WHUFC.com
Exclusive images as Sam Allardyce holds his first training session at the
Boleyn Ground
29.07.2011
New manager Sam Allardyce took charge of his first training session at the
Boleyn Ground ahead of West Ham United's prestige pre-season friendly
against Real Zaragoza. The boss put his squad through their paces at the
stadium 24 hours before Saturday's fixture, which will be the Hammers' final
game before the npower Championship season kicks-off with the visit of
Cardiff City on Sunday 7 August. Among those training at the famous stadium
for the first time were summer signings Kevin Nolan and Matt Taylor as well
as Pablo Barrera, who has returned to full training after helping Mexico to
win the CONCACAF Gold Cup. Junior Stanislas was back in light training while
Abdoulaye Faye will miss out on Saturday but it is hoped he will return to
full training next week. Triallists Mikael Forssell and Jlloyd Samuel were
both also involved in the session but it remains to be seen if they will
feature against Zaragoza.
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Hall helps Hammers win
WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon was a happy man on Friday night after Robert Hall scored twice in
a fine away win
29.07.2011
West Ham United's development squad ran out 3-1 winners at Ebbsfleet on
Friday night thanks to a Robert Hall double and a strike by Olly Lee.
England U18 forward Hall got the Hammers off to a good start in Kent when he
got in behind the Ebbsfleet back four just before the half-hour mark and
converted with a sweet shot. He followed up with a similarly well-taken
second, curling a left-footed effort into the top corner 20 minutes from
time. After Ebbsfleet, who featured former Hammers youngster Danny Subuola
among their ranks, pulled one back, Lee continued his own fine summer's work
with the third, after playing a one-two with younger brother Elliott, a
second-half replacement.
Development coach Ian Hendon was naturally delighted with the positive
result and performance. "It was a good game and I was really pleased with
the boys tonight," he said. "I wanted a reaction and improvement after a
disappointing match on Saturday [against Weymouth Town]. They all gave me
that and that was what is most pleasing. "We played some really good stuff
and scored three good goals. You are always disappointed to let a goal in
especially if you are playing well, but that doesn't take away the way the
boys really dug in and competed in this game. "You have to remember how
young this team are and tonight we played an Ebbsfleet side who were big and
strong so it was doubly pleasing how we applied ourselves and competed. I
was delighted with the boys."
* Eoin Wearen was part of the Republic of Ireland side eliminated from the
semi-finals of the 2011 UEFA European U19 Championship on Friday night after
a 5-0 defeat by Spain.
West Ham United: Stech, Potts, Driver, Sanchez, McNaughton, Moncur, O Lee,
Abdulla, Lletget, Hall, Hines
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Pre-season player watch
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 28th July 2011
By: Staff Writer
Three Js currently occupy the top three spots in our pre-season match
minutes table. The table - which lists minutes played in pre-season by all
squad members - is currently topped by Jordan Spence, who has now played for
48 minutes more than his closest rival, James Tomkins, in pre-season. Of the
current top ten most used players, only James Tomkins, Julien Faubert and
Freddie Piquionne can be considered as first team regulars - an indication
that manager Sam Allardyce is giving his young players and fringe players
the opportunity to impress before making further raids on the transfer
market.
Pre-season Pitch Minutes: current standings
Last position and number of appearances in brackets. Matches played: Young
Boys 2 West Ham Utd 1; FC Basel 2 West Ham Utd 1; Bishops Stortford 0 West
Ham Utd 3; Copenhagen 0 West Ham Utd 1; Wycombe 0 West Ham Utd 0; Dagenham &
Redbridge 0 West Ham Utd 1.
1. (2) Jordan Spence (6) 341
2. (1) James Tomkins (4) 293
3. (9) Jordan Brown (6) 274
4. (10) Winston Reid (4) 267
5. (7) Cristian Montano (6) 261
6. (3) Luis Boa Morte (4) 256
7. (8) Joey O'Brien (5) 255
8. (4) Julien Faubert (4) 250
9. (5) Herita Ilunga (4) 248
10. (6) Freddie Piquionne (4) 235
11. (14) Freddie Sears (4) 227
12. (18) Robert Green (3) 225
13. (11) Kevin Nolan (3) 195
14. (16) Frank Nouble (5) 186
15. (12) Scott Parker (3) 181
16. (17) Olly Lee (4) 180
17. (18) Jack Collison (3) 180
17. (18) Mark Noble (3) 180
17. (18) George Moncur (3) 180
20. (13) Marek Stech (2) 180
21. (15) Robert Hall (4) 163
22. (18) Ruud Boffin (2) 135
23. (29) Carlton Cole (3) 128
24. (23) Junior Stanislas (2) 118
25. (24) Callum McNaughton (2) 110
26. (27) Seb Lletget (2) 106
27. (24) Pablo Barrera (1) 90
27. (24) Jose Hernani (1) 90
29. (28) Abdoulaye Faye (2) 77
30. (31) Sergio Sanchez (2) 73
31. (-) Matt Taylor (1) 62
32. (30) Ahmed Abdulla (2) 56
33. (31) Callum Driver (2) 48
34. (-) Zavon Hines (1) 45
35. (31) Matthew Fry (1) 28
35. (31) Paul McCallum (1) 28
37. (-) Alex Lopez (1) 19
Unused: Peter Kurucz, Gary O'Neil (injured).
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Carew could replace Cole
Hammers considering free agent former Villa striker
Last Updated: July 29, 2011 1:52pm
SSN
Skysports.com understands West Ham are lining up a free transfer for John
Carew as a replacement for Carlton Cole. The Hammers are attempting to cut
costs ahead of their first game back in the Championship and a number of
their star players are expected to leave. Cole was close to a move to Stoke
earlier in July, but the deal broke down and West Ham seemed to suggest in a
statement it was due to a failure to agree personal terms. But it still
appears certain the striker will be sold this summer and West Ham boss Sam
Allardyce is considering Carew as an alternative. The powerful Norwegian,
who spent time on loan at Stoke last season, is a free agent after leaving
Aston Villa this summer after his contract ended.
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Hughton targets defender Spector as replacement for departing Ridgewell
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 7:54 AM on 30th July 2011
Daily Mail
Chris Hughton is on the verge of making Jonathan Spector Birmingham's latest
Bosman signing. The United States defender, 25, left West Ham in the summer
and would boost a defence set to lose Liam Ridgewell to West Brom.
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West Ham youngsters too good for Ebbsfleet United
KentNews.co.uk
By Steve Tervet
Saturday, July 30, 2011
7:55 AM
Ebbsfleet United 1 West Ham United 3
Ebbsfleet United suffered their first defeat of pre-season as two Robert
Hall goals handed West Ham United victory at Stonebridge Road. The Hammers
looked in control for much of the game on Friday night and Ian Simpemba's
second-half header proved nothing more than a consolation for Liam Daish's
side. Ebbsfleet's squad bore the marks of their injury-hit summer campaign,
with Clint Easton, Ram Marwa, Preston Edwards, Paul Lorraine and Scott Ginty
all absent from the teamsheet. In a Hammers side full of promising academy
players, Zavon Hines cut a relatively experienced figure in attack. Hines
drew a good save from Joe Welch in the opening stages, while Liam
Enver-Marum twice went close for the Fleet with swirling free-kicks from
just outside the penalty area. Just as the hosts looked to be gaining the
upper hand, West Ham took the lead on 26 minutes. A straight ball down the
right-hand side sent Hall racing through on goal and he gave Welch no chance
with a clinical finish.
Michael West provided a moment of quality as half-time beckoned, turning
away from two defenders and delivering a tantalising cross which Enver-Marum
could only turn over Marek Stech's crossbar from close range. A curling
free-kick from Hines left Welch grasping at thin air late in the half but
the ball whistled wide of the upright, to the relief of the Fleet
goalkeeper. Much of the second period was played out at a funerial pace,
although Enver-Marum went close twice more, first toe-poking a shot wide of
the far post and then forcing substitute Hammers keeper Sam Cowler into a
sharp stop, having opted not to play in Calum Willock. The visitors moved
2-0 in front with 20 minutes remaining as Hall doubled his tally with a shot
of true class that flew over Welch from the right-hand side of the box.
Almost immediately, though, the Fleet reduced the deficit when Simpemba
climbed highest to head West's right-wing corner powerfully past Cowler.
However, West Ham were not about to see the win slip through their fingers
and Olly Lee scored via the inside of the far post to conclude a good
night's work for Ian Hendon's youngsters.
Enver-Marum's search for a goal was ultimately to prove fruitless as he saw
his low shot fly across the face of goal, with none of his team-mates on
hand to apply the crucial touch. Ebbsfleet are back in action on Monday
night when Gillingham are the visitors to Stonebridge Road.
Attendance: 1,202
Ebbsfleet: Welch, Stone, Herd (Howe 54), Fakinos (Stavrinou 54), Dixon-Baker
(Erskine 90), Simpemba, West, Enver-Marum, Willock (Sabola 67), Shakes
(Lokando 58), Phipp (Hicks 81).
Substitutes: Adam Williams, Azeez.
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Nolan eyeing Premier League return
442 Staff - Yesterday, 17:25
FourFourTwo.com
New West Ham captain Kevin Nolan believes he can help steer the club back to
the Premier League at the first time of asking. The 29-year-old was part of
the Newcastle United side which romped to the Championship title in 2009/10
having been relegated the previous year, and then scored 12 league goals as
the Toon Army finished a respectable 12th on their return to the top flight.
His decision to drop down a division has surprised many, but Nolan is eager
to be part of another promotion party. He was, however, keen to warn his new
team-mates to expect a battle in the Championship, starting with a tough
fixture against Cardiff City.
"You've got to find out who is going to be ready for the fight, because it's
going to be a fight," he said. "It's going to be backs against the wall at
times with people lumping balls into our box. "Everybody has got to raise
their game because we are West Ham. We've got to be ready for that. "We've
got to make sure we are physically and mentally strong so that when it comes
to Cardiff on August 7 we are ready and we can hit the ground running."
Morale and squad harmony in the Upton Park dressing room hit rock bottom as
relegation loomed towards the end of last term, but Nolan insists he hasn't
seen any signs of a losing mentality from the current group during this
pre-season. "Sometimes when you join a club, especially a relegated side,
there's a bit of a split in the camp and something has gone wrong," he
added. "But here the lads are fantastic and there is a great team spirit.
"Hopefully now we can add to that. We can do a few more things during the
season and we can get back to where we belong - the Premier League - because
that's the goal."
Nolan has scored four goals against the Hammers in his career, but the Upton
Park faithful will be much happier to see his chicken dance celebration this
term.
And having given the 29-year-old the captain's armband at Bolton and then
brought him to Newcastle, new West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is now planning to
rebuild the team around his new signing. "He's a great leader on and off the
field. It's very important to get a team spirit and unity," Allardyce said.
"He is in the prime of his career. He has chosen to pay me a really good
honour, not just that he wants to play for West Ham but that he wants to
play for me again. "Hopefully we will both benefit from that."
By Josh Robbins
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Gold hails new Hammers signings
By talkSPORT
Friday, July 29
West Ham United co-owner David Gold has praised the new signings Sam
Allardyce has made. Former Blackburn chief Allardyce has managed to convince
both Kevin Nolan and Matt Taylor to drop down from the Premier League this
summer and, through his Twitter feed, Gold has lauded the two new arrivals.
"Just met Kevin Nolan and Matt Taylor at a training session at Upton Park.
Big players with big personalities. Big Sam was also impressive," Gold
tweeted. Last season 29-year-old Nolan scored 12 league goals in 30
top-flight appearances for Newcastle, while Taylor cost £2.2 million from
Allardyce's former club Bolton. Taylor made 42 appearances for Owen Coyle's
last season, but chose to drop down to the Championship to help the Hammers
gain promotion back to the Premier League at the first chance.
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