in behind again. His pull-back is not strong enough
though and Angus heads away.
52min - Some neat passing their from the home side. Another change here for
them with Scott Smith on for Prestedge.
51min - Sears just draws a few gasps from the crowd with a neat bit of skill
to beat his marker. He has not put a foot wrong.
50min - Another strong attack sees Montano just fail to connect with a ball
on the edge of the six-yard box. Again Brown was involved up the left wing.
48min - Brown is fouled tidying up at the back after a Fry foul had put the
hosts in a good position.
47min - Lovely raking pass from Eyjolfsson there picked out Brown up the
left wing. The Hammers win a throw-in and then play some good possession
football.
46min - Should have been 4-0 after 30 seconds of the second half. Edgar
played in Montano over the top, he picked out Lee in the middle but the
midfielder's first-time effort was mis-hit.
46min - West Ham get us under way. Peter Kurucz is on in goal for Stech.

HALF-TIME - There goes the half-time whistle. Well done Sears. The watching
Paul Groves will have been impressed with his poise and pace. Sears will
hope to figure again when the first team go to Ipswich Town on Saturday.
46min - Harsh scoreline this on Bishop's Stortford. Sears has been simply
devastating and his treble has underlined the great form he showed during
last week's first-team training camp in Germany.
44min - GOAL! - Sears is on fire. He finds himself clean through having run
from the halfway line and latched on to Abdulla's flick. Sears races into
the area, looks up and tucks it away splendidly for his hat-trick. What a
night for the striker.
43min - A long break for the restart as more treatment is given.
41min - GOAL! - Sears again. Lovely take and finish from a central position,
but it owed much to a superb run up the left wing from Brown. The left-back
cut in and found Sears, who did the rest despite being pressured by two
players.
41min - The Hammers have done well, despite their youthfulness. Still a
close contest, mind, and the home side are always looking a threat.
38min - Another stoppage in play, this time for treatment to Querry.
36min - Dyer is barking out the instructions during a lovely period of
passing possession from the Hammers. Must have been 20 passes by now. The
move breaks down with a weak cross from Brown.
35min - Montano shows lovely skill to trap a tricky pass. The teenager is
having a great game.
34min - End to end stuff. Edgar picks out Sears with a 40-yard pass. The
striker centres first time and Montano shoots for goal on the half-volley.
Never really troubled Morgan, though.
32min - Unlucky Chick after a determined restart from the home side. The
substitute meets a Tom Querry corner well and heads for goal. It needed a
great save from Stech to deny him. From another Jin Gu corner, Stech is less
comfortable but the Hammers clear.
31min - GOAL! - Sears steps up and strikes a lovely shot just inside
Morgan's right-hand post. The keeper was never saving that.
30min - Penalty! Montano goes down in the box after a lovely take and pass
from Abdulla.
28min - Abdulla fouls Stevland Angus, the former Academy defender and FA
Youth Cup-winning team-mate of Joe Cole, Michael Carrick and Co. Seconds
later, a quick counter sees Sears chip one forward but no one had read his
intentions.
26min - Eyjolfsson recovers well to break up an attack, having mis-placed a
pass previously to give the visitors a chance in the first place.
25min - More good build-up play, this time from Edgar and Brown. Another
dangerous cross from the left-back sees home keeper Nicky Morgan claim well.
23min - Dave Chick is on for the injured Shulton. The No10 had been
struggling for some time. Also on is Leon Antoine for the No9, Matt Judge.
21min - Lovely play from Sears to hold the ball up sees him feed Spence,
rushing up the right. The full-back cuts inside into the penalty area and
only just fails to pick put Sears who had raced into a forward position.
20min - A notable feature of the Hammers' play has been the good feet of
Moncur and Lee. Their dads John and Rob - both former Hammers' favourites -
would be proud.
18min - Formation wise, the Hammers are playing with three in midfield and
three in attack. Montano and Sears are right and left of Abdulla
respectively at the moment, but it is anything but rigid. Actually Sears has
just gone into the central role as the main striker.
17min - Late tackle by Spence is penalised. The free-kick is a quick one but
Fry is alert and heads back well to Stech just as Reece Prestedge looked
ready to pounce.
15min - Good spell this for the home side. Fry and Brown have to be alert to
clear after another attack.
14min - Stech spares Fry's blushes as Jin Gu pounced on a loose ball just in
front of the defender. The goalkeeper comes out quickly to claim and save
the day.
13min - Unlucky for Montano. He takes a shot first time and just sees it
flash past the post. The build-up involved Lee and Sears, with the former
producing a lovely turn to beat his man in midfield. Twenty seconds later,
Montano goes again. He races past his marker and tries to cross. Frightening
pace from the youngster.
12min - So nearly an opening goal for Eyjolfsson. George Moncur picked him
out at the back post with a weighted free-kick and only some last-ditch
defending blocked the Icelander's headed effort.
11min - Brown is finding his feet now and wins a corner after blasting the
ball off Korean winger Kim Jin Gu.
10min - Appeals for a penalty after Matt Judge blasts the ball at Spence in
the area. Would have been harsh had that been given, although the ball did
look to smash him in the arm. The Hammers try to counterattack but Bishop's
Stortford regroup well.
9min - A stoppage in play as a Bishop's Stortford player - I think it is
Shulton - is down for treatment.
8min - Jordan Brown gets forward for the first time at left-back and lofts
the ball into the area. Abdulla is unable to beat his marker and the hosts
clear the danger.
7min - First real attack for the Hammers. Olly Lee slides it through for
Cristian Montano to the left of the area. The Colombian attacker takes a
touch and then plays it across the area but Abdulla is just unable to get
there.
6min - A chance to break for Scott Shulton. He runs at Matt Fry but his
final ball is loose and it runs through to Marek Stech.
4min - Spence, in the right-back position, has had a lot of the ball early
on. Neither side has really got going, though.
3min - Foul on Holmar Eyjolfsson by Matt Judge. Jordan Spence takes the
free-kick and only just misses out on playing in Ahmed Abdulla behind the
back line.
2min - After the home side were crowded out, a quick burst from Anthony
Edgar sees him make 40 yards. He loses the ball midway through the Bishop's
Stortford half though.
1min - Bishop's Stortford get us under way. There are about 400 people here
tonight and everything is set up for a good contest.

KICK-OFF

7.10pm - The teams are in:

Bishop's Stortford: Nicky Morgan, Matt Jones (captain) (Ritchie Jones 57),
Aiden Palmer, Lai Mas Lette Jallow (Chi Ebreadu 77), Lynval Duncan, Stevland
Angus (Chris Sargent 75), Kim Jin Gu (Kim Seok Beom 72), Reece Prestedge
(Scott Smith 52), Matt Judge (Leon Antoine 23), Scott Shulton (Dave Chick
23), Tom Querry (Ted Llewellyn 61)

Subs: Ritchie Jones, Bert Greenwood, Ellis Remy

West Ham United: Marek Stech (Peter Kurucz 46), Jordan Spence (captain),
Holmar Eyjolfsson, Matt Fry, Jordan Brown, George Moncur (Robert Hall 70),
Olly Lee, Anthony Edgar, Ahmed Abdulla, Freddie Sears, Cristian Montano

Subs: Filip Modelski, Callum McNaughton, Sergio Sanchez, Devann Yao, Daniel
Subuola

6.50pm - Welcome to the home of Bishop's Stortford as Alex Dyer prepares to
lead his team through their second reserve-team friendly of the summer. The
young Hammers began their campaign with a 4-2 defeat against a strong Burton
Albion side last Saturday. Bishop's Stortford, on the Essex/Herts border,
play in the Conference South and have strong links with West Ham, having
regularly staged the club's fixtures in the Barclays Premier Reserve League
South.
Goalkeeping coach David Coles is already out on the pitch warming up with
Marek Stech and Peter Kurucz. The Hammers will also boast Jordan Spence,
Matthew Fry, Anthony Edgar, Cristian Montano and Freddie Sears who are
hoping to force their way into Avram Grant's first-team squad this season
having been part of the pre-season camp in Germany last week.

Also involved are Ahmed Abdulla and US triallist Devann Yao, who both scored
at League Two club Burton at the weekend, and both will be looking to
impress again as will the highly-rated Jordan Brown and Olly Lee. Alex
Dyer's team will begin their Barclays Premier Reserve League South campaign
at home to Manchester City on Tuesday 7 September, with kick-off at Little
Heath at 2pm.

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Gabbidon feeling good
WHUFC.com
Danny Gabbidon is fit and firing and enjoying a productive pre-season with
West Ham United
29.07.2010

Danny Gabbidon is feeling strong in body and mind ahead of the new Barclays
Premier League campaign. The Wales international hopes to put four years of
frustration behind him this season, looking back to his best this summer as
West Ham United have secured four wins from four so far. Gabbidon's latest
outing saw him help the Hammers keep their third clean sheet in succession
in defeating League One MK Dons 2-0 at stadium:mk on Wednesday evening.
There, the 30-year-old partnered returning England international Matthew
Upson during the opening 45 minutes, helping his side to shackle compatriot
Jermaine Easter and the lively Sam Baldock.

Following the victories at Peterborough United and over VfL Borussia
Monchengladbach and Panathinaikos during a successful training camp in
Germany, the 2005/06 Hammer of the Year believes things are coming together
nicely ahead of the big kick-off at Aston Villa on 14 August. "Another game,
another win," he said. "It was good, another good work-out as well. We had a
good trip to Germany last week and another couple of wins. We have come back
and it is a little bit different to play a League One team, it is a bit more
tempo to the game. I thought we played a lot better in the second half, we
were a bit sluggish and that. In the second half, we moved the ball a lot
quicker and got a couple of goals. It was good to get another win. "The
fitness, they were quite sharp in the first half and played good football.
It was a nice place to come and a nice stadium. They are a little bit ahead
of us but it was a good test for us and we playe them a coupel of years back
as well and I remember they gave us a good game then as well. "It was a good
test and nice to get a couple of goals in the second half and we are on to
Saturday's next game."

After enjoying an outstanding first season at the Boleyn Ground, Gabbidon
has been struck down by a succession of unfortunate injuries, causing him to
total just 47 first-team appearances over the past four years. Now he is
back in action and feeling good, the Cwmbran-born defender is targeting a
strong finish to his pre-season preparations and, with strong competition
for places in the shape of Upson, Manuel da Costa and James Tomkins, a place
in the starting XI at Villa Park. "I am pleased to get through the games. I
have been feeling pretty good. I felt a little bit sluggish at MK Dons but
we have trained quite hard the last couple of days. It was good to get
another 45 minutes. I am getting stronger and stronger, I had a decent
pre-season last season but it was in the season that I had a few little
niggles and that. Hopefully I can improve on that this season and my aim is
to be fit for the start and then take it from there. Ipswich are a
Championship team but we know they will be the same as MK Dons. They will
look to play good football and it will be a good test. We will recover from
this, get some training in on Friday and look to play well and do ourselves
justice. If we can continue winning, it is good for the confidence going
into the start of the season in two weeks' time."

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David Beckham denies any contact with West Ham
BBC.co.uk

David Beckham has "no interest" in leaving American team Los Angeles Galaxy
and has had no contact with West Ham, according to his spokesman. West Ham
co-owner David Gold claims to have held talks with the 35-year-old former
England captain's agent. But Beckham's spokesman said: "Whilst it's
flattering, there has been no contact with or offer from West Ham. David has
no interest in leaving."
The midfielder is recovering from an Achilles tendon injury. Gold reportedly
hoped that Beckham, who was born in Leytonstone, east London - close to West
Ham - would end his playing days with the club. The Hammers co-owner is also
said to have wanted the midfielder to help the club's attempts to move into
the Olympics Stadium in London after the 2012 Games. However, the player's
spokesman added: "David is happy at LA Galaxy and is looking forward to
returning to the team on 9 August."
Beckham tore his Achilles tendon in March and hopes to be fit enough to
return to action with the Los Angeles outfit in September. He joined Galaxy
from Real Madrid in 2007 but has since had two loan spells at AC Milan. The
former Manchester United trainee has 115 England caps and formed part of the
national team's backroom staff at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
He was unable to play in the tournament, which England exited in the second
round after a 4-1 defeat against Germany, because of his Achilles tendon
injury.

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Was Parker tapped up?
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 29th July 2010
By: Staff Writer

It has been revealed that Scott Parker spent part of his summer break on
holiday with Jamie Redkapp - son of Spurs manager Harry who was responsible
for a £7million bid yesterday. Earlier this month the Daily Mail printed
pictures of Redknapp Jnr, cousin Frank Lampard and Parker on hoiliday
together with their families in Sardinia - lending weight to rumours that
Parker had been 'tapped up' by the Redknapps.
Yesterday's derisory £7million offer from Tottenham for West Ham's
vice-captain was furiously rebuffed by United joint-chairman David Sullivan,
who slammed the north Londoners for having made the bid despite having
reportedly been informed previously that it would be unwelcome. It also led
to Avram Grant suggesting he will give Redknapp - who he followed as manager
at Portsmouth - a piece of his mind next time they meet. "I can tell you
that if I am disappointed with Harry I will tell him face to face," said
Grant following the Hammers' 2-0 win at MK Dons last night. "We want to
plan for the next few seasons and Scott Parker is a big part of this
process. He is a very good player and has a good influence on the young
players. He is a good professional and there will not be any news about him.
I'm sure if he was for sale that other teams would want him as well. "But
we are a team with ambition and we want to progress."

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Becks denies West Ham link
Veteran midfielder has 'no interest' in Hammers move
Last updated: 29th July 2010
SSN

David Beckham is happy at LA Galaxy and has had no contact with West Ham, a
spokesman for the former England captain has announced. Beckham has been
linked with a move to Upton Park, with Hammers co-owner David Gold revealing
he wants to sign the 35-year-old midfielder and that talks have taken place
with the player's agent. But a spokesman for Beckham has denied the rumours,
insisting the veteran will remain in the States. "Whilst it's flattering to
hear of interest there has been no contact with or offer from West Ham,"
said the spokesman. "David is happy at the Los Angeles Galaxy and has no
interest in leaving, and is looking forward to returning to the team on
August 9."
Beckham is still on the mend from the ruptured Achilles tendon that ruled
him out of the World Cup, but is hoping to be back in action before the end
of Galaxy's MLS season. He is targeting a comeback as early as September,
allowing him to make a possible return to European football in January after
playing for AC Milan for the second half of the season the last two years.

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Harry: 'I'm not dirty geddit?'
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today

HARRY REDKNAPP has hit back at claims Spurs are using 'dirty tricks' to lure
Scott Parker from West Ham. A bitter row is brewing between the two London
rivals as Tottenham are ready to splash out up to £15million on the England
midfielder. The Hammers insist they have told Spurs that Parker, 29, is not
for sale at any price. But White Hart Lane boss Redknapp insisted: "We have
done nothing wrong. Our chairman spoke to West Ham's chairman and asked if
Scott is for sale. "If he's been told that he isn't then that's the end of
that. But as far as I'm concerned Tottenham have acted totally within the
rules. "Any club is perfectly entitled to make an inquiry about a player
from another club. "West Ham have been interested in Jamie O'Hara for some
time and I don't have a problem with that."
Parker is keen on Champions League football and could increase his current
£68,000-a-week wages by around £7k a week with Tottenham. Redknapp added:
"We get people ringing us up all the time asking about our players'
availability - it's how the whole business works. "This club has behaved
correctly. "We didn't go public on our interest in Scott, we approached West
Ham through the proper channels. If our chairman wants to improve the offer
that's up to him. But I like Scott, he's a good player."

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Green set for fans abuse
The Sun
By MARK IRWIN
Published: Today

ROBERT GREEN is braced for a season of abuse over his World Cup howler. West
Ham's keeper fluffed Clint Dempsey's tame shot in England's 1-1 draw with
USA in South Africa. And Hammers' French defender Julien Faubert admitted:
"Greenie knows what will probably happen in all our away games. "But I don't
think he will care about the abuse because he is such a strong character and
in training he is the same person - always happy and smiling. "For me,
Greenie is still the best goalkeeper in England. "It was all the great saves
he made last season that kept West Ham in the Premiership."

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West Ham stall on £5m deal for Argentine hitman
Published 20:24 29/07/10 By James Nursey
The Mirror

West Ham boss Avram Grant has asked for more time to assess Milton Caraglio
before committing to a £5million deal. The Argentine hitman, 22, has
travelled to England for a trial with a view to a transfer as revealed by
Mirrorsport. Caraglio, who holds an Italian passport, has had a medical at
Upton Park as he is being sold by his club Rosario Central. He played 64
minutes against MK Dons on Wednesday night in a friendly as the Hammers won
2-0. But Grant wants to study the 6ft 2in forward more closely before a
final decision.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Redknapp hits back at West Ham and still hopes to land Parker
Published 23:16 29/07/10 By Darren Lewis
The Mirror

Harry Redknapp last night hit back at West Ham's claims of trying to
unsettle Scott Parker insisting: 'The Hammers made it public in the first
place!' West Ham have rejected Spurs' £9million bid for the 30-year-old
midfielder, insisting the Upton Park captain will not be sold. Furious
Sullivan blasts Spurs over Parker bid - Exclusive But Parker is understood
to be keen to play in the Champions League next season and Redknapp hinted
the Hammers ARE prepared to do a deal.
It is believed co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan are prepared to
accept Spurs midfielder Jamie O'Hara in exchange for Parker. Redknapp said:
"How is it unsettling? Who made it public? I'm sure the chairman must have
got some encouragement or he wouldn't have made an offer. "That is why he
would have done it. He's an outstanding player but if West Ham don't want to
sell him it's up to them. "If West Ham say they don't want him maybe it's
it. But we need a couple of experienced players at the club. "We did
fantastic last season but some need to go out on loan. I think we need to
strengthen in some areas. I think you need a few men in the team. "Two or
three would make a massive difference to us. Inter Milan won the Champions
League with men, they weren't kids. I think it's going to be important."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Avram Grant insists Scott Parker is a big part of his West Ham plans
'We want to improve and Scott Parker is a big part of this'
Grant backs Robert Green to get over disastrous World Cup
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 29 July 2010 12.18 BST

Avram Grant has insisted the sought-after midfielder Scott Parker will
remain his West Ham United side's heartbeat, while also backing the England
internationals Robert Green and Matthew Upson to overcome their
disappointing World Cups. Tottenham yesterday had a bid worth a reported £7m
for the player swept angrily off the table by the West Ham co-chairman,
David Sullivan. Grant, the club's manager, said: "We want to plan to improve
for the next few seasons and Scott Parker is a big part of this process. He
is a very good player and has a good influence on the young players. I'm
sure if he was for sale that other teams would want him as well. But we are
a team with ambition and we want to progress."

Parker played alongside Green and Upson in West Ham's 2-0 pre-season victory
over MK Dons last night, secured with goals from Julien Faubert and Carlton
Cole.

Green was dropped by England after his mistake gifted the USA their
equaliser in the sides' drawn opening group match while Upson played in the
4-1 second-round defeat to Germany. "Robert is a good goalkeeper. He is
doing his job and he is training well," Grant said. "Also, Matthew Upson
played his first 45 minutes as well. It was good for them and for us.

"They are not children. They know disappointment is part of the game and
they need to recover very quickly because they are playing for the team.
What has happened has happened and we are looking forward. I have no worries
at all, it was business as usual and they know that."

Parker was the only player declared not for sale by Sullivan this summer,
with Green, Upson and Cole all linked with moves away from Upton Park. But
the West Ham vice-chairman, Karren Brady, stressed the club had turned down
bids for players and the focus is on improving, not dismantling, the squad.

West Ham have been chasing the defender Tal Ben Haim and the Nice striker
Loïc Rémy. Grant told the club's website: "We are looking for players. There
are good players in this team but we want to make the squad stronger and we
are looking for two or three players that can improve the team. I am happy
with what we have but I am always looking for a way of improving and making
things better."

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Harry Redknapp hits out at West Ham in Scott Parker dispute
Spurs manager rebuts allegations of unsettling midfielder
Redknapp no closer to resolution in bid for Bellamy
John Ashdown
guardian.co.uk, Friday 30 July 2010 01.06 BST

Harry Redknapp has hit back in the row over the future of West Ham's Scott
Parker. Redknapp and Spurs were this week accused of unsettling the player
with their £7m bid, the Hammers co-chairman David Sullivan saying he was
"very angry with Harry, Daniel [Levy, the Tottenham chairman] and Spurs".

But Redknapp argued that any damage to the players' peace of mind was the
fault of West Ham. "Who made it public that we made an offer?" he said last
night following Spurs' 4-1 friendly defeat against Villarreal.

"You can make an offer for a player if you want to. You can make an offer
for anybody. I'm sure the chairman must have got some encouragement or he
wouldn't have made an offer. So I'm not sure the full story has been told
about that one. The chairman wouldn't have made an offer unless he thought
there was a chance that they wanted to do something."

A deal for another target, Manchester City's Craig Bellamy, also seems no
closer to a resolution. "I like Craig Bellamy but I don't know if they would
sell him," said Redknapp. "The chairman deals with all the transfers. He
asks me what I want and I tell him. I don't know where he's at with Bellamy,
if anywhere."

Redknapp also revealed the motivation behind his attempts to sign two
players with a combined age of 60, with the reigning European champions
proving the inspiration. "If you're going to be really successful you need a
few men in your team, not lads that are learning," he said.

"We've got a good group of players but two or three players with experience
would make a massive difference to the team. You look at Inter Milan – they
won the Champions League with a team of men, they were all experienced
players. You need players with experience."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
N ouble, Daprela, Spence: ready or not?
Author: Jonny Abrams
Posted on:29 July 2010 - 13:48
Sport.co.uk

After a truly dreadful season which got Gianfranco Zola the sack, West Ham
United have the chance to start afresh under Avram Grant and, having spent
fairly modestly so far this summer, the forthcoming campaign could herald
the emergence of some talented next generation Hammers.

Every football fan loves to see home-grown talent coming through the ranks,
so join Sport.co.uk in looking at three West Ham United youngsters who could
be set to make a big impact at Upton Park this year.

Do you agree with our picks? Which other youngsters do you think West Ham
United fans should keep their eyes on? Can the Irons finish in the top ten?
Have your say in the comments section below…

Frank Nouble – Two goals for England U19s in their recent win over Austria
underlined the potential of 6'3 strike Nouble but, in light of the
difficulties suffered by fellow bright prospect James Tomkins last season,
Grant should be wary of exposing him to too much too soon. However, with
Messrs Mido, Ilan and Franco now out the picture, Freddie Sears not coming
along as hoped and Benni McCarthy showing few signs of returning to any kind
of form, Nouble could be a useful understudy to Carlton Cole and Frederic
Piquionne next season.

Fabio Daprela – Unless Herita Ilunga recaptures form and fitness this
season, West Ham's left-back options look worryingly limited to Jonathan
Spector. Step forward Daprela, a 19 year-old Swiss who has already made a
handful of first team appearances for the Hammers. With compatriot Valon
Behrami around to help him settle in, Daprela's natural left-footedness
could be more conducive to striking up a partnership on the left with the
frustrating-thus-far Alessandro Diamanti than Spector's
admirable-yet-square-peg-looking efforts last time around.

Jordan Spence – Having previously captained England U18s, the 20 year-old
defender made his West Ham debut in the 1-1 draw against Manchester City on
the final day of last season and has signed a one year extension to his
contract. As a home-grown talent, Spence has a decent chance of being
integrated before the new 25-man squad rule takes effect.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham chief Sullivan blasts Spurs over Parker offer - and Gudjohnsen
29.07.10 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has blasted Tottenham over their bid
for midfielder Scott Parker. He is fuming with Spurs' boss Harry Redknapp
and chairman Daniel Levy for bidding for Parker after being told their
interest is not welcome. And Sullivan is still sore striker Eidur
Gudjohnsen, 31, ended up joining Spurs on loan in January from Monaco after
agreeing to go to Upton Park. "I am very angry with Harry, Daniel and
Spurs," Sullivan told the Mirror. "They stole Gudjohnsen from us last season
and Parker is not for sale."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hamburg attacker Anis Ben-Hatira training with West Ham
29.07.10 | tribalfootball.com

Hamburg attacker Anis Ben-Hatira is training with West Ham United. Hamburger
Abendblatt says Ben-Hatira has been told by Hamburg management he is free to
find a new club and is now doing preseason with the Hammers. Midfielder
Ben-Hatira, 22, is a former Germany U19 international and played on-loan
last season with Duisburg.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ajax striker Miralem Sulejmani: Agent working on West Ham deal
29.07.10 | tribalfootball.com

Ajax striker Miralem Sulejmani is confident of getting his move to West Ham
United. The Serbia international has again declared his hope of sealing a
switch to Upton Park this summer. Sulejmani told De Telegraaf: "The clubs
and my agent are working on it. "The coach there (Avram Grant) believes in
me and wants me as part of his team."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham in contact with Rennes fullback Fanni
29.07.10 | tribalfootball.com

West Ham United are chasing Rennes fullback Rod Fanni. AS says Fanni has
rejected their overtures as he waits for a move to Atletico Madrid to be
rubberstamped. However, with Atletico stalling on negotiations, the door
remains open to West Ham to convince Fanni about a move to Upton Park for
the new season.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Thursday, July 29

Daily WHUFC News - 29th July 2010

Grant keeps on winning
WHUFC.com
The manager was pleased to see the Hammers come out on top once again
despite tricky opposition
29.07.2010

It was a familiar story for Avram Grant as his team ground out their fourth
win in four this summer with a professional display away to MK Dons. The
Hammers had to wait to clinch the 2-0 victory against the League One side
thanks to second-half goals from Julien Faubert and Carlton Cole - his third
in four games - but were never in trouble. Equally positive was a third
clean sheet in as many matches, with Robert Green starting in his first 45
minutes of the pre-season alongside fellow World Cup returnees Jonathan
Spector and club captain Matthew Upson. Scott Parker also enjoyed his first
run-out on home soil after coming back into the squad during last week's
successful stay in Germany. A clearly content Grant, who had been joined on
the bench by new assistant manager Zeljko Petrovic, said: "It was a good
work-out. We are three weeks into the pre-season and everything is going to
plan more or less. The players are improving all the time."

He had special mention for Green and Upson, when asked if he had noticed a
negative impact on them as a result of England's early FIFA World Cup exit.
"Robert is a good goalkeeper. He is doing his job and he is training well,"
Grant said. "Also, Matthew Upson played his first 45 minutes as well. It was
good for them and for us. "They are not children. They know disappointment
is part of the game and they need to recover very quickly because they are
playing for the team. What has happened has happened and we are looking
forward. I have no worries at all, it was business as usual and they know
that."

On Parker, the manager reiterated the club's view that he was very much a
part of the long-term vision being established. "We want to plan to improve
for the next few seasons and Scott Parker is a big part of this process. He
is a very good player and has a good influence on the young players. "Scott
Parker is a good player and a good professional. I'm sure if he was for sale
that other teams would want him as well. But we are a team with ambition and
we want to progress."

Grant - who also reiterated that his team "will be ready" for the big
kick-off on 14 August - was more concerned with who might be coming than
leaving but would not be drawn on transfer targets. "We are looking for
players. There are good players in this team but we want to make the squad
stronger and we are looking for two or three players that can improve the
team. "You know because there are so many players linked to our team, until
we sign them I am not going to say anything. I am happy for what we have but
I am always looking for a way of improving and making things better. "We
want to improve how we play, the organisation of the game and we hope we can
bring players in - but they need to be better than what we have."

The Hammers are next in action on Thursday night when the reserves take on
Bishop's Stortford before the first team head to Ipswich Town on Saturday.
Kieron Dyer, rested against MK Dons, and new recruits Pablo Barrera and
Frederic Piquionne could also figure at Portman Road, while Valon Behrami is
training but being reintroduced carefully after fitness issues during the
World Cup.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
MK Dons 0-2 West Ham United
WHUFC.com
Julien Faubert and Carlton Cole were on target as West Ham United defeated
League One side MK Dons
28.07.2010

MK Dons v West Ham United
Pre-season friendly
stadium:mk
Wednesday 28 July 2010
Kick-off: 7.30pm

MK Dons 0-2 West Ham United

Julien Faubert and Carlton Cole were on target with second-half goals as
West Ham United made it four wins from four pre-season friendly matches with
a 2-0 victory at MK Dons. The League One side presented a stern test for
Avram Grant's side, but the Hammers' Barclays Premier League class showed
through in the end, particularly after manager Grant had sent on seven
substitutes just past the hour-mark. Germany U21 forward Anis Ben-Hatira and
Argentine Milton Caraglio were given a chance to impress in a claret and
blue shirt, while German Stefan Wessels produced a confident second-half
display after replacing the returning Robert Green at half-time. Green
himself was at his assured best before the break, while captain Matthew
Upson and Jonathan Spector both looked good on their first appearances since
the 2010 FIFA World Cup. It was Cole who was the star turn, however, feeding
Faubert with a low cross before scoring a superb individual goal to make the
game safe five minutes from full-time. West Ham will return to pre-season
action at Championship challengers Ipswich Town on Saturday, with kick-off
at 3pm.

Full-time score - MK Dons 0-2 West Ham United

90 mins - In some ways it is fitting that MK Dons finish with a corner,
considering the number they've had tonight! Tomkins slices Chicksen's cross
behind. Guy crosses and the ball is headed out of the box by a West Ham
head. Howell crosses again and Tomkins heads clear before Faubert concedes
another corner! Guy crosses and Lewington can't get his header on target.
The ball is picked up by an MK Dons player, who drags his shot well wide of
the near post. With that, referee Dean Whitestone blows for full-time.
88 mins - As we approach the closing stages it's time to take stock. The
first half was a little disjointed, but that is to be expected when two new
outfield players are in the side and many of the players have just returned
from their summer break. The second half, especially after the
substitutions, has been better and the football more fluent. Cole has caught
the eye with a goal and an assist, while Tomkins has shown his versality
again. Both have looked superb in pre-season. With two friendly matches
remaining, manager Avram Grant and his new assistant and coaching staff know
there is more work to be done, but this makes it four wins from four
outings.
85 mins - GOAL! The attendance has been announced as 12,230 and the away
fans among them will be absolutely loving that. Cole bursts down the right
and powers his way into the box past two defenders before finishing into the
bottom right-hand corner across Gueret.
83 mins - Cole forces a corner. Noble takes but Da Costa can't control his
header and it flies behind for a goal kick. ANOTHER change for MK Dons -
Leven is replaced by Luke Howell.
81 mins - On-loan QPR man Balanta strides forward before curling a shot over
the top from 20 yards. Noble got back in there and put pressure on the South
American and maybe did just enough to put him off. Another change - Gleeson
is off and Tom Flanagan is on.
79 mins - Good play from West Ham. Spector races on to a fine ball from Boa
Morte before cutting a dangerous cross back, but Lewington is there to clear
for a corner. The ball is worked to Hitzlsperger, but 'Der Hammer' can only
find the stand behind the goal.
78 mins - Petrovic is out again on the edge of the technical area. First
impressions suggest he will be a hands-on style assistant manager. MK Dons
make another change, with Easter being replaced by Mark Carrington.
76 mins - MK Dons should equalise. A corner is worked short to Gleeson,
whose cross is met by Woodards six yards out. Instead of hitting the back of
the net, his header clears the bar and lands in the home fans behind the
goal.
75 mins - Boa Morte is really putting himself about out there. He absolutely
loves a tackle, and shows it by sliding in hard but fair on an MK Dons
midfielder. Get in there, Boa!
73 mins - Left-back Woodards tries to cross from deep but it turns into a
shot. Wessels is safely behind it though and clutches the ball to his chest.
72 mins - Former Leyton Orient man Jabo Ibehre is on for Baldock.
70 mins - GOAL! Here we go! Cole delays and delays and picks the perfect
moment to cross low into the six-yard box where Faubert nips in from his
position on the right of the front three to poke the ball past Gueret from
close range.
67 mins - Guy is on for Chadwick. MK Dons have a left-wing corner. Woodards
wins the header but West Ham are able to clear and counter-attack.
Hitzlsperger finds Noble who attempts to find McCarthy on the edge of the
penalty area, but the South African is crowded out.
66 mins - Da Costa loses possession and Baldock beats Faubert before being
stopped in his tracks by a very solid challenge from Spector.
64 mins - OK, Ilunga, Noble, Hitzlsperger, Faubert, Boa Morte, Cole and
McCarthy are on. Daprela, Kovac, Parker, Diamanti, Ben-Hatira, Stanislas and
Caraglio have gone off.
63 mins - I've heard of a triple subsitution, but West Ham are about to make
SEVEN changes! Diamanti crosses and the ball lands on the top of the net.
Time for the fourth official to earn his crust in a big way...!
62 mins - The two new boys have done well since the break. It was always
going to take them time to settle in and both have been heavily involved in
the play since half-time. Caraglio nearly shows why by latching on to
Stanislas's deflected cross, but Gueret is out smartly to catch in front of
the Argentine.
61 mins - MK Dons make a third change, with Adam Chicksen - great name! - on
for O'Hanlon.
60 mins - The octuplets are heading back to the bench. We could see some
wholesale changes soon.
58 mins - Spector concedes another corner for MK Dons. This is real end to
end stuff. The corner finds Wilbraham in acres of space at the far post, but
his header is a poor one and nothing comes from it as Diamanti is fouled on
the edge of the penalty area.
57 mins - Parker again and this time he is brought down about 35 yards out.
Diamanti wants to shoot... Er, I think the best way of summing that up is
that Jonny Wilkinson would have been proud of that effort. It sailed over
the bar...
56 mins - Things are really livening up here. Leven lifts a corner to the
back post where O'Hanlan rises and heads the ball powerfully, but it floats
harmlessly wide.
55 mins - Ben-Hatira is certainly getting his money's worth tonight. Daprela
breaks up an MK Dons attack and feeds Parker, who swaps passes with the
German and romps forward. His pass falls to Stanislas, who plays in
Ben-Hatira, but the Berlin-born player can only lift his shot over the
advancing Gueret and wide of the far post. Great chance.
54 mins - Better from Diamanti, who picks up the loose ball and beats his
man twice before curling a shot narrowly wide of the far post with his
trusty left foot. That had Gueret scrambling and the crowd 'Ooohing' as it
flew just past the upright.
52 mins - Chadwick gets free down the right and shows some class by lifting
a superb cross towards the far post. There, Tomkins is out-numbered two to
one, allowing Balanta to rise highest and head goalwards. Wessels flings
himself into the air, but thankfully the ball flies a yard over the top.
51 mins - A gaggle of West Ham substitutes are out warming up. For some
reason, everyone has got a grey tracksuit top on other than Hitzlsperger,
who is sporting the yellow number. There are eight of them doing various
exercises. Back on the pitch, Caraglio and Diamanti combine again, but the
Italian's cross is too high and gathered by Gueret.
49 mins - Parker brings out his favourite turn. Ah, I've missed that over
the summer. Scotty has got an uncanny ability to get himself out of tight
situations while retaining possession for his side. Caraglio almost
benefits, finding Diamanti, but his cross is too high and the chance goes
begging.
46 mins - MK Dons get us back underway. They've brought on Aaron Wilbraham
and Danny Woodards for Hamann and Doumbe.
Three changes for West Ham - Jonathan Spector and Manuel da Costa are on for
Matthew Upson and Danny Gabbidon at the back, with Stefan Wessels replacing
Robert Green in goal. Tomkins has gone to centre-back alongside Da Costa,
with Spector at right-back.

Half-time score - MK Dons 0-0 West Ham United

45 mins - Three seconds early, the referee blows for half-time. I would
think manager Grant may make a few changes at the break, but we shall see...
41 mins - Parker lofts a superb ball over the top for Ben-Hatira, who has
time to control and shoot. He chooses to hold the ball and pass instead and
makes a bit of a mess of it. His square ball to Stanislas is too strong and
forces the No7 wide. He wins a corner, but that should have been the opening
goal. The corner finds an unmarked Kovac, but he heads a few yards over the
crossbar.

40 mins - Manager Grant is out on the edge of the technical area to take a
closer look at proceedings. I'm not sure what he'll make of this half, to be
honest. Hardly anything of note has really happened!
37 mins - Not much in the way of goalmouth incident to report, I'm afraid.
MK Dons pass the ball well and find Chadwick on the right, but Daprela does
well to block his cross behind. The corner again comes to nothing. Caraglio
brings the ball clear, but his pass is wayward and the chance to break is
lost.
33 mins - Green comes out and kicks the ball clear as Baldock attempted to
latch on to a long punt forward. Good, decisive goalkeeping from the No1,
who gets another ironic cheer from the home fans.
27 mins - Green shows why he is an international goalkeeper. Easter lets fly
with a drive from 25 yards that is arrowing towards the top corner before
the stopper flies to his right to push the ball aside for a corner. The
flag-kick comes to nothing.
24 mins - The two unfamiliar faces nearly combine to deadly effect. Upson
gets in quickly to win possession before finding Caraglio. The South
American delays his pass before releasing Ben-Hatira. The German tries to
round Gueret but appears to lose his balance at the vital moment and his
weak shot is easily cleared inside the six-yard box by the covering
O'Hanlon.
22 mins - Easter has the chance to play in Chadwick after the former
Manchester United man had lost Daprela, but his pass is way too strong and
rolls behind.
21 mins - Easter gets the better of international teammate Gabbidon before
crossing towards Baldock, but Upson is there to head the ball clear. Good
defending, that. The ball is launched back into the penalty area and Green
claims. The home fans are giving him a bit of a hard time after his travails
with England at the World Cup, but that won't bother the Hammers No1 one
little bit.
19 mins - A cross from the right from Chadwick finds Easter in space, but
the big striker scuffs his shot and West Ham are able to clear. A slight
let-off for the visitors there.
18 mins - A short stoppage in play for Leven to get some treatment gives new
assistant manager Zeljko Petrovic to issue some instructions from the
technical area. Despite being born in the former Yugoslavia and having
played and managed in Netherlands, Portugal, Spain, Japan and Croatia,
Petrovic speaks good English.
16 mins - Audacious! A clearance from Gueret is headed powerfully forward by
Gabbidon and when O'Hanlon mis-controls, Diamanti strikes the bouncing ball
first time from 45 yards. It flies wide of the target, but the home
goalkeeper was certainly concerned for a while as he watched the ball fly
over his head!
15 mins - There must be a few thousand Hammers fans behind the goal to my
left. Fair play to them for turning out on what is a fairly horrid July
evening. It's grey and raining. Grim.
11 mins - MK Dons attack down the right through Balanta, who wins a corner.
Caraglio heads powerfully clear at the near post and West Ham break. Doumbe
gets in on the halfway line before belting the ball out for a corner from
fully 50 yards! Stanislas crosses and MK Dons clear through Easter. The
Wales international tries to find Baldock with a raking pass, but Daprela
gets across well to clear the danger.
10 mins - Stanislas has a great chance to open the scoring, controlling
Parker's through ball and beating the MK Dons offside trap. He has a long
time to pick his spot, but delays too long and allows Doumbe to block before
the ball is hacked behind for a corner. Stanislas will be disappointed with
that. He takes the corner himself and Gabbidon heads powerfully, but too
high.
9 mins - Diamanti turns his man with ease and drills the ball out wide left
to Ben-Hatira. The youngster cuts inside and tries to find Stanislas with a
low cross, but it bounces behind for a goal kick. Nice idea.
8 mins - MK Dons are relying on a series of long balls into the channels,
all of which Green has dealt with easily. West Ham are trying to pass their
way through, but so far their efforts have floundered in the midfield.
5 mins - Good play from Ben-Hatira sees him find Parker. The England man
delays his pass before trying to release the German down the right wing, but
his effort is just too strong. Ben-Hatira and Stanislas have swapped wings
already, and they're now doing so again, with Stanislas coming over to the
right.
4 mins - Easter is brought down by Kovac, who appears bang up for the
physical challenge. Seconds later, the Czech gives away another free-kick.
He'll have to be careful.
2 mins - Upson gets in well to half-clear but MK Dons win the ball back and
Easter finds Chadwick on the edge of the box. His shot is blocked by the
face of Kovac and flies behind for a corner. Lewington wins it, but the ball
hits a defender and goes behind again. The second corner comes to nothing
and Parker sweeps the ball upfield.
1 min - Caraglio is putting himself about already, chasing down one MK Dons
defender before winning the ball in midfield.
7.33pm - West Ham gets us underway...
7.32pm - The new claret and blue home shirt, combined with the away shorts
and socks, looks good from here. I am informed the reason we are in our home
kit is because MK Dons' home kit is all white.
7.30pm - Here come the two teams to the strains of Guns 'N' Roses 'Welcome
to the Jungle'. Excellent tune... West Ham are wearing their home shirt for
the first time.
7.28pm - I'm now told the two teams are in the tunnel, so any delay is going
to be very short.
7.27pm - OK, despite the fact both teams have returned to their dressing
rooms, we clearly aren't going to kick-off at 7.30pm. I do not know for
sure, but I presume that is down to the number of supporters still trying to
get into the stadium.
7.25pm - Five minutes to go until kick-off here at stadium:mk and there are
a good few travelling Hammers in the ground.
Good evening and welcome to stadium:mk on an unseasonably dark and cold
evening in Buckinghamshire.
Having negotiated the endless roundabouts between here and the ground, we
are looking forward to seeing Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Jonathan
Spector in action for West Ham United for the first time since the 2010 FIFA
World Cup finals in South Africa.

Upson will captain a side that contains two unfamiliar names. Forwards Anis
Ben-Hatira, a Germany Under-21 international who has played for Hamburger
SV, and Argentine forward Milton Caraglio will both start in the front
three. A third new face, former Bayern Munich goalkeeper Stefan Wessels, is
among the substitutes.

A small number of first-team squad members are missing tonight, including
long-term absentees Zavon Hines and Jack Collison. Valon Behrami and Kieron
Dyer are being rested ahead of Saturday's trip to Ipswich Town.
One familiar face to Hammers fans in the MK Dons squad is former winger Luke
Chadwick, who made 36 appearances and scored once between August 2004 and
April 2005.

West Ham United: Green (Wessels 46), Tomkins, Gabbidon (Spector 46), Upson
(Da Costa 46), Daprela (Ilunga 64), Kovac (Hitzlsperger 64), Parker (Noble
64), Diamanti (Faubert 64), Ben-Hatira (McCarthy 64), Stanislas (Boa Morte
64), Caraglio (Cole 64)
Subs: Sears

MK Dons: Gueret, Gleeson (Flanagan 81), Lewington, O'Hanlon (Chicksen 61),
Doumbe (Woodards 46), Chadwick (Guy 67), Hamann (Wilbraham 46), Leven
(Howell 83), Balanta, Baldock (Ibehre 72), Easter (Carrington 78)
Subs: Collins

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Brady expects top eight
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 28th July 2010
By: Staff Writer

Karren Brady has revealed that she believes West Ham United will finish in
the Premier League's top 8 this coming season. The club's vice-chairman,
speaking at a specially-arranged dinner for representatives from a host of
local businesses last night said that she would be willing to wager that
Avram Grant's squad will succeed in achieving what no West Ham team has done
since Glenn Roeder's squad finished in 7th place back in 2001/02. Despite a
number of top ten finishes, a top 8 spot in the top flight has only been
achieved on five occasions in the past 30 years, and only once since Harry
Redknapp became the first West Ham manager to lead his side to two
successive top eight Premier League finishes in the late 1990s.

Eight's great: our Premier League/Division One top 8 finishes in the last 50
years

Glenn Roeder: 7th in 2001/02.
Harry Redknapp: 5th in 1998/99; 8th in 1997/98.
John Lyall: 3rd in 1985/86; 8th in 1982/83.
Ron Greenwood: 6th in 1972/73; 8th in 1961/62, 1968/69.

One over the eight: close but no cigar

Gianfranco Zola: 9th in 2008/09.
Alan Curbishley: 10th in 2007/08.
Alan Pardew: 9th in 2005/06.
Billy Bonds: 13th in 1993/94.
Lou Macari: No complete season; left in February 1990 with the team
mid-table.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Petrovic deal completed
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 28th July 2010
By: Staff Writer

Zeljko Petrovic has been confirmed as assistant manager to Avram Grant.
44-year-old Petrovic was confirmed as Grant's new number two this afternoon
- as KUMB.com revealed earlier this week. Grant, speaking about the decision
to hire Petrovic - the final piece in his backroom team jigsaw - told
whufc.com:
"I am happy that we now have the staff set-up that I presented to the owners
when I came. The aim is to take the team forward with professional, positive
people and have a creative atmosphere. Zeljko Petrovic has a lot of
experience and knowledge as a player and a coach. "Paul [Groves] knows my
methods and did a great job for me at Portsmouth. He is one of the main
reasons we went all the way to the FA Cup final with all the difficulties.
Kevin [Keen] has represented the traditions of West Ham and is also a very
good coach and a positive person."

Petrovic, a former right-back, represented Yugoslavia between 1990-1998 and
spent his playing career at a number of top clubs across Europe, including
Seville, PSV and Dinamo Zagreb. Upon hanging up his boots in 2003 he coached
Feyenoord as part of a management team headed by Ruud Gullit before moving
on to Boavista in a managerial capacity in 2006. However just six weeks
after taking the post he was fired following poor initial results.

In 2007/08 Petrovic took Waalwijk to runners-up spot in the Eerste Divisie
before becoming assistant to former Spurs boss Martin Jol at Hamburg in
2008/09, where the duo achieved a fifth-placed finish in the Bundesliga.
However that was also short-lived after Jol walked out following
disagreements over transfer funds; he later joined Ajax.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers confirm assistant
Petrovic named as Grant's No.2
Last updated: 28th July 2010
SSN

West Ham have confirmed the appointment of Zeljko Petrovic as assistant
manager to Avram Grant. The former Yugoslavia international played for his
country at the 1998 World Cup and boasts club experience with Sevilla and
PSV Eindhoven. Now 44, Petrovic has established himself as a respected coach
and most recently was assistant to Dutch tactician Martin Jol at German club
Hamburg during the 2008/09 campaign. He links up with an English-dominated
backroom staff at Upton Park, joining Paul Groves, Kevin Keen, goalkeeping
coach David Coles and fitness boss Eamon Swift. Grant told the club's
official website: "I am happy that we now have the staff set-up that I
presented to the owners when I came. "The aim is to take the team forward
with professional, positive people and have a creative atmosphere. "Zeljko
Petrovic has a lot of experience and knowledge as a player and a coach.
"Paul knows my methods and did a great job for me at Portsmouth. Kevin has
represented the traditions of West Ham and is also a very good coach and
positive person."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
MK Dons 0 West Ham 2
The Sun
Published: 28 Jul 2010

ARE you watching, Fabio? Robert Green has returned to duty — and even kept a
clean sheet! Green was back in action tonight for the first half of West
Ham's 2-0 victory at MK Dons. It was his first outing since the World Cup
howler in Rustenburg that allowed the USA to snatch a 1-1 draw. And Green
began the road to redemption by shutting out the League One side for 45
minutes. Julien Faubert and Carlton Cole scored the second-half goals for
the Hammers while Spurs target Scott Parker was in the starting line-up.

WEST HAM: Green (Wessels 45), Tomkins, Gabbidon (Spector 45), Upson (Da
Costa 45), Daprela (Ilunga 64), Kovac (Hitzlsperger 64), Parker (Noble 64),
Diamanti (Faubert 64), Ben-Hatira (McCarthy 64), Stanislas (Boa Morte 64),
Caraglio (Cole 64).

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Av chases stopper
The Sun
Published: Today

WEST HAM are set to make a move for Dutch stopper Piet Velthuizen. Hammers
chief Avram Grant wants the Vitesse Arnhem keeper to act as back-up to
first-choice Robert Green. Velthuizen, 23, is regarded as one of the best
young goalies in Holland and just missed out on a place in their squad for
this summer's World Cup finals.

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Hammer out a deal, Becks
The Sun
Published: Today

DAVID BECKHAM has promised to tell West Ham soon whether he will end his
career at Upton Park. Former England skipper Becks, 35, was born in East
London. The LA Galaxy midfielder hopes to make his comeback from an Achilles
injury in the next few weeks then return to Europe in January. Hammers
co-owner David Gold said: "We had some discussions with David's agents a few
months ago and it was a possibility. "He's preoccupied with a number of
projects at the moment but he's promised he will give every consideration to
the possibility of joining us."

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Hammers fury at Spurs Scott bid
The Sun
By MARK IRWIN
Published: Today

WEST HAM have accused Tottenham of trying to destabilise star midfielder
Scott Parker. The Hammers are furious Spurs tabled an £8million bid for the
England midfielder AFTER they were given a stern 'hands-off' warning. And
co-owner David Sullivan issued a strongly worded statement insisting the
player, 29, is not for sale at any price. Now Tottenham are ready to risk
Sullivan's wrath by putting in an improved £10m offer for the ex-Chelsea
ace. A West Ham spokesman last night said: "The club informed Tottenham
chairman Daniel Levy prior to him making the offer that we would not welcome
any approach to unsettle the player. "As repeatedly stated, Scott Parker is
not for sale and there are no circumstances and no amount of money that will
cause us to break that pledge to the fans. "Scott Parker has three years
left on his contract and we have opened talks with his agent over a new
five-year deal. "Regardless of the size of the bid nothing will break the
promise that chairman David Sullivan made to our supporters."
Chairman Sullivan is adamant the days of broken promises are over at Upton
Park. He said: "For far too long West Ham supporters have had owners that
sell their best players and promise one thing then do another. "I made a
promise I would not sell Scott and I will not break that for any amount of
cash." Manager Avram Grant added: "If I am disappointed with Harry Redknapp
for making a bid, I will tell him face to face. "We want to progress. We
have a long term plan and Scott is a big part of that. He is not for sale."
Parker has three years to run on a £70,000-a- week contract signed in
February last year. He played for 64 minutes against MK Dons last night.
Hammers won 2-0 thanks to second-half goals from Julien Faubert and Carlton
Cole.

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Furious Sullivan blasts Spurs over Parker bid - Exclusive
Published 23:01 28/07/10 By James Nursey
The Mirror

West Ham chief David Sullivan has blasted Spurs for pursuing Scott Parker
and still hasn't forgiven them for ambushing Eidur Gudjohnsen. The Hammers
have rejected a bid from Premier League rivals Tottenham for their midfield
talisman Parker. Co-chairman Sullivan is standing by his pledge that club
captain Parker, 29, will not be sold under any circumstances. He is fuming
with Spurs' boss Harry Redknapp and chairman Daniel Levy for bidding for
Parker after being told their interest is not welcome. And Sullivan is still
sore striker Gudjohnsen, 31, ended up joining Spurs on loan in January from
Monaco after agreeing to go to Upton Park. "I am very angry with Harry,
Daniel and Spurs," Sullivan told Mirrorsport. "They stole Gudjohnsen from us
last season and Parker is not for sale."
After West Ham narrowly avoided relegation last term, Sullivan said he would
listen to offers for any player except Parker. The club have since offered
Parker a new five-year contract worth £20m in wages in a bid to persuade him
to stay. Sullivan added: "I made a promise that I would not sell Scott and I
will not, for any amount of money, break that promise to the West Ham
supporters. "Scott is not for sale at any price, to anyone. "West Ham
supporters, for far too long, have had owners that sell their best players
and promise one thing and do another. "This is a new era. We are building a
bigger, better West Ham and when we make a promise, we honour it."
Parker has become a lynchpin in the Hammers' midfield since joining from
Newcastle three years ago for £7m on a £75,000-a-week salary. He is so
popular with fans he was named 'Hammer of the year' for the past two
seasons. Redknapp wants Parker to boost his squad who have qualified for the
Champions League, but a Hammers' statement read: "The club would like to
state that regardless of the size of the bid, nothing will break the promise
that chairman David Sullivan made to our supporters. "As repeatedly stated,
Scott Parker is not for sale and there are no circumstances and no amount of
money that will cause us to break that pledge to the fans. "The club
informed Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy prior to him making the offer that
we would not welcome any approach to unsettle the player. "Scott Parker has
three years left on his contract and the club has opened talks with his
agent over a new five-year deal."
Parker, who missed out on a place in England's World Cup squad for this
summer's final in South Africa, returned to club action last Friday against
Panathinaikos. He captained the side and played for 45 minutes in the 1-0
win over the Greek outfit.

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Petrovic joins Hammers staff
Published 16:41 28/07/10 By Pa Sports
The Mirror

West Ham boss Avram Grant has completed his management team with the
appointment of former Yugoslavia international Zeljko Petrovic as the club's
new assistant manager. Grant had outlined his desire to appoint Petrovic,
44, when he took over at Upton Park earlier this summer. Petrovic will work
alongside senior coach Paul Groves, first team coach Kevin Keen, goalkeeping
coach David Coles and fitness expert Eamon Swift. "I am happy that we now
have the staff set-up that I presented to the owners when I came," said
Grant. "The aim is to take the team forward with professional, positive
people and have a creative atmosphere. "Zeljko Petrovic has a lot of
experience and knowledge as a player and a coach. "Paul knows my methods and
did a great job for me at Portsmouth. He is one of the main reasons we went
all the way to the FA Cup final with all the difficulties. "Kevin has
represented the traditions of West Ham and is also a very good coach and a
positive person."

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West Ham offer Parker £20m to stay, but midfielder wants European football
By MATT BARLOW Last updated at 12:57 AM on 29th July 2010
Comments (0)
Daily Mail

West Ham are locked on a collision course with Scott Parker after flatly
rejecting a £7million of fer from Tottenham. Hammers co-chairman David
Sullivan has vowed once again not to sell Parker 'at any price' and has
offered him a new five-year contract worth £20m, as revealed by Sportsmail.
But Sullivan's stance is frustrating the 29-year-old, who is far from
comfortable in his role as the only West Ham player not for sale, and for
whom the idea of one more fling in the Champions League has a certain
appeal. Aston Villa are also interested in Parker and Liverpool will be too
if Javier Mascherano gets his wish of a transfer to Inter Milan. Tottenham
made the first move, however, and West Ham promptly responded with an
official statement yesterday to confirm the bid had been rejected. They also
made the point that Spurs chairman Daniel Levy had previously been warned
that any attempt to 'unsettle the player' would not be welcome. Sullivan
said: 'I made a promise that I wouldn't sell Scott and I will not, for any
amount of money, break that promise to West Ham supporters.
'Scott is not for sale at any price, to anyone. West Ham supporters, for far
too long, have had owners that sell their best players and promise one thing
and another. 'This is a new era. We are building a bigger, better West Ham
and when we make a promise, we honour it.'

Parker was signed for £7m from Newcastle three years ago and has won the
club's Player of the Year award for the last two seasons. His excellent form
last term earned a recall to the England squad, although he missed the final
cut for South Africa. Parker has a solid reputation as an honest
professional but is not the type to stay silent and allow another shot at
European football to pass. At Charlton, he fell out with manager Alan
Curbishley over his desire to leave for Chelsea in January 2004. On that
occasion, the midfielder got his way and moved to Stamford Bridge for £10m.
Six and a half years on, Parker is understood to be disappointed with the
board's refusal to even entertain Tottenham's interest.

Spurs are expected to return with an improved offer but Levy is reluctant to
pay too much for a player with little resale value. Parker, who turns 30 in
October, is limited in his options. With three years left on his contract he
can issue a transfer request but is more likely to wait for the next move
from Spurs. Either way, the stage seems set for a conflict between West Ham
and their best player.

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Avram Grant wants free agent Laurent Bonnart to become latest West Ham
recruit
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 11:05 PM on 28th July 2010
Daily Mail

Avram Grant is ready to make freed Marseille defender Laurent Bonnart West
Ham's latest summer signing. Bonnart, 30, held talks with the Hammers boss
after rejecting an offer from Turkish side Ankaragucu. The left back joined
Marseille from Le Mans in 2007 and played 98 games for the French champions.

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MK Dons 0 West Ham 2: Keeper Green slips back into the Hammers team
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER Last updated at 12:23 AM on 29th July 2010
Daily Mail

Robert Green finally put his World Cup ordeal behind him as he made his
first appearance for West Ham last night looking confident. Green let a
Clint Dempsey shot slip out of his hands in England's opener with USA and
was axed by Fabio Capello for the rest of the tournament. But new boss
Avram Grant threw him back into action. Despite ironic cheers from the home
crowd, Green showed why he is one of England's best keepers with a superb
save of a Jermaine Easter shot. He was replaced at half time by former
Everton keeper Stefan Wessels. Grant said: 'He is not a little child. He
knows it is part of the game and it was
disappointing. But what happened is in the past and we are all looking
forward.'
Scott Parker played for an hour, despite West Ham rejecting Tottenham's
offer just hours before the game. Julien Faubert netted West Ham's first
goal on 70 minutes and Carlton Cole sealed an easy victory on 85 minutes.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Scott Parker wants to hear Tottenham offer despite West Ham's refusal
Hammers reject £7m offer from local rivals
David Sullivan vows to keep star midfielder
David Hytner
guardian.co.uk, Wednesday 28 July 2010 23.00 BST

Scott Parker would like to consider Tottenham Hotspur's proposal to take him
across London to White Hart Lane and has been left frustrated at West Ham
United's refusal to countenance the deal.

Spurs have had a £7m offer rejected out of hand by the West Ham co-chairman
David Sullivan, who has said the midfielder is not for sale and that Parker
is to be offered a lucrative new five-year contract. The midfielder has
three years to run on his current deal.

But Parker is tempted by what would be a hugely contentious switch – there
is no love lost at Upton Park for Tottenham – and he is surprised at the
stance that Sullivan has adopted. At the very least, Parker would welcome
the chance to listen to what is on offer at White Hart Lane.

Spurs may provide Parker, who is 29, with his last shot at the Champions
League – Harry Redknapp's team will enter the competition in the final
qualifying round after their fourth-placed finish last season – and their
offer is the same as West Ham paid Newcastle United for him in June 2007.

Parker heard Sullivan say last season that the entire West Ham squad was up
for sale apart from him and his patience has been tested further by
Sullivan's hard line with Spurs. There is the fear at Upton Park, though,
that Tottenham will not be dissuaded in their pursuit.

West Ham confirmed on their website that Spurs had made the bid and they
added that they had "informed Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy prior to him
making the offer that we would not welcome any approach to unsettle the
player".

Sullivan said: "I made a promise that I would not sell Scott and I will not,
for any amount of money, break that promise to the West Ham supporters.
Scott is not for sale at any price, to anyone. West Ham supporters, for far
too long, have had owners that sell their best players and promise one thing
and do another. This is a new era. We are building a bigger, better West Ham
and when we make a promise, we honour it."

He is furious with Tottenham, whose manager, Harry Redknapp, beat West Ham
to the signing of Eidur Gudjohnsen in January after the forward appeared set
to move to Upton Park. "I am very angry with Harry, Daniel and Spurs,"
Sullivan told the Mirror. "They stole Gudjohnsen from us last season and
Parker is not for sale."

Sullivan's statements, coupled with the promise of a new contract, appeared
designed to back Parker into a corner but the player has experience of
driving an acrimonious transfer. In 2004 he made it clear that he wanted to
leave Charlton Athletic for Chelsea and he endured being banished from
first-team training by the then manager, Alan Curbishley, before he got his
wish.

There is no suggestion at present that he is prepared to do something
similar. Parker turned down an offer from Tottenham that season, preferring
the £10m move to Stamford Bridge.

Parker has been West Ham's player of the year for the past two seasons, he
is the first name on the teamsheet and is revered by the club's supporters.
It can be argued that West Ham have given him the platform to fight back to
the fringes of the England squad after injuries marred his time at
Newcastle.

West Ham's manager, Avram Grant, has appointed the former Yugoslavia
international Zeljko Petrovic as his assistant. Petrovic, who played at the
1998 World Cup, completes Grant's backroom staff and will work alongside the
senior coach, Paul Groves, the first-team coach, Kevin Keen, the goalkeeping
coach, David Coles, and the fitness expert Eamon Swift.

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