Daily WHUFC News - 12th July 2012

Boleyn Ground open day
WHUFC.com
The Boleyn Ground will be open to potential Season Ticket holders this
Saturday
11.07.2012

Fans wanting to buy or renew their Season Ticket for West Ham United's
return to the Barclays Premier League can get an exclusive preview of their
view of the action at a special open day at the Boleyn Ground this Saturday
14 July. The Stadium will be open to Hammers fans from 9am to 1pm to enable
them to view their potential seat for the forthcoming Barclays Premier
League season. To take part, simply visit the Alpari Stand ticket office
from 9am and a steward will direct you to your preferred seat.

West Ham United have received a huge number of renewals and new applications
prior to the renewal deadline and some areas of the ground are almost sold
out. To get the best available seats it is recommend you apply as soon as
Season Tickets go on general sale this Friday 13 July or visit the stadium
on Saturday to choose your seat.

With a Season Ticket you guarantee your seat for all 19 Barclays Premier
League home matches, make huge savings compared to matchday prices and get
rewarded with exclusive benefits. You can apply to pay for your season
ticket in simple monthly instalments through Zebra Finance. Options include
an INTEREST FREE four month plan or an interest bearing ten month plan.
Download a Finance application form here.

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Taylor happy to be back
WHUFC.com
Matt Taylor is enjoying pre-season training and cannot wait for the new
season to start
11.07.2012

The experienced Matt Taylor has been around long enough to know exactly what
to expect from pre-season training. West Ham United's No14 is starting his
15th season as a professional, but the 30-year-old is still enjoying the
hard work as much as he did as a 17-year-old breaking through at Luton Town
back in 1999. Speaking to West Ham TV after Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Blue
Square Bet South side Boreham Wood, Taylor talked about the return to action
and his aspirations for the forthcoming Barclays Premier League campaign.

How did you assess Tuesday night's game at Boreham Wood and how pre-season
training has gone so far?

MT - "It was pretty usual for a pre-season match - rip-roaring at the start.
I think the main thing with pre-season games, and it's no disrespect to
Boreham Wood, is that we come through injury-free and we seem to have done
that. That's the most important thing. "We've been training hard and been in
Austria for a week as well, so the lads were a little tired, but I'm not
making any excuses because I thought Boreham Wood played well. "It's been
pretty standard to be honest. I prefer going away for pre-season to be
honest, because you have time to focus on nothing other than football and,
for me, that's the best way forward "We've got a couple more trips planned
[to Germany and Portugal] as well. Pre-season has been going well. It's
getting harder, the older I'm getting, but I'm not going to complain!"

You only had seven weeks off between the Play-Off final and returning to
pre-season. Did you have a long enough summer break?

MT - "I think it was long enough, yes. The whole point of last season was to
get back to the Premier League and we've started earlier than the other
teams because we want to hit the ground running. Hopefully we can do that
and we can have a long summer next year."

What is the target in the Barclays Premier League? A lot of people talk
about 'consolidation' but what does that mean?

MT - "From previous experience, when you get promoted or are a team that has
less financial resources than the top teams in the league, you want to stay
up first and foremost. That will be the first aim, as it will be for the
teams not in the top six this season. "We want to make sure we get to that
magical 40 points as soon as possible and, if you look at the teams who came
up last season like Swansea and Norwich, then you see that anything is
possible. "We don't want to talk too much about where we want to finish next
year - obviously we want to stay in the Premier League and if we can achieve
that as quickly as possible then that would be a good season."

Are you pleased to avoid the so-called 'Big Four' in the opening six matches
of the new Barclays Premier League season?

MT - "There are no easy games in the Premier League. A lot of teams might go
into a game against Manchester United in a different mindset to a game
against a lesser team, which I personally think is wrong. "We're going to go
into every game this season believing we can win, because if you don't have
that winning mentality then I don't think there is any point in playing.
"For me, every game in the Premier League is not an easy game. I've never
played in an easy game in the Premier League and this season will be the
same."

*Matt Taylor also discussed the need to strengthen the playing squad, the
need for a mix of youth and experience and the feelgood factor in the East
End ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games. To watch his West Ham TV
interview in full, click on the link below.

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Dev Squad head for Russia
WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon's side are jetting to Moscow to take part in the VTB Lev Yashin
Cup
11.07.2012

West Ham United's Development Squad will ramp up their pre-season
preparations when they take part in the VTB Lev Yashin Cup in Moscow this
weekend.
Ian Hendon's squad will fly to the Russian capital on Wednesday before
attending the opening ceremony at the Luzhniki Olympic Complex and taking on
German side Freiburg the following day. Friday will see West Ham return to
the same venue for a clash with host club Dynamo Moscow. The other group
comprises Spanish club Malaga, Turkish side Besiktas and the Mexico Under-19
national team. Depending on their results in two group-stage matches, the
Hammers will compete in the final or a play-off for third or fifth place on
Sunday before returning to London on Monday.

The Development Squad that will be travelling to Moscow will contain a
mixture of young professionals and second-year scholars, with Callum Driver,
Eoin Wearen and George Moncur the only three players with Football League
experience. Meanwhile, Sebastian Lletget spent last week training with the
first team in Austria and played the full 90 minutes in Saturday's 3-1
defeat by FK Austria Wien.

Development Squad: Jake Larkins, Sam Baxter, Callum Driver, Eoin Wearen,
George Moncur, Sebastian Lletget, Paul McCallum, Blair Turgott, Matthias
Fanimo, Dominic Vose, Pelly Ruddock, Jack Powell, Kenzer Lee, Declan Hunt,
Nigel Seidu, Cheye Alexander, Kieran Sadlier, Taylor Miles, Frazer Shaw, Leo
Chambers.

West Ham have never played a competitive fixture in Russia, but the Hammers
did visit the old Soviet Union twice for UEFA Cup Winners' Cup fixtures,
transferring in Moscow en route to Ararat Yerevan in Armenia and Dinamo
Tbilisi in Georgia in 1975/76 and 1980/81 respectively.

For more information about the 2012 VTB Lev Yashin Cup, click here.
2012 VTB Lev Yashin Cup schedule

Thursday 12 July
6pm-6.45pm - Opening ceremony, Luzhniki Olympic Complex
7pm - West Ham United v Freiburg, Luzhniki Olympic Complex

Friday 13 July
6pm - Dynamo Moscow v West Ham United, Luzhniki Olympic Complex

Sunday 15 July
3pm - Fifth/sixth-place match, Luzhniki Olympic Complex
3pm -Third/fourth-place match, Yantar Stadium
6pm - Final, Yantar Stadium
8pm - Closing ceremony

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Liverpool's Andy Carroll 'would interest West Ham'
BBC.co.uk
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer, BBC Sport

West Ham co-owner David Gold says the club would be interested in
Liverpool's Andy Carroll if he became available but that no talks have taken
place. The Hammers have been linked with a move for Carroll, 23, after new
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers said they could loan the forward out. And
Gold told BBC Sport: "I am not aware of any talks between ourselves or
Liverpool over Andy Carroll.

Andy Carroll career stats
Newcastle (2006-11): 91 games, 33 goals
Preston (loan Aug 2007-08): 12 appearances, 1 goal
Liverpool (2011-present): 56 appearances, 11 goals
England (2010-present): 7 appearances, 2 goals

"But that's not to say we don't have an interest should he become
available." Carroll left Newcastle for Liverpool in January 2011 for a
club-record £35m and has scored 11 goals in 56 appearances. He scored in
both the FA Cup semi-final and final at Wembley under Liverpool's former
manager Kenny Dalglish. West Ham were promoted to the Premier League via the
play-offs in May, having been relegated the previous season. Carroll remains
close friends with Hammers' captain Kevin Nolan from their time together on
Tyneside

As well as Rodgers's hint about Carroll, the Northern Irishman is keen for
Uruguayan Luis Suarez to a sign new deal at Anfield and is also hoping to
sign Roma's Fabio Borini.

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Is Nolan key in Carroll deal?
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 11th July 2012
By: Staff Writer

Kevin Nolan could provide the necessary leverage to see England striker Andy
Carroll move to West Ham on a surprise loan deal. The Liverpool forward, who
moved to Merseyside for an astonishing £35million fee on transfer deadline
day in January 2011 has been linked with a move away from Liverpool since
new manager Brendan Rodgers arrived at the club. Within the last 12 hours,
West Ham have admitted that they are looking at the possibility of brining
the former Newcastle United man to Upton Park on loan for the 2012/13
season. Assistant manager Neil McDonald, when asked if there was any
interest in Carroll told a radio station last night: "Of course, he's a very
good player. "I very much doubt he will be available, he's a Liverpool
player - but the manager and the board are working very hard to bring new
players in to liven everything up."

Meanwhile an unnamed source told ESPN's Harry Harris: "We're rating their
chances of getting Carroll on loan as low as 10%, but you never know."
Although sources said to be close to the 23-year-old are reported to have
told a tabloid newspaper that, "there is no chance of Andy leaving
Liverpool, he is staying put", West Ham will no doubt be seeking to exploit
the close personal relationship that exists between captain Kevin Nolan and
Carroll to influence a possible deal. Back in 2010, when both players were
employed by Newcastle, Carroll temporarily moved in with Nolan and his
family after being bailed following an assault charge.

Speaking at the time, West Ham's current captain said: "Andy is a great lad
to be around. He's always happy and smiling. He's had his fair share of
trouble but didn't we all when we were that young?" Since then, the two have
remained great friends. Interestingly perhaps, Carroll's embittered former
agent Peter Harrison suggested back in March that should West Ham win
promotion from the Championship, the Gateshead-born striker - who is
currently represented by Mark Curtis, the controversial agent who recently
took both James Tomkins and Jack Collison under his wing - would end up at
West Ham. Speaking via his Twitter feed at the time, Harrison said: "When I
represented Andy Carroll before he was pinched by Mark Curtis, he was always
wanting a transfer. If WHUFC get promoted they will take AC. "His agent,
Mark Curtis is also [Kevin] Nolan and Sam Allardyce's agent. Lovely and cozy
and plenty of money."

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Taylor's West Ham survival aim
First target is 40 points, says experienced left-sided player
Last Updated: July 11, 2012 12:56pm
SSN

Matt Taylor believes West Ham's first priority for the coming season must be
to stay in the Premier League. Taylor played 28 league games for the Hammers
in their Championship promotion campaign and expectations will be high on
their return to the top flight. But the 30-year-old left-sided player knows
how difficult the league can be and is cautious about making grand
predictions for the coming campaign. He told the club's official website:
"From previous experience, when you get promoted or are a team that has less
financial resources than the top teams in the league, you want to stay up
first and foremost. "That will be the first aim, as it will be for the teams
not in the top six this season. "We want to make sure we get to that magical
40 points as soon as possible and, if you look at the teams who came up last
season like Swansea and Norwich, then you see that anything is possible. "We
don't want to talk too much about where we want to finish next year -
obviously we want to stay in the Premier League and if we can achieve that
as quickly as possible then that would be a good season. "There are no easy
games in the Premier League. "A lot of teams might go into a game against
Manchester United in a different mindset to a game against a lesser team,
which I personally think is wrong. "We're going to go into every game this
season believing we can win, because if you don't have that winning
mentality then I don't think there is any point in playing. "For me, every
game in the Premier League is not an easy game. I've never played in an easy
game in the Premier League and this season will be the same."

Pre-season

Sam Allardyce's side were promoted through the play-offs last season but
were still back in training early for the challenge of the new campaign.
Taylor admits that has been hard work but believes it could pay off for the
Upton Park side. He added: "We've got a couple more trips planned (to
Germany and Portugal) as well. Pre-season has been going well. It's getting
harder, the older I'm getting, but I'm not going to complain! "The whole
point of last season was to get back to the Premier League and we've started
earlier than the other teams because we want to hit the ground running.
"Hopefully we can do that and we can have a long summer next year."

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Gold confirms Carroll interest
Hammers not in talks with Liverpool but keeping tabs on situation
Last Updated: July 11, 2012 4:57pm
SSN

David Gold is not aware of any talks having taken place with Liverpool over
Andy Carroll but admits West Ham would be interested if the striker became
available.
The Hammers have been strongly linked with a move for Carroll since new Reds
manager Brendan Rodgers admitted on Tuesday that he could be allowed out on
loan. Asked about West Ham's interest in signing Carroll, co-owner Gold
opted not to distance himself from the suggestion. "I am not aware of any
talks between ourselves or Liverpool over Andy Carroll. But that's not to
say we don't have an interest should he become available. "

Gold says no approach has been made for the England international and the
Hammers will wait to see what Rodgers decides before taking the matter
further.
"I am not aware of any talks between ourselves or Liverpool over Andy
Carroll," said Gold. "But that's not to say we don't have an interest should
he become available." Carroll has struggled since his club-record £35million
switch to Liverpool from Newcastle in January 2011, but improved towards the
end of last season and was included in England's squad for Euro 2012.

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Sam ups Andy bid
The Sun
By PHIL THOMAS
Published: 11th July 2012

WEST HAM'S bid to sign Andy Carroll moved a step closer last night. Hammers
co-owner David Sullivan gave boss Sam Allardyce the green light to start
talks about landing the Liverpool striker on a season-long loan. That could
lead to Carroll making a £15million switch in 12 months' time. Now the whole
deal is likely to rest on the outcome of face-to-face talks with Kop boss
Brendan Rodgers as the £35million frontman seeks to discover exactly where —
or if — he features in Liverpool's plans. Rodgers' refusal this week to rule
out Carroll leaving Anfield after 18 months will hardly have filled him with
hope. That immediately alerted West Ham, who are desperate to strengthen
ahead of their return to the top flight, although Carroll is said to be keen
to stay and fight for his Reds place. If Carroll does head south, the
Hammers would have an option of turning the loan into a full-time deal
should they stay up. Any loan deal would mean Liverpool having to wait a
year before they could bank a transfer fee. But the removal of some — or all
— of Carroll's £80,000 wage packet would appeal to Rodgers.

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Carroll demands showdown talks with Rodgers as Newcastle enter race for £35m
striker
By COLIN YOUNG and DOMINIC KING
PUBLISHED: 23:18, 11 July 2012 | UPDATED: 23:18, 11 July 2012
Daily Mail

Andy Carroll will seek talks with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers as
Newcastle joined West Ham in the race to sign the forward. Hammers boss Sam
Allardyce was given the green light to begin talks with Liverpool after
co-chairman David Gold confirmed the club's interest in signing Carroll,
initially on a 12-month loan.
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew also stated his admiration for the man he sold to
Liverpool for £35million last year. Pardew, who faces a fight to keep Demba
Ba, said: 'One thing about this club is you never assume anything. All those
players talked about, if they are quality players, I would like to think we
are involved. 'Andy did a terrific job here. I have always supported him,
even while he has been at Liverpool, when others weren't. I think he got a
bit of a raw deal, not by Liverpool but from the media in general. He is
going to be a great player. Where he treads the boards, we will have to
see.' Carroll, though, has not suggested he wants to leave and is keen to
meet new boss Rodgers before he makes a decision. The 23-year-old, who has
also been linked with AC Milan, is expected back from holiday next week, as
are all those involved in the latter stages of Euro 2012. Rodgers refused to
provide assurances when asked whether he would allow him to leave on loan.

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Liverpool's Andy Carroll interests Fulham, Aston Villa and West Ham United
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt
9:17PM BST 11 Jul 201226 Comments

At present, Fulham are the only club prepared to make an offer to buy -
rather than loan - Carroll, with Liverpool having already decided to contact
clubs to see if they are interested in signing the England international. It
had been thought that Liverpool were seeking a loan for Carroll, whose
future has been publicly questioned by new manager Brendan Rodgers, but it
is understood they are interested in a sale. That would, as things stand,
make Fulham the favourites if the player can be persuaded to leave. West Ham
chairman David Sullivan is due to meet Carroll's agent, Mark Curtis, on
Thursday but sources at the newly-promoted Premier League club still rate
the chances of success at little more than "10 per cent".

Nevertheless West Ham are keen to make a 'marquee' signing and will continue
to push for Carroll. Even if the 23 year-old did go out only on loan, it
would be an expensive deal with Liverpool expected to demand a big loan fee
and a high portion, if not all, of his wages being covered. Fulham want to
acquire a powerful striker having missed out on Russia international Pavel
Pogrebnyak, who was on loan last season but has since agreed a permanent
deal with Reading. With Fulham having sold Bobby Zamora to Queens Park
Rangers in January and Andy Johnson leaving to join the same club this
summer, they are short of strikers.

Fulham are also acutely aware of Liverpool's interest in Clint Dempsey, who
has just one more year left on his contract at Craven Cottage and would like
to leave, ideally in search of Champions League football. Liverpool cannot
offer that to the American but are undoubtedly a bigger club although they
are resisting the £7 million plus being asked for by Fulham for a player who
is 29. Liverpool are understood to have made an offer, however, and talks
are ongoing. Fulham would like to investigate the possibility of agreeing a
deal of Dempsey plus cash for Carroll – who is believed to now only be
valued at around £15 million – although the club will also have to evaluate
the player's character.

Liverpool are expected to tomorrow announce the signing of Fabio Borini from
Roma for around £11 million, which will raise further questions over
Carroll's chances of regular first-team football this season. Liverpool
could rationalise his sale, and the loss of £20 million in his fee, by
claiming they would still remain in profit given he was signed following the
£45 million recouped from Fernando Torres's departure to Chelsea in January
last year. Carroll has insisted that he would like to stay at Liverpool and
fight for his place but if Rodgers makes it clear he is not part of his
plans then it could lead to a rethink, especially if the former Newcastle
striker is determined to pursue his England career. Carroll would not appear
to fit the fluid 4-3-3 formation favoured by Rodgers, who had Borini on loan
at Swansea and has tracked his progress in Serie A. Tottenham have turned
down the chance to make an offer, after being contacted on Tuesday by
Liverpool, who were in contact with a number of clubs, although Villa have
registered an interest through new manager, Paul Lambert. However, it is
understood that Carroll does not want to join Villa and might prefer a move
to London if he is made to leave Anfield. Milan's interest is thought to be
genuine but may be contingent on Ibrahimovic leaving the Italian club. PSG
want to sign the striker and Brazilian defender Thiago Motta and a
double-bid could be made this week. Ibrahimovic's agent Mino Raiola, who
also represents Mario Balotelli, held talks with Milan on Wednesday and the
Swede's future is understood to have been discussed given the interest of
the cash-rich and highly-ambitious PSG.

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