Sunday, July 12

Daily WHUFC News - 12th July 2015

FT - Peterborough United 3-3 West Ham United
WHUFC.com

Pre-Season Friendly

FT: The full-time whistle blows and it has ended 3-3. A good, competitive workout for the Hammers in their first pre-season run-out and they certainly created a number of chances. Peterborough led early though Ricardo Almeidwa Santos, but the Hammers hit back with goals from Mark Noble, Diafra Sakho and Martin Samuelsen. Jon Taylor pulled one back before the break, and Michael Bostwick completed the scoring on the hour.

Slaven Bilic will be happy with the run-out, and we head into Birkirkara next on Thursday for the second qualifying round of the UEFA Europa League.

Reaction will follow here soon. Thanks for your company today and see you at the Boleyn Ground on Thursday!

86: Jack Collison takes his bow, replacing Harry Anderson from the bench. He gets a hearty welcome from all the fans present, not least from the Hammers contingent over in the corner.

84: Should be 4-3 West Ham. Alnwick's kick is along the ground and straight at Jaanai Gordon. He's at an angle, but the goal is gaping and the crowd waits to bulge. However, he finds the sidenetting instead and we're still level.

81: Nathan Mavila is the next to go close, forcing a fumble from Alnwick. However, there's nobody close enough to snaffle up the chance.

77: Amos Nasha, who made his first team debut off the bench late on at Lusitans on Thursday, has the first shot in a while, drilling an effort in from 30 yards. It's well struck, but ultimately straight at goalkeeper Alnwick, who holds on comfortably enough.

75: I must admit it's all gone a bit quiet here since that flurry of subsitutions. That's to be expected though, in such an early game with both teams finding their feet.

70: This will be a first look at this group of Hammers youngsters for a lot of the away fans here today. They won't get a better chance to impress the boss.

67: Martin Samuelsen was one of the players who departed the action on the hour and he made an impression on debut. Here's a pic of him celebrating his first half goal.

65: It's a youthful Hammers team out there, and Peterborough also took the opportunity to make wholesale changes. A very different game now to the one which started.

61: Straight after the goal, the Hammers made nine changes. Only Aaron Cresswell is left on the pitch from the starters and he's in central midfield. Elsewhere, we have Sam Howes in goal, Kyle Knoyle, Josh Pask, Doneil Henry and Stephen Hendrie across the back. Amos Nasha, Cresswell and Moses Makasi are in midfield, and Nathan Mavila, Jaanai Gordon and Djair Parfitt-Williams make up the front three.

60: Goal! To the other end and Peterborough win a penalty when Noble brings down Maddison in the box. Michael Bostwick steps up and drills low to the right with Adrian diving the other way.

58: The Hammers work another shooting chance from outside the box as they work it to Noble in space centrally. He has time to take a touch and shoot, but it's straight at Alnwick, who holds on.

56: The ball sits up nicely for Maiga on the edge of the box. It's on his left foot and he fancies it, but doesn't quite catch it right, with the shot flying behind for a goal kick.

53: The corner is half cleared, but Obiang wins it back on the edge of the box. He exchanges passes with Henry and crosses from the right. The ball spoons up and Nolan flicks a back header over Alnwick in goal. Collins completes the job by touching home, but the flag goes up for offside and it remains 3-2.

52: Cresswell lets fly from range and he really catches it, but the ball strikes the back of a defender and loops over.

50: Sakho shows an impressive turn of pace to run around the outside of Santos and burst into the box, but he used his hand to control and play is pulled back.

48: Kgosi Ntlhe gets forward to provide the first cross of the secunond half, but it's overhit and Collins can let it run across and to safety.

4.01pm We're back underway at the ABAX Stadium. Peterborough have made one change, with Harry Anderson replacing Jon Taylot. West Ham make one change too, Doneil Henry coming on for Winston Reid.

HT: Here's a pic of Mark Noble celebrating his goal at the ABAX Stadium.

HT: The half time whistle blows and it's certainly been value for money for the spectators in the opening period! Sakho has looked sharp, Obiang involved and Samielsen lively in midfield. Work to do defensively though and we'll be back in 15 minutes for the second half.

42: Adrian has to deal with a bouncy backpass from Reid, but does it well, crouching to control on his chest before thumping clear.

39: Goal! The goals keep on coming before the break. Michael Bostwick plays a ball forward and the Hammers' backline is slightly disjointed, allowing Jon Taylor to break the offside line, round Adrian and slot home.

34: Winston Reid catches Maddison in midfield as he goes for a loose ball. Maddison gets there first and is clattered, but his pass heads to Washington, so play continues. He passes square to Gormley. The chance is a good one, but he fires over and it's still 3-1.

30: Collins is never one to take any prisoners and he thunders into a tackle to win possession back for the Hammers on the edge of the box. The very definition of hard but fair.

28: Plenty of entertainment early on for the fans who have come to the ABAX Stadium this afternoon. Sakho has looked good too, clearly keen to atone for his red card on Thursday night.

23: GOAL! Just as we were saying Samuelsen looked lively he's added a goal to that. Cresswell did very well in the build-up, firing a pass into Sakho's feet and continuing his run into the box. Sakho laid off to the left-back, who checked and returned the favour. Sakho's shot is blocked by the defender, but the ball drops to Samuelsen, who fires into the bottom left hand corner. 3-1.

21: Peterborough look to respond with a run through Washington. He shows a good turn of pace, but Collins comes across to help Obiang out and between them snuff out the danger.

18: Martin Samuelsen, an 18-year-old summer signing for the Dev Squad from Man City, is looking lively, knitting together the midfield as the Hammers impose themselves on the game.

13: GOAL! Another! 2-1 to the Hammers immediately. The ball comes back to goalkeeper Anlwick and Sakho is rewarded for chasing a lost cause as the keeper's kick cannons off the Senegal frontman and flies in. 2-1 West Ham, eventful start.

12: GOAL! The Posh's lead didn't last long. A nice move from the Hammers sees Aaron Cresswell pasxs square to Nolan, who passes on to Mark Noble and he slides home neatly. 1-1.

11: So close to a leveller as Samuelsen drills in a shot from the edge of the box. It flicks off Nolan and Alnwick is wrongfooted, but he readjusts and tips onto the post.

10: Almost a second as Nolan is beaten to a pass from Samuelsen, allowing Peterborough to break. Anderson carries forward and the hosts have a man over. Maddison receives the ball and fires goalwards but Adrian palms up and grabs.

8: Goal! Petetborough lead. Ntlhe wins a corner down the left. The ball comes in and big defender Ricardo Almeidwa Santos times his run perfectly to leap high and power his header home. 1-0 Posh.

4: Peterborough now threaten for the first time and Washington crosses dangerously from the left. Winston Reid is facing his own goal but gets out of the way of the ball and it flashes across.

3: Aaron Cresswell shows some nifty footwork down the left to work space for a cross and he wins the first cotner of the game. Peterborough clear and Mark Noble tries his luck from outside the box but fires over.

2: The Hammers have begun the game in a 4-3-3 formation, with youngster Martin Samuelsen wide on the left and Modibo Maiga on the right. Diafra Sakho is the central frontman.

0: We're off and underway. Come on you Irons!

2.58pm Kevin Nolan leads the Hammers out onto the pitch - we're nearly ready for action in our first pre-season friendly.

2.45pm The teams are just finishing up their warm-ups. Here's a pic of Aaron Cresswell getting ready for his first run-out of the summer.

2.27pm We've got Peterborough team news now too...

Peterborough: Alnwick, Smith, Ntlhe, Anderson, Zakuani, Santos, Bostwick, Gormley, Washington, Maddison, Taylor
Subs: Edwards, Rowling, Brisley, Ferdinand, Lopes, Anderson, Payne and two trialists.

2.15pm The Hammers teamsheet is in!

We'll start with Adrian in goal, Alex Pike, Winston Reid, James Collins and Aaron Cresswell in midfield.

Pedro Obiang, Martin Samuelsen, Mark Noble and Kevin Nolan are in midfield, and Diafra Sakho partners Modibo Maiga up front.

Our subs bench is made up mainly of Development Squad and Academy players, with Sam Howes, Stephen Hendrie, Djair Parfitt-Williams, Josh Pask, Nathan Mavila, Jaanai Gordon, Moses Makasi, Amos Nasha, Kyle Knoyle and Doneil Henry the subs.

Good afternoon and welcome to our live coverage of the Hammers' first pre-season friendly against Peterborough United.

It's a sunny day here in Cambridgeshire and a healthy contingent of Hammers fans are expected to watch their new look ream in action.

We'll have team news soon so stay tuned for all the build-up to kick-off.

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Boleyn Insider
WHUFC.com

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

West Ham United progressed through to the second qualifying round of the Europa League but the victory in Andorra was affected by the early dismissal of Diafra Sakho. There have been a lot of stories circulating on how many games the Club's star striker will be forced to miss. My understanding is that the Senegal forward will miss a minimum of one game and more could be added when UEFA decide the final sanction at the meeting of their UEFA Control, Ethics and Disciplinary Body on Wednesday. The Club have been busy in the transfer market once again this week making their fifth summer signing. Juventus defender Angelo Ogbonna followed Darren Randolph, Stephen Hendrie, Pedro Obiang and Dimitri Payet into the Club and will provide even more competition for the likes of Winston Reid, James Tomkins and James Collins. I have been told that more new arrivals will follow in the coming weeks and my sources tell me that the priority is now bringing a right back and a striker to the Club.

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From the Newsroom - James Horncastle
WHUFC,com

Italian football expert and BT Sport pundit James Horncastle believes West Ham United have signed a player with the potential to succeed in the Barclays Premier League in Angelo Ogbonna…

Angelo Ogbonna was a player of great potential when he was coming through – he was getting called up to be a part of the Italy squad even when Torino were in the second division. That's how highly thought of he was, and Juventus paid a lot of money for him, close to €15m, in 2013.

There has been some reaction that West Ham are buying a Juventus reserve, but that defensive unit was one of the best in Europe. It has won four league titles in a row, did the double this year and could have had the treble with the Champions League and he played a part in that success.

I think he's well suited to be playing for a team who will be competing for a place in the Europa League and he has the skillset and physicality to be a success in England.

He is 6'3, and even though he didn't play as regularly as he wanted at Juventus, the experience has still been a positive one for him as he got to play with other great defenders, under great coaches and he's got to know what it's like to win things. I think that's important.

Also, tactically, the last couple of years have been really crucial to him too because he's had to adapt to playing in a back three, he's also had to play in a back four this year, so that gives Slaven Bilic options.

He's adaptable, so that works in his favour to do well at West Ham and in the Premier League.

I think Bilic could bring the aggressive side out of Ogbonna. To be fair to him, at Juventus he was caught between two stools as to what to be – the hard typical Italian defender like Chiellini or is the defender who brings the ball out like Bonucci.

It will be interesting to see the work that Bilic can do with him, to settle on one type of his game, and there's a lot of potential to be developed in Ogbonna.

Even when he hasn't been starting regularly for Juventus, his former coach there Antonio Conte has been calling him into the squad for Italy. So, West Ham have a centre back who, should he play every Saturday, will have the opportunity to play his best football.

He is the second player to join West Ham this summer after Pedro Obiang and I think there's an element in that of just how rich Premier League clubs are with the TV money coming in.

Serie A, aside from the likes of Juventus, Roma, Napoli and the Milan clubs, needs the money and can't really afford to refuse the kind of money put on the table by Premier League clubs.

Obiang is a really good signing and he has the physique and stamina to be a success in the Premier League. You look at some of the young players who have come through at Samp and gone on to bigger and better things – Mauro Icardi, the top scorer in Serie A last season, for example – so I think he's a top signing and is Premier League ready.

Follow James on Twitter @jameshorncastle

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Bilic wants more goals from midfield
WHUFC.com

West Ham United manager Slaven Bilic was pleased to see Mark Noble get on the scoresheet during the 3-3 draw with Peterborough and hopes all the midfielders will get among the goals this season.

Bilic was managing his first game in England and was pleased to see a number of first-team regulars get some crucial match time following their return from a fitness camp in Ireland.

Noble got West Ham back in the game with a clinical finish before Diafra Sakho continued his impressive start to the pre-season campaign with another goal.

New signing Martin Samuelsen also scored his first goal for the club and Bilic is now wanting to see all his midfielders add to their tally and take the pressure off the forwards.

Bilic said: "It is always good to see the strikers get among the goals. It is good for their confidence to keep scoring goals and we have to add more goals from midfield than we scored last year.

"That was missing and we cannot just rely on strikers. It is very important that people like Mark, Pedro, Kevin score their share of goals.

"It was good for the first game. We didn't want to give the guys from the first-team more than 60 minutes. But we did okay and it was good training.

"We were playing against good opponents on a good pitch in front of a good crowd. We played some really good football, but we conceded three goals and a sloppy penalty.

"But we were able to play some of the younger guys who didn't make the squad for the Europa League game in Andorra and it was good for everybody."

Bilic had special praise for talented youngster Samuelsen who capped an impressive debut with a well taken goal and hopes he can fulfil his potential following his summer move from Manchester City.

Bilic added: "Martin was lively and is a very talented player. You can see that he has quick feet and a quick way to control the ball which is very important. He can be very useful."

The West Ham United manager made a number of changes during the second half and switched Aaron Cresswell into an unfamiliar central midfield position, but he was pleased to see the Hammer of the Year show his versatility.

"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.

"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."

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Noble impressed by 'fantastic' Slaven
WHUFC,com

Mark Noble got his 2015/16 season off to a fine start with a goal and a typically bullish performance during Saturday's 3-3 friendly draw at Peterborough United.

The match marked new manager Slaven Bilic's first full game in charge and it was clear that the 20 players who appeared in claret and blue were keen to impress their new boss. Noble, who was joined on the scoresheet by Diafra Sakho and Martin Samuelsen, is already talking up the impact made by Bilic, but admitted it will take some time for his philosophy to be fully instilled on the squad.

"We've got a new manager and new ways and the lads will have to get used to it," Noble said. "Once the lads get used to it, the new manager will drill in to us how he wants us to play and how we're going to gel together.

"Slaven is an approachable man and he has made it clear that we can approach him. He's been fantastic up until now but it's still pre-season so it's not normally well into the season that you see the real character of the manager.

"We had Sam for four years and he did fantastically for the club after getting us promoted and then three more years in the Premier League. But there are now a bunch of new staff and new players and I'm looking forward to working with them all."

The starting XI offered Noble and the likes of Adrian, Winston Reid, James Collins, Aaron Cresswell, Kevin Nolan and Modibo Maiga their first match action of pre-season, before a host youngsters saw out the final 30 minutes. New signings Martin Samuelsen and Pedro Obiang also got their first games in a West Ham shirt and showed the potential they will add to Bilic's squad.

"We felt good out there and a 3-3 draw is an entertaining one for the supporters. It was the first 45 minutes back and everyone came through it, which is the main thing.

"My legs feel fine. We've had a good ten days training in Ireland and we did a lot of work out there. You can tell by the way the boys have come back for pre-season that they've done a lot of work to keep themselves in shape over the summer."

With UEFA Europa League commitments meaning there have effectively been two separate pre-seasons going on at the same time, Monday will see normal service resume and Noble is looking forward to re-joining some familiar faces on the training pitch.

"It's been a bit of a strange pre-season and normally everyone is together but we haven't seen many of the other boys like Joey O'Brien and James Tomkins and only saw Diafra Sakho for the first time after he got back from Andorra.

"It's a little bit strange but then we can all gel together as a team and get the new signings training with us every day and hopefully we can have that as an almost new start to our pre-season."

The five new signings made thus far are all expected to report to Chadwell Heath on Monday, when Obiang will be joined by Dimitri Payet, Angelo Ogbonna, Stephen Hendrie and Darren Randolph. The Board have promised further new additions and Noble is excited by the ambition being shown.

"I'm pleased with the investment made and we need to as it's a big season for us and we need to spend money to compete with the rest of the teams. We've brought Dimitri, Angelo and Pedro in and we need to now gel together on Monday and push on from there.

"They'll be players coming in and some going out, but that's pre-season. You never know what's going to happen but we seem to be making the right moves off the pitch, which can hopefully help us on it."

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Standing ovation for Collison
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 11th July 2015
By: Staff Writer

West Ham fans gave former Hammer Jack Collison a rousing reception as he warmed up during today's pre-season friendly at London Road.
Collison, who was released by West Ham last summer signed a one-year deal with the Posh at the end of May as he attempts to rebuild a career halted by a series of injuries. And travelling Hammers fans gave the 26-year-old former Welsh international a standing ovation as he warmed up on the touchline during this afternoon's 3-3 draw between the two sides.

West Ham were held to a draw in the match which ended 3-3; Collison played the last five minutes as a late substitute.

Peterborough Utd: Alnwick (Alnwick 60), Smith (Adebayo-Rowling 60), Ntlhe, J Anderson (Payne 60), Zakuani (60), Almeida (60), Santos (Da Silva Lopes 60), Bostwick (Ferdinand 60), Gormley (Brisley 60), Washington (Trialist 60), Maddison (Trialist 60), Taylor (H Anderson 46, Collison 85).

West Ham Utd: Adrian (Howes 60), Reid (Henry 46), Cresswell, Nolan (Pask 60), Obiang (Mavilla 60), Maiga (Gordon 60), Samuelsen (Parfitt-Williams 60), Sakho (Makasi 60), Noble (Nasha 60), Pike (Hendry 60), Collins (Knoyle 60).

Attendance: 3,916.

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Behrami back in the BPL
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 11th July 2015
By: Staff Writer

Former Hammer Valon Behrami is back in the Premier League - this time with newly-promoted Watford. The Swiss international spent two-and-a-half years with West Ham before leaving in January 2011 to join Serie A side Fiorentina in a £2million switch. And it was confirmed this afternoon (Saturday) that he has returned to England having signed for the Hornets, who are back in the top flight for 2015/16 having won automatic promotion last season. Behrami was signed from Lazio on Gianfranco Zola's watch in the summer of 2008 for £5million. He went on to make 63 appearances for the Hammers before returning to Italy in 2011. After just 18 months back in Italy with Fiorentina, Behrami was on the move again, this time joining Napoli for an undisclosed fee. Last July he moved to the Bundesliga in order to join Hamburg, but despite signing a three-year deal is on his way back to England.

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West Ham new boy Dimitri Payet will have season disrupted due to court appearance in Africa
21:43, 11 JULY 2015
BY STEVE GOODMAN
The France international has landed a driving ban for speeding while holidaying on the Indian Ocean island Reunion
The Mirror

West Ham new boy Dimitri Payet will have his season disrupted – by a court appearance in Africa, report the Sunday People. The France international has landed a driving ban for speeding while holidaying on the Indian Ocean island Reunion. He also had his £70,000 car towed away. Payet, an £11million Hammers buy from Marseille, will now have to face a judge on the island in September. Cops caught the midfielder doing 106mph on a 55mph road in his Audi Quattro RS5 on July 3. They seized the supercar and confiscated the 28-year-old's licence. He risks a three-year ban and £1,000 fine. Former Saint-Etienne ace Payet was born on Reunion, a former French colony, and was visiting family and friends.

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Collison: Samuelsen could be the 'surprise packet'
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 11, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Jack Collison watched West Ham teenage wing sensation, Martin Samuelsen, from the Peterborough dugout this afternoon and then purred: this lad has the potential to be the real deal!

The former Hammer – now with The Posh – was highly impressed with Samulesen's overall contribution during the 3-3 friendly draw. And he told Claret and Hugh: "It's very early, but the skill level is obvious. He was brilliant at times and looks as though he could even break through this year. It was hard not to be impressed. He's great."

Jack was delighted with the welcome he got from the Irons fans when he made his Posh bow four minutes from the end and said: "It was just great to get back out there. I will settle in slowly but it was all good."

Collison was also impressed with his mate Mark Noble saying: "He put in the type of shift you'd expect: the man's a different class. But I hope the Hammers give young Samuelsen his chance – maybe a run out in the next Europa Cup games.

"He could be a real surprise packet for them. He excited me and excited the crowd. The Hammers look in very good nick and the boy Samuelsen could be anything!"

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Samuelson/Noble please Slav
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 11, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

Boss Slaven Bilic was delighted to see Mark Noble score in the 3-3 draw with Peterborough and wants all the midfielders to get among the goals this term. Noble scored the first before Diafra Sakho grabbed the second and teenager Martin Samuelsen the third in an entertainag affair. Bilic commented to the official site: "It is always good to see the strikers get among the goals. It is good for their confidence to keep scoring goals and we have to add more goals from midfield than we scored last year. "That was missing and we cannot just rely on strikers. It is very important that people like Mark, Pedro, Kevin score their share of goals. "It was good for the first game. We didn't want to give the guys from the first-team more than 60 minutes. But we did okay and it was good training. "We were playing against good opponents on a good pitch in front of a good crowd. We played some really good football, but we conceded three goals and a sloppy penalty. "But we were able to play some of the younger guys who didn't make the squad for the Europa League game in Andorra and it was good for everybody."

Bilic had special praise for talented youngster Samuelsen who capped an impressive debut with a well taken goal and hopes he can fulfil his potential following his summer move from Manchester City. Bilic added: "Martin was lively and is a very talented player. You can see that he has quick feet and a quick way to control the ball which is very important. He can be very useful." "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. "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."

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Gold singles out teenager's Posh display
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 11, 2015 in News, Whispers
C AND H

David Gold has been quick to single out 18 year old Martin Samuelsen as on to watch following the Irons 3-3 draw at Peterborough United this afternoon (Sat). The Norwegian teenager grabbed the third goal as the Irons took a 3-1 lead who fired into the bottom corner after a build up involving Aaron Cresswell and Diafra Sakho. The former Manchester City academy prospect was bright all afternoon and following the game Gold tweeted: "Watch out for 18 year old Martin Samuelson, looks a player. dg " The game finished all square at 3-3 with boss Slaven Bilic taking the opportunity of parading a large number of Development Squad players . Modibo Maiga also featured.

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