Daily WHUFC News - 3rd August 2015

Ujah brace helps Bremen to Betway Cup
WHUFC.com

West Ham United slipped to a 2-1 defeat to German side Werder Bremen in the
Betway Cup on Sunday. Despite a Diafra Sakho opener, a cushioned volley from
Dimitri Payet's chipped delivery, an Anthony Ujah first-half brace was
enough to seal the win for the visitors.
West Ham started brightly and had the first chance of note, when Mauro
Zarate was felled on the left edge of the box inside three minutes. Payet
sized it up, but slammed the dead ball into the wall. Then Zarate twisted
this way and that inside the box, but found his every avenue to goal
blocked. With 15 gone, Payet looked for Sakho down the middle. The Senegal
man looked favourite for a moment, but the Werder Bremen 'keeper was quickly
off his line to gather. He could do nothing, however, about the 19th-minute
opener. Payet dinked a low ball into the box from the right and though it
was fractionally behind the No15, his right-foot volley from 12 yards was
crisp and sped into the bottom corner. West Ham's lead would scarcely last
a minute. Ujah strode forward and his speculative strike from the best part
of 30 yards slid through the arms and under the body of Adrian. At the
other end, Mark Noble picked out the run of Sakho, who in turn squared for
Payet and the Frenchman's curler forced Felix Wiedwald to save to his left.
But Ujah was not done yet. The Nigerian wriggled free of West Ham's
centre-halves and as the ball bobbled into his path, he dispatched an angled
drive into the far corner. Adrian was well beaten this time.

As the half ticked down, Zarate saw his shot fisted clear by the 'keeper,
before Payet met Jenkinson's right-wing cross, but rather scuffed his
effort. Slaven Bilic made four changes at the interval, with Adrian,
Jenkinson, Reece Oxford and Payet the men to make way. In their stead came
Raphael Spiegel, James Collins, Diego Poyet and debutant Manuel Lanzini.
It was not long before young Spiegel was called upon, diving away to his
left to acrobatically tip Felix Kroos' vicious strike behind. It was a fine
stop and he collected the resulting corner with conviction too. Five further
changes duly followed shortly after the hour. On for Lewis Page, Angelo
Ogbonna, Noble, Cheikhou Kouyate and Zarate came Josh Cullen, Morgan
Amalfitano, Doneil Henry, Modibo Maiga and Kyle Knoyle. The visitors made
three changes of their own, and the game, rather inevitably, lost much of
its rhythm. Argentine Lanzini showed flashes of what he is about, with
quick feet in and around the final third. His free-kick from 25 yards was
well struck, if more or less straight down the throat of Wiedwald. With
little more than ten to play, Sakho was just about able to hold off the
attentions of the impressive Jannik Vestergaard, but his shot, from an acute
angle, flew into the side netting.

West Ham United: Adrian (Spiegel 46), Tomkins, Kouyate (Maiga 63), Zarate
(Cullen 63), Jenkinson (Collins 46), Sakho, Noble (Amalfitano 63), Ogbonna
(Henry 63), Payet (Lanzini 46), Oxford (Poyet 46), Page (Knoyle 63)

Subs: Lee, Howes, Nasha, Pask
Booked: Poyet
Goals: Sakho 19

Werder Bremen: Wiedwald, Lukimya, Vestergaard, Fritz, Kroos (Frode 63),
Garcia, Ujah, Bartels (Manneh 63), Grillitsch, Eggestein (Zander 63)

Subs: Hajrovic, Pavlovic, Husing, Sternberg, Husic
Goals: Ujah 20, 31
Referee: Graham Scott

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Dicks: We will be ready for Arsenal
WHUFC.com

West Ham United coaching assistant Julian Dicks says there are still things
to improve on as the team prepare for the start of the new season but was
full of praise for how Reece Oxford and Lewis Page settled into the starting
line-up. The Hammers lost their final pre-season game in England 2-1 as
Werder Bremen picked up the Betway Cup at the Boleyn Ground on Sunday.
Despite Diafra Sakho firing the home side into the lead, the Bundesliga side
hit back with two goals from Anthony Ujah in the first half. Dicks was
disappointed that the team failed to find a way back into the game, but
feels it was another fine display from the youngsters who started the game
and believes it will give them great confidence heading into the new
campaign. Dicks said: "The young players are getting their chances. Reece is
a very good player and we will use him when we can. I thought Lewis did well
at left back. It was a good test for them. "We have to close people down and
work hard and I'm sure the gaffer will be working on that in training this
week."

Dicks was also pleased to see Sakho get among the goals once again and knows
the importance of keeping the Senegal forward fit heading into the new
season. Dicks added: "Diafra is a very good player and is a big part of the
team. It is important to keep him fit. The club are looking to strengthen
upfront which is what we need."

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Sakho - I'll score goals with Payet
WHUFC.com

Diafra Sakho hopes Sunday's goal against Werder Bremen in the Betway Cup
will be the first of many that he scores courtesy of Hammers playmaker
Dimitri Payet. Just as he did on Thursday evening, Payet provided the
ammunition for West Ham's opener, this time dinking in a delicate cross from
the right. There was Sakho, eight yards out, to volley crisply into the
corner and the Senegal forward believes there are plenty more where that
came from. "He [Payet] always creates goals, whether that's for me on Sunday
or Valencia last time," Sakho told West Ham TV. "He's always there to give
those assists. I think he'd prefer to give the passes than even score his
own goals and we're there to take advantage of it. "If you have a player
like him, you've got to make the most of it and try to score as many goals
as possible. I hope that's the first assist and he's going to have plenty
more. "Above all, it was a good cross, and as I had taken two steps forward,
I was telling myself I was just trying to guide the ball towards goal and
that's what I managed to do. "It puts a smile on my face to see it hit the
back of the net. I hope I'm going to hit plenty more that are going to end
up in the net too."

Though Anthony Ujah's first-half double fired the visitors to a 2-1 victory
at the Boleyn Ground, Sakho was still content with another good workout and
felt there were plenty of positives to take into the fast-approaching
Barclays Premier League campaign. He continued: "I think overall we played
well, it was another opportunity to prepare. "It's good to play against
Premier League teams and top-flight German teams who are up there in the
table. That gives us the opportunity to work hard and do some running behind
the ball. "Though we lost on Sunday, I think we did some good things, and we
have to stress those good things for the league season to come."

West Ham's band of new recruits have now had a few weeks to settle into life
in east London and Sakho, who is clearly impressed with what he sees,
expects the influx of players to serve the squad well. "It's the quality
that counts, the quality that we're able to make the most of. It's also good
that there's a little more competition for everyone, it's going to push
everyone to give their 100 per cent to try to play."

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West Ham Utd 1-2 Werder Bremen
KUMb.com
Filed: Sunday, 2nd August 2015
By: Staff Writer

West Ham's final pre-season friendly at the Boleyn Ground - ever - ended in
defeat this afternoon, thanks to a brace from Bremen's Anthony Ujah.
Werder's number 21 struck twice in the first half to win the game for the
visitors after Diafra Sakho had given the Hammers a 19th minute lead and
with it, hope of retaining the Betway Cup. But a gaffe from the
usually-reliable Adrian allowed the visitors to level with 90 seconds,
before the 24-year-old Nigerian grabbed a second on the half-hour mark to
win the game for the Bundesliga outfit.

In front of a tiny crowd of less than ten thousand - with many dissuaded
from attending by the 250 per cent ticket price rise on Thursday's Europa
League clash with Astra - the Hammers opened strongly, with Dimitri Payet
looking particularly threatening.

Therefore it was no surprise when Slaven Bilic's side opened the scoring
following some good work on the right by the French international, who
twisted and turned before feeding Diafra Sakho; the striker finding the
bottom left corner of Wiedwald's net from the edge of the six yard box.

However the Hammers had barely finished celebrating Sakho's goal when Adrian
uncharacteristically erred at the other end of the field, allowing a hopeful
long-range drive from Ujah to slip under his body and find the back of the
net.

There was worse to come for West Ham on 31 minutes when Ujah added his
second of the day after the Hammers failed to clear their lines - not for
the first time this week.

As the ball arrived back in their penalty area following a poor clearance,
James Tomkins and Angelo Ogbonna were left flat-footed as the Nigerian
turned on the edge of the area before firing across Adrian into the same
corner in which he scored his first goal.

That proved enough to win the game for the visitors, although West Ham could
consider themselves somewhat unfortunate to lose having probably been the
better side overall. The Hammers were also unlucky not to be awarded a
second half spot kick when Sakho appeared to be sent tumbling in the area,
but referee Scott ignored the striker's pleas and waved play on.

West Ham Utd: Adrian (Spiegel 46), Tomkins, Kouyate (Maiga 63), Zarate
(Cullen 63), Jenkinson (Collins 46), Sakho, Noble (Amalfitano 63), Ogbonna
(Henry 63), Payet (Lanzini 46), Oxford (Poyet 46), Page (Knoyle 63).

Unused Subs: Lee, Howes, Nasha, Pask.

Booked: Poyet.

Goals: Sakho (19).

Werder Bremen: Wiedwald, Lukimya, Vestergaard, Fritz, Kroos (Frode 63),
Garcia, Ujah, Bartels (Manneh 63), Grillitsch, Eggestein (Zander 63).

Unused Subs: Hajrovic, Pavlovic, Husing, Sternberg, Husic.

Goals: Ujah (20, 31).

Referee: Graham Scott.

Attendance: 9,919.

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West Ham 'doing everything' to sign a striker, says David Gold
Last Updated: 02/08/15 3:15pm
SSN

West Ham are "doing everything in our power" to sign a new striker,
co-chairman David Gold has told Sky Sports News HQ. "We've lost (Enner)
Valencia for the beginning of the season. We were already believing that we
required another striker in the squad and we'll be doing everything in our
power to bring in the best players we can," said Gold. Valencia is facing
a long spell on the sidelines after suffering a "significant" leg injury
during West Ham's draw with Astra Giurgiu on Thursday.. Enner Valencia's
injury 'doesn't look great', says David Gold On the extent of Valencia's
injury, Gold said: "We're still waiting to hear definitively, but I have to
say it doesn't look great." West Ham have been linked with Atletico Madrid's
Raul Jimenez, Manchester United's Javier Hernandez and QPR's Charlie Austin.
We were already believing that we required another striker in the squad and
we'll be doing everything in our power to bring in the best players we can
Speaking ahead of West Ham's friendly with Bundesliga side Werder Bremen,
Gold said he expects West Ham to bring in "at least two new players" before
the transfer window closes on September 1. One of those players could be
Barcelona midfielder Alex Song, who Gold hopes to bring back to Upton Park
after a successful loan spell last season. "We enjoyed Alex Song's
contribution last season but these things are ongoing. We're not panicking,
we're not going to do poor deals. We're going to do sensible deals. "By the
time we kick-off, we should be in good shape."

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Enner Valencia could be sidelined until Christmas as Charlie Austin leads
West Ham striker shortlist
17:00, 2 AUGUST 2015
BY JOHN CROSS
The Hammers only have two fit strikers at the club and look set to go back
into the transfer market to bulk up their options up front
The Mirror

West Ham striker Enner Valencia could be out until Christmas. Hammers boss
Slaven Bilic will find out today the extent of Valencia's injury - but they
fear a four month lay-off. Ecuador international Valencia, 25, injured his
right knee and ankle during West Ham's Europa League clash with Astra
Giurgiu last Thursday night. Bilic called it a "significant" injury at the
time but it could be even worse than first feared. Valencia will get the
results of a scan today but West Ham are now likely to be forced back into
the market.
He is a key player for West Ham who now only have Diafra Sakho and Modibo
Maiga as fit strikers to choose from. West Ham have made a move for Atletico
Madrid's Mexican striker Raul Jimenez who will have a work permit hearing
ahead of a loan with a view to a permanent move.
The Hammers also have a long standing interest in QPR striker Charlie Austin
who has been a target for Newcastle, Southampton, Leicester and Crystal
Palace. QPR have slapped a £15m price tag on Austin's head and that has
scared off Newcastle while he is also believed to prefer a move in London.
Newcastle have been favourites to get Austin but the price has put them off
while he is also not keen on the North East. But West Ham's latest injury
blow for Valencia may now increase their desperation - and force them to up
the price on Austin.

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Sakho predicts big Payet partnership
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 2, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Diafra Sakho reckons he and Dimitri Payet will provide a prolific goal
scoring partnership for the Irons this season.

The Senegal hitman got on the end of a delicately threaded Payet ball into
the box to give the Hammers lead against Werder Bremen before they were
beaten 2-1.

And afterwards 'Sak' told West Ham TV "He [Payet] always creates goals,
whether that's for me on Sunday or Valencia last time.

"He's always there to give those assists. I think he'd prefer to give the
passes than even score his own goals and we're there to take advantage of
it.

"If you have a player like him, you've got to make the most of it and try to
score as many goals as possible. I hope that's the first assist and he's
going to have plenty more.

"Above all, it was a good cross, and as I had taken two steps forward, I was
telling myself I was just trying to guide the ball towards goal and that's
what I managed to do.

Two Anthony Ujah's goals denied the Irons but Sakho said: "I think overall
we played well, it was another opportunity to prepare.

"Though we lost on Sunday, I think we did some good things, and we have to
stress those good things for the league season to come."

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£11m + Jarvis bid for Charlie Austin
Posted by Sean Whetstone on August 2, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

This morning, the Sunday Mirror are reporting that West Ham are preparing a
£11m cash plus Matt Jarvis in part exchange to buy Charlie Austin from QPR
to solve their striker crisis.

The inform striker is valued at £15million by QPR and director of football
Les Ferdinand is insisting they will accept nothing less than that.

Matt Jarvis has just one year left on his contract and would fetch close to
£4m according to the Mirror.

A late bid by Queens Park Rangers to sign West Ham winger Matt Jarvis on
loan fell through due to Premier League rules in the January transfer
window. Charlie Austin scored 18 goals in a struggling QPR side last season.

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Hammers speak on Jarvis/Austin reports
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 2, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

West Ham have scoffed at newspaper stories claiming move for Charlie Austin
could be on with Matt Jarvis thrown in as bait.

The reports emerged again this morning and immediately gained some currency
among supporters but a well placed ClaretandHugh source revealed the story
had no foundation.

Jarvis has seen plenty of pre-season game time as the club have tried to
provide a shop window for the £10 million winger.

The former Wolves man has consistently failed to play up to the price we
forked out when former boss Sam Allardyce made it clear he was among his
major targets.

Since last season the Hammers have been ready to loan or sell the player but
there has been no interest.

Now it seems stories have been manufactured suggest that Rangers would take
the player in a deal which would see Austin arrive for a cash fee of around
£10 million.

Our source scoffed: "An Austin/Jarvis swap is the sort of deal you dream
about but sadly nobody has mentioned it."

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Cresswell linked with Man City £12m interest
Posted by Sean Whetstone on August 2, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Hammer of the year Aaron Cresswell has gain been linked with a move again to
Manchester City.

Reports claim the club will offer £12 million although any move for the left
back is almost certain to fail after the player signed a deal within the
last couple of months.

It's an old story which says City have scouted the 25-year-old for some time
and could move for to meet their home grown players quota for this coming
season.

However, we have been told, Cresswell is simply not for sale, a senior
source has previously told us "It would take a huge offer to even tempt us
as Ipswich also get a chunk if we ever sold on which really isn't in our
thinking."

Cresswell put pen-to-paper on a new five-year deal with the Hammers less
than a month ago. The 25-year-old left-back has committed himself until
2020 with the option of two further years.

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Irons: "Cresswell not for sale to ANYONE!"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 2, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

West Ham have told Manchester City – "OR ANYONE ELSE"- to forget any planned
move for Aaron Cresswell.

Rumours and a recycled story arose in the morning press that the Manchester
club were again on the prowl and standing by with a £12 million bid for last
season's Hammer of the Year.

But a quick phone call from ClaretandHugh to a top club contact confirmed
that there was no chance of any bid for the former Ipswich player
succeeding.

We were told emphatically: "He has been given a new deal and loves it here.
Quite apart from that there is absolutely no chance of us selling Aaron
Cresswell to Manchester City or anyone else.

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Noble: "It's not been an ideal pre-season"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 2, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Mark Noble has finally admitted that the excursion into the Europa Cup is a
hindrance to the pre-season Premier League build-up.

He said quite frankly: "It is not ideal preparation for the Arsenal game –
simple as."

He explained that after the trip to Malta from which the squad returned at
5am: "When I got in my front door, it was light. 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."

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Irons 1 W Bremen 2: Defeat is no disaster
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 2, 2015 in News, Whispers
IRONS 1 WERDER BREMEN 2
C AND H


The Irons suffered a home defeat against Werder Bremen which will have done
their confidence no good whatsoever as they go into the last week of a
pre-season which hasn't been the best.

Victory over FC Astra on Thursday night could give the squad a much needed
lift but with Mark Noble claiming this hasn't been a great way to prepare
for the new PL campaign, there will be some creased brows around.

There was plenty to admire from the new Hammers at Upton Park this afternoon
and its as well to remember that the Bundesliga outfit has gone 11 games
without defeat this summer.

And with Dimitri Payet giving another strong performance, Manuel Lanzini
making an impressive debut in the second half and Reece Oxford looking the
part in a big way, there's reason for optimism.

But to take the lead through Diafra Sakho, lose it within a minute and slip
behind ten minutes later was disappointing.

Anthony Ujah's first goal – a 25 yard effort – slipped between Adrian's legs
but there was no good fortune about the second which he firmly drilled home.

Payet and Sakho looked a very menacing pairing and Mauro Zarate was as
lively as he has been throughout the summer run of matches.

Lanzini's entrance paved the way for him to produce a jinking run past
defenders before being denied and demonstrate the creativity we've been
crying out for.

And he had a chance in the last 15 minutes when he attempted to curl the
ball in from a 22-yard free kick, but his shot lacked the power to beat
Wiedwald.

There's work to be done and a less daunting opener than the north Londoners
but we have little doubt that once the team seriously gels we will be fine.

This wasn't a disaster by any means and what pre-season has shown us is that
we have a decent first team squad and some excellent 'back up ' players.

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Striker deal has one hurdle to cross
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on August 2, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

West Ham are sweating it out on Raul Jimenez getting a work permit ahead of
a year long loan to the club. ClaretandHugh can categorially confirm that
the Atletico Madrid striker is the man set to join the club so long he
meets the work permit qualifications. We reported Spanish newspaper
yesterday as claiming the deal was done and although that as confirmed by
our own insiders at the club this evening, we were told "there is no work
permit guarantee." Boss Slaven Bilic pushed for things to be accelerated
following the news about Valencia's injury, which prompted an agreement
being reached. However we were told this evening: "The player concerned is
indeed Jiminez. He would be an expensive season loan but there is no
guarantee he'll get a work permit. Early reports claimed the agreed to a
loan although Atletico asked him whether he wanted to leave for West Ham
permanently or with the chance of a return to the Spanish club.
Jimenez is said to be keen on returning to Madrid in the long term but wants
to take an opportunity to impress in the Premier League before returning to
his parent club.

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