Daily WHUFC News - 29th July 2013

Hard work paying off for Cole
WHUFC.com
Joe Cole is feeling strong after a productive month of pre-season training
28.07.2013

Joe Cole completed his first 90 minute run-out of pre-season on Saturday and
is feeling ready for a big season in West Ham United colours. The
31-year-old rejoined the Hammers last January and contributed two goals in
eleven league games in the second half of the campaign. With the big
kick-off now less than three weeks away, Cole enjoyed a productive tour of
Germany, which alongside his full-match appearance against Eintracht
Braunschweig also yielded a goal against Mainz. "It has been a good tour,"
he told West Ham TV. "We have been all over the country. The Mainz game gave
us the kick up the backside we needed and then we kicked on from there. "We
passed the ball well and pressed well and we look fit which is the main
thing. We have come away without any injuries which is always a bonus at
this time of the year so it was a good time. "I feel ready good and it is
always good to get your first 90 minutes out of the way which I did on
Saturday. I felt my running was getting stronger as the game went on and it
was good that my body held out. All the hard work is paying off. "I am going
to start the season looking in good shape."

Modibo Maiga notched a double in Saturday's 3-0 win at Braunschweig and Cole
was delighted to see him come into form, with the first Barclays Premier
League game at home to Cardiff City looming. He added: "It was great to see
Modibo score two goals on Saturday and it is always important for your
strikers to be scoring goals. "You get excited every year at this stage and
everyone wants to do well. "We have got Cardiff at home which everyone says
is a good game for West Ham, but on the other hand they have got promoted
into the top flight for the first time in years and it will be a tough
fixture. "We want to get a result in that game. We know it will be a tough
game."

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Eintracht Braunschweig 0-3 West Ham Utd
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 27th July 2013
By: Staff Writer

West Ham's pre-season trip to Germany ended with a comfortable win as United
brushed aside the challenge of hosts Eintracht Braunschweig. Having opened
their tour with a fairly hefty 4-1 reversal against Mainz 05 last weekend,
Sam Allardyce's first team squad refound their form in midweek when
recording a comfortable 3-1 win over Hamburg SV. And like that previous
outing, West Ham's final test of the tour ended in victory when they
completed a second win with the space of just four days through goals from
Modibo Maiga and Mo Diame. The goal that gave West Ham the lead was somewhat
fortuitous as Ermin Bicakcic's attempted pass clipped the United striker,
who was attempting to intercept the ball, before spinning beyond the reach
of stranded goalkeeper Davan and into the back of the net. However there was
no luck involved when the Hammers doubled their lead three minutes from the
break as goalscorer Maiga combined with midfield partner Diame, who made it
2-0 with a cheeky backheel. Still reeling from having fallen two behnd, the
home side were in complete disarray 60 seconds later when Maiga added his
second of the day and West Ham's third. A dreadful backpass directly from
the kick-off allowed the 25-year-old Malian to go round the 'keeper before
placing the ball into an empty net, giving the Irons a 3-0 half time
advantage - a lead they maintained for the remainder of the game with no
further goals arriving after the break.

Later this week West Ham - albeit a 'West Ham XI' as opposed to the full
first team squad - travel to Southend (Monday) and Hornchurch (Saturday).
The first team's next - and final - pre-season outing comes against Pacos de
Ferreira a fortnight from now (Saturday, 10th August).

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Joe Cole dreaming of England World Cup spot but West Ham come first
Last Updated: July 28, 2013 6:40pm
SSN

Joe Cole is hopeful of catching Roy Hodgson's eye if he can help West Ham
improve on last season's 10th-placed finish. The last of Cole's 56 England
caps came in the 4-1 World Cup defeat to Germany in South Africa three years
ago. But next summer's tournament in Brazil is a long-term target for the
midfielder, whose immediate focus is on performing for his club. Cole,
speaking after a 3-0 defeat of Eintracht Braunschweig on West Ham's tour of
Germany, told Sky Sports News: "We want to finish higher than last year.
"The main thing for me is to get in the West Ham team, play as many games as
I can, play well and we'll see what happens from there. "But I think any
Englishman will be looking at the World Cup. It's the pinnacle of a career
to go to a World Cup and play for your country. "It's the best thing you can
do. But first and foremost for me is playing well for West Ham."

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Carlton Cole discussing personal terms with St Etienne
By Pete O'Rourke. Last Updated: July 28, 2013 3:42pm
SSN

Sky Sports understands Carlton Cole is in France discussing personal terms
over a move to St Etienne. The former West Ham forward is out of contract
and has emerged as a target for the Ligue 1 club as they look to replace
Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, who joined Borussia Dortmund this summer. Cole is
believed to be excited about the prospect of playing Europa League football
for St Etienne after the club qualified for the competition by finishing
fifth last season. The 29-year-old England international began his career at
Chelsea before spending seven seasons with the Hammers, scoring 48 league
goals for the club.

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