Cresswell - We can overcome Astra draw
WHUFC.com
Aaron Cresswell is still confident West Ham United can make progress in the
UEFA Europa League, despite seeing a two-goal lead slip in the first leg
against Astra Giurgiu, The Hammers now head to Romania needing to win on
Thursday, but Cresswell says they showed enough in the first hour of the
game to show they can progress. Before that, West Ham take on Werder Bremen
for the Betway Cup on Sunday and Cresswell believes the Hammers will be well
prepared for the season opener at Arsenal next week. He explained: "We were
dominant in the first half and well in control of the game at 2-0, but the
game changed when James Collins got sent off. I still thought we had to be
stronger to see it out. "It's not going to be easy going away to Romania and
we've got Arsenal on the Sunday as well. We want to go as far as we can in
the competition and we're going to try to do that. "We've probably played
the most pre-season games of anyone. It's been a hectic schedule but it's
been a good opportunity for the youngsters to show the Gaffer what they can
do. "We've had Saturday-Tuesday-Thursday over the last few weeks and the
likes of Reece Oxford and Reece Burke have a bright future in front of
them."
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WHAT IS PRESENTLY WEST HAM'S STRONGEST LINE-UP?
By S J Chandos 1 Aug 2015 at 17:00
WTID
So far this summer, the squad has had another significant refurbish. And
there is likely to be further comings and goings before the Transfer Window
closes. Based upon the current composition of the squad, and putting aside
any injury issues, what is our strongest first XI and substitutes bench?
After careful consideration, my selection is as follows:
Adrian, Jenkinson, Cresswell, Noble (Capt), Tomkins, Ogbonna, Obiang,
Kouyate, Valencia, Sakho, Payet (in a 4-4-2 formation)
Subs: Randolph, Reid, Poyet, Amalfitano, Lanzini, Zarate, Carroll
I have left Alex Song out of the equation because we are currently unsure
whether he will be re-joining the club this summer. I have also consciously
decided to leave out the youngsters, such as Oxford, Cullen and Samuelson.
The more controversial issues? Probably the selection of Tomkins and Ogbonna
ahead of Reid and also picking Valencia over Carroll. While some others may
prefer to select Poyet over Noble. Another is leaving Matt Jarvis off the
bench. One could reasonably question whether, in his absence, we are denied
the option of additional pace and width down the flanks. Also, there are
predictably no places on the bench for O'Brien, Collins or Nolan. But I am
sure that the majority of readers would agree with that call. While with
others, such as Lanzini, it is very difficult to assess them because they
have not been in action yet. So, he gets a place on the bench – based mostly
on reputation and potential.
Anyway, using the same set of assumptions, which line-up do you think is
currently our strongest? I have used 4-4-2, but deploy a different formation
if you so wish. Over to you!
SJ. Chandos.
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West Ham to step up Charlie Austin chase after Enner Valencia injury leaves
Hammers short up front
22:30, 1 AUGUST 2015
BY STEVE STAMMERS
Slaven Bilic's side are in for the QPR man who netted 18 Premier League
goals last season, after Valencia was stretched off in their Europa League
draw against Astra
The Mirror
West Ham will this week step up their attempts to bring QPR's Charlie Austin
to Upton Park. The striker is valued at £15million by Rangers – and director
of football Les Ferdinand has insisted they will accept nothing less for the
man who scored 18 top-flight goals last season. So far, the Hammers,
Newcastle and Southampton have baulked at that valuation. But, West Ham boss
Slaven Bilic may go back in again, this time offering winger Matt Jarvis,
29, to Rangers as a makeweight in the deal. The winger has only one year
left on his contract and would fetch close to £4m. That means a cash outlay
of £11m for Austin – a sum the West Ham hierarchy will find more appealing.
The Hammers are short up front following last week's serious injury to Enner
Valencia in the Europa League. Ecuador international Valencia could be out
until Christmas with knee and ankle injuries, leaving Diafra Sakho and
Modibo Maiga as the only recognised front men. Austin's proven ability in
the penalty box would be welcomed by Bilic as he prepares for a vital
season, with the Hammers moving into the 50,000 seater Olympic Stadium next
term.
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West Ham's Europa League adventure a love affair fast becoming a messy
holiday fling
22:30, 1 AUGUST 2015
BY STEVE STAMMERS
The Hammers must rescue their clash with Astra Giurgiu in Romania and then
face Arsenal 48 hours later
The Mirror
What should have been an exciting adventure is fast becoming a nightmare.
West Ham's love affair with Europe has all the hallmarks of a holiday fling.
And we all know how they finish. Suspensions and injuries in Europa League
qualifying have left Slaven Bilic with an awkward scenario as the Premier
League opener approaches. West Ham will arrive back in the early hours of
Friday morning from Romania and, 48 hours later, face a fresh and refreshed
Arsenal team at the Emirates. The 2-2 draw with Astra Giurgiu last Thursday
means Bilic must decide whether to play a strong side to rescue the tie or
keep his top guns in reserve. Action Images / Alan WalterBirkikara v West
Ham UnitedDejected: West Ham concede on their last European excursion to
Birkirkara in Malta Midfielder Mark Noble said: "It is not ideal preparation
for the Arsenal game – simple as." He recalled the return from the last Euro
excursion to Malta when the squad got back at 5am. "When I got in my front
door, it was light, " he said. "We had to come in for a warm-down, so the
lads had only two hours' sleep.
"Other teams have done it in the past, but you look at Spurs and Everton
last year and they struggled in the league because those journeys take it
out of you. "You don't want to go and play in Romania three days before the
opening day of the season – and at Arsenal away, of all places. The football
people, the people who understand football know that it is not ideal. But we
have to deal with it and, hopefully, we can come away unscathed. "We have
the resources to handle a Premier League season. It is tough at the moment
because we have players suspended and those matches are our pre-season
games. The suspended players have got to play in one of the other games we
have arranged. "It hasn't been an ideal pre-season, if I am honest."
West Ham face Werder Bremen in a friendly on August 2.
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Irons will face an all-change FC Astra
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 1, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Astra Giurgiu's boss Marius Sumudica has made the game against West Ham his
'top priority' over the domestic league. The Romanian outfit are currently
sitting Mariusin sixth place after three games and are due to meet Viitorul
Constanta, a club owned and coached by former Romania great Gheorghe
Hagi.But Sumudica claims to be hardly bothered ith the game, declaring: "I'm
not very interested in the game against Viitorul." Astra's. The second leg
against West Ham is all that matters now." Sumudica plans to include only
three of the players, who started against West Ham, in his starting XI
against Viitorul – keeper Silviu Lung Jp, Japanese midfielder Takayuki Sato
and Brazilian left winger William De Amorim.
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Cressie sees big future for our kids
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 1, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Aaron Cresswell has joined Mark Noble and Dimi Payet in declaring that the
Irons can progress into the next stage of the Europa Cup tournament.
The Hammer of last year declared: "We were dominant in the first half and
well in control of the game at 2-0, but the game changed when James Collins
got sent off. I still thought we had to be stronger to see it out.
"It's not going to be easy going away to Romania and we've got Arsenal on
the Sunday as well. We want to go as far as we can in the competition and
we're going to try to do that.
"We've probably played the most pre-season games of anyone. It's been a
hectic schedule but it's been a good opportunity for the youngsters to show
the gaffer what they can do.
"We've had Saturday-Tuesday-Thursday over the last few weeks and the likes
of Reece Oxford and Reece Burke have a bright future in front of them."
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AFC Hornchurch friendly cancelled
Posted by Sean Whetstone on August 1, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
AFC Hornchurch have announced that a planned friendly with West Ham next
week has been cancelled. On their official website Hornchurch released a
statement saying "Due to an oversight on the part of West Ham next Tuesday's
friendly has been cancelled" Hornchurch had previously published an
announcement suggesting they would play a West Ham XI on Tuesday 4th August
at 7.45pm. However a West Ham insider has told Claret and Hugh this morning
"They announced on their website before any agreement was made so it's wrong
of them to say that!" With West Ham playing a pre season friendly against
Werder Bremen this Sunday at the Boleyn Ground and the return leg in Romania
against FC Astra on Thursday it did seem strange that West Ham would be
willing to squeeze in another pointless friendly with the opening Premier
League game against Arsenal just 8 days away.
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Club ITK: Striker deal depends on work permit
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 1, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
West Ham's ITK, Boleyn Insider has declared that negotiations for a top
striker – currently in Spain – are ongoing and that a switch to the Irons is
now dependent on a work permit.
He explains the injury to Enner Valencia has given the hunt an added impetus
declaring that since the injury " the search has intensified.
With the Premier League a week away and the return leg of the FC Astra match
on Thursday, he added: "Diafra Sakho served the last match of his three game
European ban on and will be available for selection, while "Mauro Zarate
also reminded Slaven Bilic of his ability with a well taken goal early in
the second half."
However, he said: "Negotiations are continuing behind the scenes to bring in
more new signings in the forward line.
I know that the search continues and the Club are looking at a number of
targets across Europe.
There have been reports linking West Ham United with a move for a top
striker in Spain and my understanding is that the deal hinges on him getting
a work permit.
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Noble: "We can't feel sorry for ourselves"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 1, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H
Mark Noble has claimed the players refuse to feel dorry for themselves after
the FC Astra set back declaring: "We were disappointed by the result. "But
if you ask if we are angry and upset I would say no because we have got to
try and win on Thursday night and then we have got Arsenal on Sunday. "With
the quality that we had on the pitch it could have been a lot more but they
had a wonder strike and a freak goal and it made it hard for us. "We can't
be upset because if we go into the Premier League feeling sorry for
ourselves we are going to get punished. We have got to stay positive and I
am sure we will be fine."
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West Ham 'finally set to complete transfer of Barcelona midfielder Alex
Song'
Louis Sealey for Metro.co.uk
Saturday 1 Aug 2015 7:09 pm
West Ham are closing in on the transfer of Alex Song with Barcelona willing
to sell the midfielder, according to reports. Song, 27, spent last season on
loan at Upton Park and is not thought to be in Luis Enrique's plans ahead of
the new season. Injury concerns have stalled a return move but now reports
in Spain say the former Cameroon international is on the verge of signing a
new deal with Slaven Bilic's outfit. Song, who played 28 games for West Ham
last year, is believed to be keen on a switch which would satisfy all
parties.
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