Daily WHUFC News - 14th July 2015

Reid aims for strong season
WHUFC.com

West Ham United centre back Winston Reid can see a bright year ahead, hailing the impact of the Club's new coaching staff, fresh signings and emerging young talent as he played his first pre-season match of the year in Saturday's 3-3 draw away to Peterborough. The New Zealand international played the first hour at London Road and said it was good to get some playing time into his legs: "It's always nice to get your first game back in pre-season. It was nice to get back out there, and play a little bit. There were some good performances today, but the main thing is to get fitter."

As well as describing new signing Pedro Obiang as a really good addition to the squad, Reid singled out performances from West Ham's emerging stars, such as Martin Samuelson and Alex Pike:
"They were really, really good, and that's the important thing about pre-season - giving the youngsters an opportunity. We've all been there as youngsters, coming out in pre-season with an opportunity to prove yourself, and this is a really good time for them to do so."

Reid also commented on the rapid impact that Slaven Bilic, Julian Dicks and other new members of the coaching staff have had on the team: "We've had a new manager come in. I'm sure he will want us to play in a different way and he has his own ideas, and the players are looking forward to learning from him. We get to play on the training pitch and see what he wants us to do, and it's been good. "He's very passionate. You can see from the way he is on the sidelines: he wants us to win, he wants us to do our very best, he wants us to go out and for us to enjoy ourselves, but the most important thing at the end of the day is winning games. Julian Dicks has also been a great new addition, and the rest of the coaching staff are really, really great guys. They push us really hard, and certainly the boys are enjoying it, and we're learning from them."

With the new management team in place, top international players arriving, and exciting young talent emerging, Reid says he is glad he recently signed a new long-term contract with the Hammers: "I'm really, really happy to be here, and hopefully we'll have a really good season this year, and carry ourselves well into the new stadium. But the most important thing is this next season, and we'll just take things game by game. "We need to improve on what we did last year. We had a fantastic first half of the season but the second half was not the best. So we need to improve and make sure the first half of the season also continues into the second."

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Friends reunited for JC
WHUFC.com

West Ham United came up against a familiar face at Peterborough United on Saturday when Jack Collison came off the bench to make his home debut for his new club. Collison played 121 games for the Hammers after making his way through the Academy, but is now looking to rebuild his career with the Posh having spent the last six months building himself up for a return to the game. The large contingent of Hammers fans at the ABAX Stadium showed they had not forgotten the 26-year-old, who was afforded a fine reception when he entered the pitch. He said: "It was a really nice feeling to get back out on the pitch, and a great day in all areas. The reception was fantastic, and obviously I've got really fond memories of West Ham and had a great relationship with the fans, so it was nice to be in front of them again on Saturday. "The West Ham fans love seeing their youngsters come through and have an impact on the first team, while enjoying wearing the shirt and playing for the Club. I did that over the years and have a very special relationship with them. "I was itching to get on from the sidelines and I couldn't wait. I think you could tell from the way I was running about like a bit of a nutter when I did get on. It's exciting times for West Ham, and it's going to be one hell of a season
Jack Collison "It's been a long time out and I've taken my time. To be fair to Peterborough the staff have been fantastic with me, easing me in slowly, so come the first game I should be fit, firing and ready to go."

Collison was impressed by the Hammers' performance in an entertaining 3-3 draw and believes Slaven Bilic's men are in for a successful season. He thinks the same is true of his new team, too. He added: "It's exciting times for West Ham, and it's going to be one hell of a season, the last at the Boleyn. That will be emotional, and there's a new manager in, a couple of new signings and it looks like there's more on the way. "The boys were fantastic today, they had a great attitude as always and Mark Noble was just different gear in there. Speaking to our boys in the changing room, they were saying 'what a player' and it's great for our boys that they can test themselves against good opposition, and the same for West Ham. I think they're going to have a good season. "The aim for Peterborough is a promotion push. That's how the manager sold it to me, he said he feels he's got a good enough squad and from what I've seen since I've been here we definitely do."

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Bilic has big expectations for Ogbonna
WHUFC.com

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has big expectations for new signing Angelo Ogbonna and believes he will add a lot of quality to the defensive unit. Ogbonna joined the Club from Italian giants Juventus on Friday and will bring a wealth of experience to the squad.
Bilic is delighted that the Club were able to clinch his signature and feels it will provide even more competition at the back and provide the strength in depth he needs heading into the new season. Bilic said: "I am thrilled with the signing. He is a really good player and is a great defender. He was at one of the best clubs in the world with Juventus and we are really delighted he has signed for us . The expectations are big of course. "We now have the numbers and the quality at the back. We really need the competition and strength (in the defence) which is one of the most important areas for the whole season."

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Boleyn Insider
WHUFC.com

Our man on the inside lifts the lid on the latest transfer speculation...

The pre-season campaign is well and truly underway and the squad is going to be tested to the maximum over the coming weeks. The Club have certainly been busy over the summer bringing in five new players and I understand the hard work is continuing behind the scenes to bring in even more new arrivals. My sources have told me that another international player should put pen to paper in the next 24 hours and complete a loan move to the Boleyn Ground. Rumours continue to surface over more big names signing for the Club this summer.

But I have been told that stories suggesting the agent of Roma striker Mattia Destro has flown to London for talks over a move to the Club are not true. Reports in Italy are claiming that Destro's Roma team-mate Gervinho is also on the verge of making a move to West Ham United, but I have also been told there is no truth to those rumours. My understanding is that the Club have made signing a striker one of their main priorities now and they ideally want a forward with a proven track record in the Premier League.

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Downing to complete £5m 'Boro return this week
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 13th July 2015
By: Staff Writer

Stewart Downing is set for a return to his native Teeside after West Ham and Middlesbrough agreed a transfer fee for the England international. The 30-year-old attacking midfielder is on the verge of returning to his home town club, after 'Boro agreed to pay £5million to take Downing back to the Riverside Stadium where he spent the early part of his career. According to a KUMB source, last season's Championship play-off finalists have offered the former Liverpool and Aston Villa man a five-year contract that will keep him tied to 'Boro until the age of 35.
Aitor Karanka's side will also pay an additional £1million should they achieve promotion to the Premier League whilst Downing is at the club.

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Destro representatives in England for talks
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 13th July 2015
By: Staff Writer

West Ham are closing in on a deal for Italian striker Mattia Destro. As exclusively revealed here on KUMB last week, the 24-year-old Roma striker was set for talks with West Ham over a switch to east London. Now representatives of the player are reported to have flown into London at the weekend, to discuss a move for a player also said to be interesting the likes of fellow Premier League outfit Crystal Palace and Monaco. The 24-year-old has featured for his country at all levels from Under 16 right through to the first team. Earlier in the transfer window had been closely linked with a move to Ligue 1 with Monaco, but that deal is understood to have fallen through over contractual obligations.

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Slav: "I'm grateful to God for this opportunity"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 13, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Slaven Bilic has revealed that playing in the English Premier League has affected his entire lifestyle. The West Ham boss – in a revealing interview with www.fourfourtwo.com – declared: "I'm very pleased to have played ?in the Premier League. It helped me not only in football terms, but also ?in other aspects of life. "I spent my most important time there, and the experience had a huge impact on me as a player and a manager. ?I learned to work hard, how to be professional, how to approach everything with a bit of humour… ?it affected my management style, ?of course, but more importantly ?it helped me to form my lifestyle. And as a Roman Catholic – like Jose Mourinho – he added: "?I'll always be grateful to God for giving me such an opportunity. "Every day you are improving, learning ?– in training, by watching games, ?by reading books or just by talking with your staff and players. You're changing but also improving. Every single second, I try to change and improve."

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Hammers allocated 3,000 tickets in Malta
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 13, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

West Ham have been allocated 3,000 away tickets for the second round Europa League tie against Birkirkara FC on Thursday 23rd July. Tickets will cost £32 (€45) each with the Hammers situated in the Millennium stand. The Second leg match between Birkirkara FC and West Ham has been switched to the National Stadium which has a capacity of 18,000. Bond Holders and Priority points applications must be made by Thursday 16th July. Season ticket general sale will be held on Saturday 18th July with any remaining tickets put on general sale on Monday 20th July. Home Birkirkara supporters will pay between €10 (£7) and €30 (£21) for their tickets for the match with sales available in Mc Donald's Restaurant, 8 Till Late and Agenda Bookshops in Malta.

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Transfer window fact and fiction!
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 13, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

We all love a rumour or ten but reality bites and 12 days into the transfer window perhaps it might be a good idea to check facts against speculation and hopeful thinking Back in June, David Gold declared on Twitter that fans could expect around five new faces this summer and right now we have Darren Randolph, Stephen Hendrie, Dimitri Payet, Pedro Obiang and Angelo Ogbonna on board. THAT'S FIVE! He said "new faces" which may cover loan signings as well as permanent buys – a sixth will almost certainly be Carl Jenkinson and then possibly Alex Song and somebody like him. There's also rumours about Kevin Miralles and Charlie Austin.

My understanding is that the total cost of the new arrivals tops out at between £21-£22 million leaving, whether we find it acceptable or not, about £3 million in the kitty. £25 million was the ceiling. There is the chance of course – a good one – that a Stewart Downing departure will add a few more quid to the pot but that certainly won't be sufficient to add the number of names with whom we are being linked.

Many names have been mentioned as far as a new front player is concerned – Loic Remy, Charlie Austin and the like among them. Thus far nothing has happened because it's not seen as a priority position. Why would it be with Diafra Sakho, Enner Valencia and Andy Carroll on board. Instead it is far more likely a striker will arrive on loan as Slaven Bilic wants to give Carroll an opportunity to show his injury problems behind him before he decides on what his West Ham future may be.

A striker has never been a priority but we are still without a defensive midfielder – who is! Elsewhere we look reasonably ok. On the outward front Kevin Nolan and Matt Jarvis to move on should there be any interest but currently – as reported here previously – there's not. The club has done a lot of business very early and that is all to the good. The rest of the summer looks likely to be relatively quiet with Jenkinson and a loan striker on the way – anything else will be a bonus.

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Roma striker agent in London
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 13, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Mattia Destro's agent is in London to finalise a move to West Ham, according to reports in Italy today. Italy international Destro, who was loaned to AC Milan last season, has returned to Roma but been told he has no future. Corriere dello Sport says West Ham have agreed a loan deal in principle with a view to a permanent transfer option at the end of the season. According to Emanuele Giulianelli, Roma's director of football Walter Sabatini is in Manchester attempting negotiating a deal to sign Dzeko. They say he will come to London to discuss Destro with West Ham after his business is concluded in Manchester.

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Historic Away Kit to be unveiled
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 13, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

West Ham should reveal their Away Kit for the 2015/2016 season this week ahead of the second round Europa League clash at the Boleyn Ground on Thursday. The kit is thought to have been inspired by the historic 1901-1903 Hammers kit which was light blue with single claret chest hoop, Shorts: White with claret side stripes, Socks: Claret
The strip became known in the press as the "Union Jack" in the earlky 1900's. This mock up picture on the right is said to be a close resemblance of what the away shirt will look like when unveiled.

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Reid on Slav "passion" and Dicks appointment
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 13, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Winston Reid has dubbed new manager Slaven Bilic as "very passionate" – and hailed the recruitment of Julian Dicks to the coaching set-up as a "great new addition". The central defender – who is likely to start the season alongside new recruit Anglo Ogbonna – declared: "We've had a new manager come in. I'm sure he will want us to play in a different way and he has his own ideas, and the players are looking forward to learning from him. "We get to play on the training pitch and see what he wants us to do, and it's been good."

Talking to the club's official website, Reid added: "He's very passionate. You can see from the way he is on the sidelines: he wants us to win, he wants us to do our very best, he wants us to go out and for us to enjoy ourselves, but the most important thing at the end of the day is winning games. "Julian Dicks has also been a great new addition, and the rest of the coaching staff are really, really great guys. They push us really hard, and certainly the boys are enjoying it, and we're learning from them."

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West Ham transfer news: Loan deal for Arsenal's Carl Jenkinson on verge of completion
Evening Standard
KEN DYER
Published: 13 July 2015 Updated: 13:57, 13 July 2015

West Ham are hoping to complete a loan deal with Arsenal for Carl Jenkinson within the next 48 hours. Jenkinson was on loan at Upton Park last season and impressed sufficiently for new manager Slaven Bilic to be keen to repeat the deal for the new season. West Ham wanted to sign the England Under-21 full-back on a permanent basis but Arsenal rejected that proposition.
Jenkinson's arrival would bring the total of summer signings to four — with more in the pipeline. Co-chairman David Sullivan's son, Jack, suggested on Twitter over the weekend that the club are looking to bring in another three or four signings, with Roma striker Mattia Destro the latest to be linked. Bilic, meanwhile, will field a significantly stronger team in Thursday's Europa League clash against Maltese side Birkirkara than he did for the first qualifying round. The Croat picked a combination of young and squad players for the win over Lusitans but looks likely to include a number of first-team players for the first leg at Upton Park. West Ham are hoping for a sell-out, with advance tickets priced at £10 and £5 for Under 16s.

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More creative than Messi – introducing West Ham's Dimitri Payet
14:00, 13 July 2015
The Mirror

So, Slaven Bilic has taken over the reigns at West Ham for their last ever season at the Boleyn Ground. They move to the Olympic Stadium for the 2016-17 campaign, and the fans will only turn up in their droves if he can bring back the 'West Ham' style of play that they crave. And while he has a good base of a squad, he will want to bring in his own players to achieve that dream. He has started well, and West Ham fans should be particularly excited by the £10.7m arrival of Dimitri Payet from Marseille.

No other player in Europe created more chances that Payet last season – 23 ahead of De Bruyne and 40 ahead of Messi – with 135 chances. He is fast, attacking, clever and knows where the goal is. He led the French League last season with a very impressive 17 assists, which was also the fourth best in any major European League. These stats will give Bilic, and the West Ham fans, real belief that if he can produce anywhere near that kind of form, then the likes of Carroll, Sakho and Valencia will reap the rewards. The French League isn't as tough as the Premier League of course, but it's no Eredivisie...

He is also a French international, and while his 9 caps have been spread out over the last 5 years, he has always been on the edge of the first team. He will be looking for this season to be a continuation of the last – which was easily his most consistent and prolific so far. This could be a win-win for all concerned. West Ham needed a player who can provide those vital assists, and the player will be looking to cement a place in the French squad and also to make his mark in the Premier League.

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Bilic suggests Cresswell is an example of a naturally fit player
HITC
Lewis Doe

West Ham United boss Slaven Bilic has suggested defender Aaron Cresswell is a good player for others to follow in terms of his fitness. West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic has told the club's official website that Aaron Cresswell is a good example of the sort of naturally fit player that he wants in his first team squad. West Ham's preparations for the new season are in full swing and Cresswell is someone that Bilic will be looking to challenge, as he tries to progress and develop further after winning the club's player of the season award last time round.
"Aaron is a good player and has a great left foot. I wanted a player who could play for 90 minutes and he is a naturally fit player," Bilic told whufc.com. "It is always good for a defender who is good on the ball to play a little bit in midfield because you have less space there and it was good for him."

Fitness is vital

Fitness is very important not just for Cresswell, but for the entire West Ham defence throughout next season. There were occasions last season, against Tottenham and Manchester United, where West Ham conceded late goals, which directly led to a loss of points and momentum at important points in the season. Improved fitness will help the club to just maintain that intensity and concentration a little bit longer, to ensure that a repeat of the same mistakes doesn't happen again.

The challenge for Cresswell

The challenge for Cresswell is that he's not a surprise commodity. He's a player that opposition teams will now identify as a key threat and strength in West Ham's team and they could look to make life as difficult as possible for him very early. Teams could get two men onto him quickly and look to keep him isolated, which could cause weaknesses to develop.

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West Ham finally set to land first choice summer signing as spending nearly done
London 24
07:59 13 July 2015 Brad Pinard

West Ham are set to announce the signing of Carl Jenkinson on loan for the season from Arsenal in the next 48 hours. The Hammers have been busy this summer and fans have already seen two of three of their new signings in action under Slaven Bilic. Dimitri Payet and Angelo Ogbonna are yet to get a run out but could do against Southend on Saturday. Jenkinson could also be in that squad after returning from his extended summer holiday after England under-21 duty took up most of his post-season break. Arsenal are refusing to sell the former Charlton man, instead another season-long loan is in order for the impressive full back who majorly impressed last term at Upton Park. Jenkinson was the first name on David Gold and David Sullivan's shopping list and so they will be mightily glad to get it done. A striker is now the main concern for the Hammers who are set to make just one more major signing after Jenkinson.

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'Star of the show' Ravel Morrison impresses with brace on Lazio debut
London 24
07:27 13 July 2015 Brad Pinard

Lazio new-boy Ravel Morrison scored twice and won the man of the match award on his debut for the club. The Italian media claim Morrison was 'the star of the show' and his 'sensational lob' was only bettered by two clever assists for his team-mates in a thumping 8-0 win over Aurozono. Serie A kicks off later than the Premier League and so Morrison will have plenty of time to adapt to life in Italy, something that was rumoured to be tough for him. However, after banishing reports he could return to QPR this summer without kicking a ball for Lazio, Morrison is now hoping to become a hit in Italy and has started in the best possible way. The Lazio tweet translates as 'It's easy to play with Ravel Morrison', from the playmakers new team-mate and four goal hero Keita.

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