WHUFC.com
Thomas Hitzlsperger enjoyed a productive West Ham United debut at Peterborough United
15.07.2010
Thomas Hitzlsperger was all smiles after making a winning start to his West Ham United career. The Germany international was in eye-catching form during Wednesday's 2-1 pre-season friendly victory at Peterborough United, creating one goal and impressing with his composed midfield play and outstanding range of passing. The 28-year-old took just 13 minutes to show why Avram Grant has brought him to the Boleyn Ground by laying on the opening goal for Carlton Cole. "I'm glad that we won. The manager said before the game that, even though it was a pre-season friendly, he wanted to start the season with a win and that's what we did. "I was happy with the assist. Obviously it was lovely to play and contribute to the game so to get an assist was good. "I've enjoyed it from day one. It's been really good. They are good lads who have made it easy for me to settle in. I've enjoyed it so far and I'm just looking forward to the new season."
Hitzlsperger played on the left of a three-man midfield alongside Radoslav Kovac and Mark Noble. From that position, he was able to showcase his full range of talents, making a number of important interceptions and tackles while also breaking forward to support the front three of Junior Stanislas, Luis Boa Morte and Cole. It was the former Aston Villa man's passing that stole the show, however, with his renowned left foot finding his team-mates with unerring accuracy. One such inch-perfect ball allowed Cole to score with a neat clipped finish. With a host of exciting signings in the pipeline and the likes of Hammer of the Year Scott Parker, Robert Green and Matthew Upson ready to join the squad at their training camp in Germany this weekend, the new boy believes the future is bright.
"We need to improve on last season. We've got a new manager and I'm new in the team. I haven't seen much of them last season, but obviously we need to improve. It's not good enough to be there at the bottom of the table fighting against relegation. "We want to be higher up in the table, play some good football, make it hard for the other teams to beat us and play attractive football. "I'm looking forward to it because, from what I've seen in training, there are some really good players about and I'm quite positive."
Hitzlsperger watched the second half from the substitutes' bench and was impressed by the form shown by the club's promising youngsters. No fewer than ten Academy graduates appeared during the closing 45 minutes with one, Anthony Edgar, scoring an outstanding individual goal to secure victory for Grant's side.
"They're very good, very sharp and positive in the way that they were going forward. We've got many young, talented players and that's obviously what you want. We've got a talented group of lads here and that's why we should be looking forward to the new season. We've got enough quality."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers close on Barrera
Grant feels Mexican will be good for the future of club
Last updated: 15th July 2010
SSN
Avram Grant has confirmed West Ham United are close to finalising a deal for Mexico international Pablo Barrera. The winger, who impressed as an impact substitute at the World Cup, is expected to cost the Hammers a fee in the region of £4million. His current club - UNAM Pumas - revealed at the weekend that Barrera is likely to sign a four-year contract at Upton Park after attracting interest from several Premier League clubs. New Hammers boss Grant is keen to add the 23-year-old to his squad and believes a deal for Barrera would bode well for the future of the club. "He is more of a winger and he can play on either side," Grant told Sky Sports News. "He is a very good player and is good for the vision of the club. "We are trying to bring in players of a good age and develop them. He's a good player."
Grant has so far only brought in Thomas Hitzlsperger this summer, but is hoping to make further signings in the coming days after the likes of Loic Remy and Tal Ben Haimwere linked with West Ham. He added: "We are trying to bring in a few more players that can improve the team, improve the squad. "Our target is to make signings this week, but we cannot talk about them until they are done. In football anything can happen until the last moment."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham bid for Remy stalls over money
ESPN Soccernet staff
July 15, 2010
West Ham's bid for Nice striker Loic Remy has stalled over details of the transfer fee and instalment payments. Soccernet can reveal that Nice have placed a €16 million price tag on Remy, 23, and are also demanding that all but €6 million of the cost is paid in the first six months. West Ham have made a €13 million offer but, while that is not far away from the asking price, they want to spread the payments over three years. Nice have refused. An insider told Soccernet: "The Hammers are a long way from completing any deal as they need to be careful how they spend with £100 million of debt."
Co-owners David Sullivan and David Gold have been to the south of France for talks with the Nice president to try to thrash out a deal, but have so far failed to reach a compromise. "I would like it to be sorted quickly," Remy told L'Equipe. "I've always loved the English league. I've always dreamed of playing in England. When a club like West Ham is on the cards, it's always interesting, but nothing has been done. The clubs need to find an agreement and Nice are asking for a lot of money."
West Ham co-owner David Sullivan confirmed to Soccernet that he had met with the president of Nice but refused to comment on the transfer negotiations.
RMC reports that Tottenham have entered the race to sign Remy, who is also being targeted by Rennes, Bordeaux and Lyon. The insider added: "If Spurs enter the bidding then West Ham cannot compete."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Kyel Reid released on a free after Sheffield United pay-up his contract
Published 22:00 15/07/10 By James Nursey Recommend
The Mirror
Sheffield United yesterday agreed a compensation package to pay-up Kyel Reid's contract. Winger Reid, 22, flopped at Championship United following a move from West Ham a year ago. And the Blades have opted to make Reid a free agent. Reid is now expected to join League One Charlton where he went on loan in January.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Birmingham appoint Peter Grant as first-team coach
Published 22:30 15/07/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Birmingham have made former West Ham assistant boss Peter Grant their first-team coach. Grant fills the role vacated by Roy Aitken, who last week left to join David O'Leary at United Arab Emirates club Al Ahli. City manager Alex McLeish said: "I've known Peter for a long time. He was an adversary of mine in my Aberdeen playing days, when he was a stalwart for Celtic. "He is a competitive man who has been brought up in a winner's environment due to the traditions of Celtic. "His personality is akin to that of the man we have just lost, Roy Aitken, and that will be a great asset to us."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham set to complete £4m move for Pablo Barrera after work permit green light
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 12:48 AM on 16th July 2010
Daily Mail
West Ham will complete the £4million signing of Pablo Barrera from UNAM Pumas today after the Mexico winger was granted a work permit. Next on the agenda is former Portsmouth loan striker Frederic Piquionne who will undergo a medical today ahead of a £1million move from French club Lyon.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Grant shops on Quality Street
The Sun
Published: Today
AVRAM GRANT wants quality not quantity at West Ham this summer. The new Hammers boss hopes to make some more new signings this week but they will not be just making up the numbers. Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger made his debut during West Ham's 2-1 pre-season win at Peterborough last night.
And Mexican winger Pablo Barrera and French striker Loic Remy are expected to arrive at Upton Park in the next few days. Grant said: "We are trying to bring in a few more players that can improve the team, improve the squad. "Our target is to make signings this week, but we cannot talk about them until they are done. In football anything can happen until the last moment." The Irons boss added: "It is not a number. It is about players that can improve the team. "If it will be two, it is two. If it is five, then it's five. We want players that can improve us and this is our target, not numbers."
But the debt-ridden Hammers may be forced to offload players with Olympiacos said to be tracking Alessandro Diamanti and Radoslav Kovac. Scott Parker continues to attract interest from Aston Villa, but is scheduled to join up with the rest of the West Ham squad when they head off to Germany tomorrow. England duo Robert Green and Matthew Upson will, along with USA defender Jonathan Spector and Switzerland's Valon Behrami, join the training camp having been on extended leave after the World Cup. While away, West Ham will face Borussia Monchengladbach on Saturday and also Greek side Panathinaikos.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Alessandro Diamanti and Radoslav Kovac nearing West Ham exit as Avram Grant negotiates with Olympiakos
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER Last updated at 10:53 AM on 15th July 2010
Daily Mail
West Ham have opened talks with Olympiakos over selling midfield duo Alessandro Diamanti and Radoslav Kovac. New boss Avram Grant is closing in on several new signings including Mexico winger Pablo Barrera, but with the club £90million in debt he must sell to generate funds for further transfers. Grant is looking to overhaul a squad that narrowly avoided relegation from the Barclays Premier League last season, and both Diamanti, 27, and Kovac, 30, are surplus to requirements. And Greek giants Olympiakos have now made an official approach for the pair, according to The Mirror. Meanwhile, the club are desperate to hold on to captain and star asset Scott Parker, despite reported interest from Aston Villa.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers confirm imminent 'international' arrivals
Author: Andrew Allen
Posted on:15 July 2010 - 12:53
Sport.co.uk
West Ham United have taken the unusual step of announcing the arrival of several new players, but without actually telling fans who it is they are signing. Aston Villa midfielder Steven Sidwell, Argentinian playmaker Juan-Roman Riquelme, Santos starlet Neymar, Nice striker Loic Remy and Everton's Nigerian international Yakubu have all been linked with a move to Upton Park in recent months while Thomas Hitzelsperger has already joined from Lazio. It is as yet unclear whether any of the aforementioned names are on the list of imminent arrivals although an optimistic message posted by the club on their official website does hint at big news: "West Ham United are pleased to announce the club should be in a position to announce a number of exciting new signings by the end of the week," reads the statement. "The new recruits will add extra international strength to Avram Grant's squad with just a monh to go until the start of the new Barclays Premier League season. "The new signings will all make their Boleyn bow in the SBOBET Cup in aid of the Academy against RC Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday 7 August before the action all gets under way seven days later."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Olympiakos in Greece beckons for Allesandro Diamanti and Radoslav Kovac?
1:34pm Thursday 15th July 2010
Guardian Series
Allesandro Diamanti and Radoslav Kovac could be on their way out of Upton Park, maybe to Greece. The Hammers' deep financial problems have been well documented, and it now seems that Kovac and Diamanti could go to Olympiakos in order to ease the pressure. Boss Avram Grant is looking to rebuild his squad for next season, with a number of potential deals in the pipeline. That could mean axing high earners from the squad. Diamanti and Kovac are deemed surplus to requirements by Grant, so a deal could be concluded sooner rather than later.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Nouble ready for Euro finals
15 July 2010
Newham Recorder
WEST HAM striker Frank Nouble will look to enhance his reputation next week when he travels with England for the finals of the European under-19 Championship. The 18-year-old former Chelsea youngster made 10 appearances in claret and blue last season before loan spells at West Brom and Swindon Town, and he is keen to show just what he has learned from his first experiences of league football. England, who will be based in the French City of Caen, have been drawn in a group with Austria, Holland and hosts France with fixtures taking place on Sunday, July 18, Wednesday, July 21 and Saturday, July 24 respectively. The semi-finals will be held on Tuesday, July 27, with the final scheduled for Friday, July 30. The other group sees Portugal, Italy, Croatia and World champion country Spain. The top six teams in the finals will qualify for the FIFA under-20 World Cup in Colombia next year.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers Academy boys off to the seaside
15 July 2010
Newham Recorder
WEST HAM under-18s will travel down to the east coast at the weekend to take part in the two-day Southend United Youth Tournament. It will be the first chance to see Academy director Tony Carr's new intake of first-year scholars, while the second-year boys, who made such a good impression last season will be looking to progress. England boys Robert Hall, Matthias Fanimo and Blair Turgott will play a part in the tournament which also features a powerful Arsenal side, Dutch boys FC Twente as well as hosts Southend United. West Ham kick off proceedings with a clash against Arsenal in the first match of the competition at 11.30am on Saturday at Roots Hall. Southend play the Dutch boys at 3pm. The third-place play off kicks off at 11.30am on Sunday morning, with the final at 3.30pm. Tickets are priced at £15 for adults and £8 for concessions for both days, while a single day ticket is £10 for adults, £5 for concessions and just £1 for children.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Barrera waits for clearance
15 July 2010
Newham Recorder
Mexican winger Pablo Barrera is expected to sign for West Ham tomorrow (Friday) in a deal said to be worth around £4million. The 23-year-old international, who plays for Pumas in his native country, arrived in England on Wednesday to sort out the formalities, with a work permit not expected to be a problem.
Barrera impressed as an impact subsitute at the World Cup, playing mostly on the right wing, and he is expected to add much-needed pace to the squad.
Co-Chairman David Sullivan flew to France earlier in the week to make an offer for Nice striker Loic Remy, and though others are interested in the 23-year-old, West Ham are said to be the favourites to land the speedy forward.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Upson can stay, but only if he wants to
15 July 2010
Newham Recorder
NEW BOSS Avram Grant is keen for West Ham skipper Matty Upson to stay at Upton Park - but only if he wants to. The Israeli coach stressed that it was a 'new beginning' for every player at the club, but Grant only wants players who are keen to sign up to his West Ham revolution. The 31-year-old central defender has just one year left on his contract at Upton Park, with West Ham facing the prospect of losing one of their star assets for nothing next summer, but for the moment Grant is simply worried about the strength of his squad. "I think any club, but especially a club like West Ham, needs to do everything they can to keep a player like Upson," said the former Pompey boss. "He is a good player and a good person and so we will do everything to get him to stay at the club."
That certainly sounded promising for Upson who played in England's dismal defeat against Germany at the World Cup. But Grant fired a little proviso to that policy when he said. "The West Ham fans deserve to have a player who wants to play for the club. "I also want only players who want to play because I think we have a great future at this club. "The future will be good for us and it will be good for the players and of course, hopefully Matty will be one of them."
Upson will fly out next Monday with Valon Behrami and Robert Green to join the rest of the squad at the pre-season training camp in Germany, and Grant will be keen to talk to the player to get a definitive decision. Upson has made no secret of the fact that he is keen to play European football and that may well be the decisive factor in his future. One other thing to consider is the new rule that limits the players in each squad. "There is a new rule that you can only have 25 players in your squad," explained Grant. "Even if we bring players in, we will need to stay with 25."
Whether Upson is one of those 25 remains to be seen, but it seems that Grant wants an answer - and he wants it soon.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Experience preferred but also essential
15 July 2010
Newham Recorder
IT SEEMS THAT West Ham have gone from one extreme to another in their choice of manager. For Gianfranco Zola, West Ham was his first experience of top level coaching after a short period as assistant with the Italian under-21s and many would say that it was his naivety that caused his downfall at Upton Park.
He got on famously with his players, but when it came to dealing with his bosses it was a problem that left him perplexed and frustrated. That is something that is unlikely to affect Avram Grant. The 55-year-old may not have been a household name in England until he arrived at Chelsea in 2007, but he has been coaching for longer than most. Longer than Alex Ferguson for example. The Scot started at St Mirren in 1975, but by then Grant had been coaching the youth team at his home town club of Hapoel Petah Tikva for three years, since he turned 18-years-old. He even visited Ron Greenwood at the training ground when he was still at school, and later Harry Redknapp when he was West Ham boss and he was impressed. "I don't know if you know this, but I was visiting here when I was a child, when Ron Greenwood was here and then Harry Redknapp," revealed Grant. "It was the first time I met Harry and it was very funny.
"For me it was exciting to be here because this club had a tradition of great football. I think it was a few years after the World Cup and West Ham players were the key players when they won. "It was just exciting to be here and to be in the training ground."
Grant won various trophies in Israel after he stepped up to senior coaching at the age of 31, claiming honours with Petah Tikva, Maccabi Tel Aviv and Macabbi Haifa before becoming the Israel national coach between 2002 and 2006. But it was at Chelsea where Grant stepped into the football spotlight. Taking over the poisoned chalice of replacing Jose Mourinho at Stamford Bridge, he led the Blues to second place in the Premier League as well as being the losing finalist to Spurs in the League Cup and Manchester United in a penalty shoot-out in the Champions League Final. For that effort he was given the sack, before taking over a club at the other end of the Premier League in Portsmouth. Beset by financial problems, he inspired the team to the FA Cup Final - another defeat - but could do little to prevent his team being relegated at the end of the season, handicapped by a nine-point deduction. "It was a good experience at Chelsea," said Grant. "You need to learn all your life and I learned a lot from this. It wasn't all big egos like people think. They are big players because they did something in their life. "It was good for me to be in Chelsea and it was also good to be in Portsmouth. The players were great, the supporters were great. It was a great club in a very difficult time. "I think team spirit is very important. The quality that the players have we can improve, but we cannot improve it 100 per cent. We need to improve it and the players need to improve, but you can improve it 30 per cent, 40 per cent, but in team spirit you can always reach a high level. "In all my clubs before, including my national team and in Chelsea and Portsmouth, no one can complain even for one minute, or one player that he didn't give everything and I expect that will happen here."
If experience counts for anything and looking at the likes of Ferguson and Arsene Wenger, it surely does, then West Ham may have made a very wise choice.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Grant looks for progress from Hammers
15 July 2010
Newham Recorder
By Dave Evans
AVRAM GRANT can sum up his task at West Ham this season in one simple word - improvement. That is the target that the club's owners have given him. That is the goal that he has set himself and he is confident that he can achieve it. "It is a big challenge, but it is a good challenge," said the 55-year-old coach. "It is a club that want to progress and we have a plan to progress the club. "I think the targets are very clear. I can sum it up in one word - improvement. We must improve on the position we were in last year."
After West Ham's 17th place finish last season under Gianfranco Zola, that should not be too hard to achieve, but Grant is non-committal about just how much his team can force its way up the Premier League table. "I cannot say now that the target is to be in Europe or to make the Champions League, because this is something that you reach if you do things. If we progress, we will reach the good things, if not, then no. "It is a different challenge to my last two teams. I like it that we have not only the targets for one season, but for more than one season and I think we will do it."
Grant has been at work with most of his players for over a week now, so how does he judge them so far? "I think it is a good squad," he said. "But every squad needs to refresh and bring in players that can make you better. I want to look forward. I looked at the DVDS of last season just for a first impression, but for me it is a new beginning."
Throughout his career, Grant has been known as a coach that brought through youngsters into his team as well as playing attacking football and he has no thoughts of changing that style of management now. "The tradition of this club is to play good football, technical football," said the Israeli. "I am very happy, because this is also my vision for football. "Even when I was at big clubs, there is more than one way to win a game. You can play negative football, but also you can play good football and win games. "We will look for young players. We will use the Academy, it is a great Academy and they are doing well and I also expect progress in us attracting the best players in England and Europe. "You will see in the next years, experienced players who know how to play football and also young talent who may be one step away from being great players."
After the disappointments of last season at Upton Park, the pressure is immediately on Grant and his players to improve, but the new boss insists that he thrives on the stress of life in the Premier League. "I hope there is pressure," he said. "I think pressure in football is good. People speak about pressure like it is a negative word, but I think pressure pushes you to achieve something. "For me, since I am 18 and a half, I am coaching all the time except for one year and then I missed the pressure very much. We will put the pressure on the players and on me to achieve our targets."
It seems there will be no soft soap approach to management from Grant. Zola may have been the player's friend, it seems Grant is likely to be just the boss.
"I will say this to the players. Every year you need to prove yourself. The target is to prove yourself from the beginning to show that you can do things. "That is what I like about Alex Ferguson. You see when his team is scoring the first goal against Wigan, he is jumping like he is a little child, and it means that he is always wanting to prove himself. "The minute in football that you think you have proved yourself enough, I think it is the first step down."
Grant has the experience to be a great success at Upton Park, he also seems to have the confidence. "I think we can progress in one season," he insisted. "I think we can build a platform so that we can progress every season. Next July we will know whether we have made a good step forward, or a giant step."
We shall see.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Grant – I make the decisions
15 July 2010
Newham Recorder
By Dave Evans.
NEW WEST HAM boss Avram Grant has insisted that he will have no problems with co-chairmen David Sullivan and David Gold. His predecessor Gianfranco Zola found his team publicly criticised by Sullivan, before being sacked at the end of the campaign allegedly for remarks he made in his defence, but the Israeli coach is not worried about that happening again. "They have just hired me, but so far it is great," said Grant. "They are so passionate about the club and I heard also they were supporters since they were children. "I think football comes from passion. The owners need to be passionate, the manager needs to be passionate - everyone except the journalists," he laughed. So did Grant seek assurances from the chairmen before he took over? "I didn't need any assurances," he confirmed. "From the beginning they are bringing me in as a coach for the next few years - I signed for four years. "They also said any decision about the players is your decision, but for me it was obvious. It was the same all my life."
Zola's position seemed to be undermined in January when players such as the Brazilian Ilan arrived at Upton Park without the manager having even see him play, but Grant says that will not happen under him. "I cannot work in a team where someone else will decide about the players and it would not be my responsibility. I like the pressure," he said. "All the football issues are my responsibility and I have the final word. I am not involved in money, this is the decision of the owners. "How to spend, how much to spend, so I don't want to get involved in the money situation, but they don't want to be involved in the football decisions."
Sullivan in particular has a reputation for being a difficult man to work with, but Grant suggests that he has already been through the mire. "Describe to me what is easy, then I will tell you," he said. "From what I see now, I worked with Roman Abramovic and it was good, but nobody is perfect. I worked with no owners at Portsmouth and it was not exciting. "I feel here I am dealing with football issues, which I couldn't do at Portsmouth. Here we have the targets, we have football and any problems we have are around the football - when there is a problem, we will fix it. "I understand the things that have happened in the past, but I have had the same at any club I have been at, even in my country. They said that Abramovic will do this, and do this, but nothing happened, except that I left at the end of the season! "But I always say to the chairmen that you hire me to do a football job. If you don't like it, you can say to me 'stop'. If it is not nice, you can send your secretary, but as long as I am the manager I am taking the decisions and I am responsible.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Green's still number one for Hammers
15 July 2010
Newham Recorder
By Dave Evans
AVRAM GRANT has thrown his support behind beleaguered West Ham goalkeeper Robert Green before he has even met the England man face to face. Green's horrendous error cost England victory against the United States and his place for the rest of the World Cup, but the experienced Grant accepts that mistakes are inevitable among goalkeepers in football and they happen to the best of players. "He is a great goalkeeper," insisted the new Hammers boss. "He has proved himself in the past and he is a positive person, so we are happy that he is here. "I am waiting for his first training session to see him and I'm sure he will be okay."
Grant spoke to the former Norwich City man on the telephone and he was impressed with what he heard. "He spoke to me only about the future and what will happen," confirmed Grant. "He seems to be a very intelligent player and I was very happy with what I heard. I don't think what happened has had an effect."
Grant certainly has Green in illustrious company when he considers other goalkeeping mistakes that have occurred in the World Cup in recent years. He cites Oliver Kahn's spill of Rivaldo's shot that enabled Ronaldo to score for Brazil in the 2002 World Cup Final, as well as Iker Casillas attempted tackle against the Swiss that led to Spain being beaten in their opening game of this year's competition. "I was at the World Cup in 2002," he said. "I saw a goalkeeper who didn't stop a ball that my daughter could stop, but after this he is still the best German goalkeeper ever. "I saw on the television this year when Casillas, the best goalkeeper in the World Cup in my opinion, let in a goal and everybody said it was his fault, the fault of his girlfriend, the fault of his mother. Yet he was the best player in the last three games. "This is the life of a goalkeeper and maybe of a striker. You need to have a short memory, and for me, Robert Green is a great goalkeeper. "I watched him in the last year and I am looking forward to seeing him in the first training."
That sort of recommendation can only give confidence to the 30-year-old goalkeeper when he returns on July 19. What sort of reaction he receives from crowds around the country remains to be seen.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Benni: Let's ban these vuvuzelas
08 July 2010
Newham Recorder
By Dave Evans
WEST HAM striker Benni McCarthy may well have missed out on this summer's World Cup in his homeland, but he wishes that something else had been missing also. One of the most distinctive sounds of the action from Port Elizabeth to Johannesburg has been the tuneless noise coming from the vuvuzelas and McCarthy is praying that they are not imported to these shores this season. "It is the worst thing," said the striker, who returned to training at West Ham two weeks before the rest of the squad. "It is a topical South African thing, but the reason I hate them is that when I am playing I can't hear myself and I can't get my message across. "It is the most annoying thing and you could go deaf, so I hope they don't bring them into English football."
McCarthy's time at Upton Park so far has not been ideal. He was injured on his debut at the beginning of February and then played just four more games, failing to hit the target in any of them as he struggled with his fitness. However, the 32-year-old still appreciates the atmosphere created by the West Ham supporters and he feels that the arrival of the dreaded vuvuzela would ruin that. "I think they shouldn't let the people in the ground with them," he said. "That is South African football, this is the Premier League which is the singing and the cheering your team on, that is what it is all about."
McCarthy was selected for South Africa's 30-strong squad for the World Cup, but the country's record scorer was left out of the final 23. You would think it would have been heartbreak for a player who will be 36 when the World Cup next comes around, but McCarthy even shocked himself with his reaction. "I was a little bit surprised that I was not so devastated," he admitted. "I sort of knew when I got injured and after the season I had just been through. "I wasn't expecting to go, so when they called me up for the 30-man squad, it was a surprise, though when I went I gave it my all."
So could South Africa have benefited from him being there? "I think they could have done with a little more experience, yes, but it was a great learning curve for the players. "However, people's perspective of the first World Cup in Africa is that we were the hosts and we got knocked out in the first round, so it is very disappointing that it happened that way. "If they had a little bit more of a balance they would have done well. You could see that the stage was a little bit too high for them."
South Africa may have departed early, but McCarthy feels that the World Cup in his country as a whole, has been a great success. "For the country it has been really nice," said the former Blackburn Rovers striker. "For the infrastructure, the country is in a better state. "A lot of people had a completely different perception of South Africa and now they have some really nice things to say about it and everyone wants to go there - it is now a holiday destination."
For McCarthy, there is no holiday. He just wants to train as hard as he can and prepare for the opening game at Aston Villa on August 14. As long as there are no vuvuzuelas that is.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
48 hours and Counting!
West Ham Till I Die
Well, the club must be supremely confident of being on the verge of landing some key signings, to put that '72 hour' article on the club website! They will certainly look rather silly f they do not deliver by their self-proscribed deadline.
The two potential deals that we know are at an advanced stage of progression are Barrera and Remy. Barrera is merely awaiting confirmation of his UK work permit, which given his international record should be just a formality! While, the Remy deal has apparently been deadlocked over the schedule of transfer payments. Hopefully that will/has been resolved and the deal will proceed.
I also note that this mischievous rumour has emerged about Spurs allegedly gazumping us to land Remy! True or not true? That's the efficiency of the rumour, the fact that it is not beyond the realm of possibility that it could very well transpire. After all, it happened with Gudjohnsen last season and Spurs do currently seem to take a consistent interest in our players and transfer targets! We shall just have to wait and see if the rumour has any substance? However, the bitter truth is that while Spurs have the Champions League incentive they are always going to be able to beat us (if they so choose) to the punch in securing players.
Also, some media outlets have taken a shock-horror approach to Barrera's alleged statement about us being a 'stepping stone' to a later move to a PL top four side or top European club. If it is true (and I do emphasise 'if') then it should be put down to a naivety of the part of the player and/or his agent.
I also note that some reports have attributed a similar statement to our alleged Brazilian target, Neymar. The common denominator is, of course, the South American backgrounds of both players. This view of us as a 'stepping stone' is undoubtedly framed by the example of Tevez and Mascherano's odyssey from West Ham to Man Utd and Liverpool. South American players are aware of this and naturally see themselves treading the same yellow brick road to domestic honours and the Champions League.
Forget it I say! It is not helpful promoting supporter angst towards a player before the deal is even finalised. Lets just focus on his contribution to the Hammers cause and see how things pan out over the 3 years or so of his contract. In that time he should get 100% support and encouragement from West Ham supporters. If he excels and then leaves for Manchester City or Chelski on bad terms, there will be ample time (for those who feel the need to engage in such pointless exercises) to inaugurate him in to the Judas club and start the betrayal narratives!
I see that Wednesday evening West Ham secured a sound 1-2 victory over Peterborough Utd. The two highlights of the game were Hitzsperger's accomplished debut and the goal by highly promising youngster, Anthony Edgar. The game also saw the return of Illunga and Dyer, although both players understandably looked short of match fitness and form.
It was a good steady start to pre-season by a team minus the likes of Parker and Upson. Today will see the squad depart for a challenging training and friendly schedule in Germany. That tour should push the players and ensure that the squad achieves optimum fitness in the lead up to the start of the season.
It is a moot point whether last season's preparations in Austria where testing enough? There was certainly a view that it may have well contributed to our poor start last season. True or not, lets not make it an issue. We need the squad well prepared so that they are fit and firing on all cylinders come the opening game of the season. Lets also hope that the squad gets a welcome respite from the injury problems that have dogged the club over the last few seasons.
SJ. Chandos.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Lyon's Piquionne set for West Ham medical
16.07.10 | Andrew Slevison
Lyon striker Frederic Piquionne is set to undergo a medical at West Ham United before signing a three-year contract. The former Portsmouth loanee will go through his paces at Upton Park band if successful, will sign a £1million deal with the Hammers. There has been plenty of speculation surrounding the 31-year old New Caledonia-born Frenchman in recent times but it seems he has now settled on West Ham and will land at the London club pending the medical test.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham management determined to keep Parker
16.07.10 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United are determined not to sell Scott Parker. The Mirror says Upton Park insiders continue to insist midfield talisman and captain Parker is not for sale though. Parker, 29, has been heavily linked with a move to Aston Villa to replace Man City-bound James Milner. But Hammers officials are adamant there has been no approach from Villa for Parker and would not welcome one either.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham boss Grant urges Ben Haim to drop wage demands
15.07.10 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United boss Avram Grant is keen on Portsmouth defender Tal Ben Haim but cannot afford his £38,000-a-week wages. Ben Haim, who is also interesting Panathinaikos, was left out of Pompey's US tour so that he could talk to the Hammers about a free transfer. But ex-Fratton Park boss Grant has been told there can be no reunion unless fellow Israeli Ben Haim lowers his wage demands.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment