The first-team squad have been hard at work as they prepare for the new
season next month
03.07.2008
Chadwell Heath came alive again on Thursday as the West Ham United
first-team squad returned for pre-season training.
The training ground was once more in full swing with plenty of good-natured
banter ringing out as the coaching staff put the players through their paces
on a sunny morning. It was the first day back for all since the end of the
season on 11 May although several players such as Lucas Neill and Lee Bowyer
have been coming in for extra work. Today, Carlton Cole was the first to
show on the newly-laid pitches while George McCartney and Matthew
Etherington were sporting new short haircuts.
Among those also taking part in the group session were fit-again Craig
Bellamy, Matthew Upson and Julien Faubert while Kieron Dyer and James
Collins were also involved as part of their personal programmes. A
five-strong contingent of goalkeepers - namely Robert Green, Richard Wright,
Jimmy Walker, Marek Stech and David Blackmore - did specialist work with
coach Ludek Miklosko.
With just two weeks to go until the first pre-season friendly away to
Hampton and Richmond Borough, the players were very quickly down to business
with an extra session in the afternoon. The day also included an intense
session of gym work while it was also the first opportunity to try out the
new Barclays Premier League official match ball, which will be used
competitively for the first time when it all kicks off against Wigan
Athletic at the Boleyn Ground on 16 August. Watch out for reaction and video
coverage to come on whufc.com
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Giving youth a chance - WHUFC
Tony Carr is rightly proud of the progress made by Academy youngsters but
the work never stops
03.07.2008
"We are actively looking for the eight or nine year old who is going to be
the next Freddie Sears or the next star for the football club."
Tony Carr has been helping West Ham United produce young players for 35
years and the enthusiasm is as strong as ever. Although still buoyed by the
achievements of Sears alongside James Tomkins and Jack Collison last season,
Carr has already turned his attention to the future. "I have said many times
before it is like a conveyor belt," he said. "The players come on and then
hopefully come off at the other end as first-team players. It never stops
and runs all the way through the age groups. It is the ones that can stay on
there the longest that are successful."
The Academy set-up last season and the ability of youngsters to make it into
the reserves and first team is something that Carr believes is a credit to
West Ham United. "At youth level, we achieved a good balance there of
playing and resting players. No one has been overplayed and for the youth
team to finish runners-up to Arsenal for the second year running and the
reserves going into their last game with a slim chance of winning the league
says a lot of good things about how the young players have performed in both
teams. I am pleased that they have achieved those levels.
"The ultimate success of our academy last year is we have had three former
academy players make debuts in the Premier League. Not many can say that and
it is something we are really proud about. It is not only now that we can
point to that but over many seasons as well. For a young promising player,
West Ham is the place to be beacuse you get good coaching, a good
environment and a club that believes in youth and will give it a chance. We
don't just promise it, we deliver it and I think that's the key."
Sears, Tomkins and Collison are proof of that approach and Carr predicts a
big season ahead for the trio to build on their achievements. He said: "All
those three boys have had a taste and it is up to them to work that bit
harder and use the experience again to want a little bit more of it."
Carr on Sears
He is a true product of the Academy system. Freddie has been here since he
was eight or nine years old. He is a local lad who lives in Essex and is a
West Ham fan from a West Ham family. He got himself a place on the bench
through his efforts in training and all the goals he had scored with the
youth team. There is no better way to announce your arrival in the Premier
League than to score the winning goal at Upton Park. It was fantastic. It
was shades of Tony Cottee's debut ... he has got a lot to live up to but he
has had a great start.
Carr on Tomkins
James again has been here since he was eight or nine. Again he is an Essex
lad and has always been West Ham. He may have come to the fore a year before
but unfortunately he broke his collarbone and had some complications. He has
had to be patient with almost having a season out injured. For him now to be
part of the first team and holding his own, doing well and getting great
experience makes us all very proud.
Carr on Collison
Jack came from Cambridge United. We had a look at two or three of their
players that were looking for clubs. We had a trial game and saw Jack play.
We liked what we saw and signed him. We thought he had great potential. We
have worked with him now for three years and he has become a much better
player and has really pushed himself to the fore. He leads by example and is
full of running and endeavour. Every game is 110 per cent effort from him.
He is an infectious character. He has done very well.
Who's next?
Marek Stech has had an excellent couple of seasons. He is a promising young
goalkeeper and I am sure he has got a great future. Junior Stanislas and
Jordan Spence have been regulars for the youth team and the reserves. Both
had very good seasons. Junior has been called into the England U19 squad on
occasion and Jordan is captain of England U17 and on the fringes of the U19s
as well. They are promising players that we should all keep an eye on. That
is what we are talking about, the conveyor belt. We are looking for the next
in line and we are hoping the conveyor belt continues.
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Parker looking to push on - WHUFC
Scott Parker wants to pick up where he left off last season as he throws
himself into pre-season training
04.07.2008
Scott Parker is pleased to be back in training and delighted to see so many
players getting ready for the new season.
The England international finished last season strongly with a run of ten
consecutive games in the heart of the midfield after a frustrating first
campaign at the Boleyn Ground. He was raring to go still when the campaign
drew to a close on 11 May. "The season ended a bit short for me really as I
was making good progress after the stop-start season," he said. "Towards the
end I got plenty of games and got where I needed to be. Hopefully from there
I can push on this season and can build on that."
Parker did relish the chance to relax during June but said he never fully
switched off from his playing duties. "I have had a good break. I went away
with the family and just chilled out really. Nowadays you still have to do a
bit of fitness in the close-season with the way the game is today and the
games coming in such quick succession." Indeed, the club's first pre-season
match is fast approaching on 17 July away to Hampton and Richmond Borough -
which explains the intensity of training this week.
Even if he has kept himself ticking over and has made sure he stayed in
shape, the 27-year-old admitted to having "mixed" feelings about the first
few days with his team-mates back at Chadwell Heath. "I don't really look
forward to it as it is four weeks of running around and very hard work but
it is obviously nice to see all the lads and catch up. It was especially
good to come back and train with a near enough fit squad which is one thing
we need to try to maintain this season."
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Sears and Tomkins make cut - WHUFC
Freddie Sears and James Tomkins have made it into the 18-man squad for the
UEFA U19 Euro this month
03.07.2008
Freddie Sears and James Tomkins have been confirmed in England's 18-man
squad for the European Under-19 Championship in the Czech Republic between
14-26 July.
The duo spent the first part of this week at the National Football Centre in
Burton-on-Trent before returning to club duties for the start of pre-season
training this morning. They will link up again with England before heading
out to Liberec next week for the tournament's opening game against the host
nation on Monday 14 July. The Czechs have not named goalkeeper Marek Stech
in their selection.
Speaking to the FA.com, England coach Noel Blake, who works with head coach
Brian Eastick, said: "We're taking a strong squad over to the Czech Repubic
and a few of the players in the 18 have played first team games for their
clubs, such as Victor Moses at Crystal Palace and both Tomkins and Sears
with West Ham, so that's good experience for them."
In Group B of the eight-nation tournament, England will also take on Italy
on 17 July and Greece on 20 July in Jablonec and Liberec respectively in the
hope of reaching the semi-finals. Group A comprises Spain, Italy, Greece and
Hungary.
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Freddie ready for finals - WHUFC
England's key striker at Under-19 level, Freddie Sears cannot wait to play a
part at this summer's Euro
03.07.2008
Freddie Sears has been speaking about his selection for England in this
month's European Under-19 Championship in the Czech Republic.
The West Ham United striker was a key man in qualification, not least with
his double strike in the 2-0 win against Poland that helped the Young Lions
win the decisive Elite round mini-tournament played in Belarus back in May.
"It's been a good year and we've done well and stuck together as a group,"
he told TheFA.com. "There have been a few injuries and different people
coming in, but overall it's a good squad.
"Tournaments are different because you play so many games in a short space
of time, so it's all about recovery really and Belarus should set us up well
for the finals," the 18-year-old added. "Obviously we are going to see great
players out there because a few of the best players in the world have played
at this tournament. You expect different things from different teams, so it
should be good." He will be joined by James Tomkins in the 18-man squad.
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Moore than just a club - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 3rd July 2008
By: Staff Writer
The exclusive Corinthians Club is being renamed the Bobby Moore Club in
honour of West Ham United's World-Cup winning captain. The club - which
offers membership of the exclusive Stoke Park Club and top facilities at
Wembley Stadium - will be rebranded during July. A letter to members sent
earlier this week stated that 'the Bobby Moore Club was identified as the
name that could truly reflect the synergies between one of the most
prestigious members' clubs in the world and England's best loved footballing
hero.' However anyone wishing to become a member will have to have deep
pockets; a season 'fee' will set you back nearly £6,000 whilst a license fee
over £16,000. The Corinthian Football Club was founded back in 1882, whilst
the Stoke Park Club followed in 1908. Click here for more details.
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A Stetch in time - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 3rd July 2008
By: Staff Writer
Academy chief Tony Carr has been looking ahead to the next batch of young
stars likely to make the step up from youth team to first team. Last year
was a golden year for Carr who saw three Academy products - Fred Sears, Jack
Collison and James Tomkins - make their debuts for Alan Curbishley's first
XI. It was the most productive year for the Academy since the late 1990s
when Carr's team produced Rio Ferdinand, Joe Cole and Michael Carrick from
their ranks - players that later commanded combined transfer fees of £27
million (and are now worth at least double that). Since then, only Mark
Noble and Anton Ferdinand have gone from the Academy to become first team
regulars. However that is all set to change with Carr citing three more
exciting youngsters set to challenge for a place in the first team squad at
some point."[Goalkeeper] Marek Stech has had an excellent couple of
seasons," Carr told whufc.com. "He is a promising young goalkeeper and I am
sure he has got a great future. "Junior Stanislas and Jordan Spence have
been regulars for the youth team and the reserves; both had very good
seasons. Junior has been called into the England under-19 squad on occasion
and Jordan is captain of England under-17 and on the fringes of the
under-19s as well. " They are promising players that we should all keep an
eye on. That is what we are talking about, the conveyor belt. We are looking
for the next in line and we are hoping the conveyor belt continues."
Carr added that he was 'pleased' at the emergence of the aforementioned
trio, adding: "The ultimate success of our academy last year is we have had
three former academy players make debuts in the Premier League. Not many can
say that and it is something we are really proud about. "For a young
promising player, West Ham is the place to be because you get good coaching,
a good environment and a club that believes in youth and will give it a
chance. "We don't just promise it, we deliver it and I think that's the
key."
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Threesy does it - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 3rd July 2008
By: Staff Writer
Tony Carr says that he is looking forward to watching how his Academy
triumvirate cope with their second season of Premier League football. Fred
Sears, James Tomkins and Jack Collison all made their first team debuts last
season and will be hoping to emulate and better those achievements in the
2008/09 season. Carr - who admits to being 'really proud' at the trio's
emergence - firmly believes that all three can kick on and become regulars
in the first team squad. But he warned that they cannot afford to take their
foot off the gas. "All those three have had a taste and it is up to them to
work that bit harder and use the experience again to want a little bit more
of it," he told whufc.com. "Freddie is a local lad who is a West Ham fan
from a West Ham family. He got himself a place on the bench through his
efforts in training and all the goals he had scored with the youth team. He
has got a lot to live up to but he has had a great start. "James has had to
be patient. For him now to be part of the first team and holding his own,
doing well and getting great experience makes us all very proud. We have
worked with Jack for three years now and he has become a much better player
and done very well. "I have said many times before it is like a conveyor
belt. The players come on and then hopefully come off at the other end as
first-team players. It is the ones that can stay on there the longest that
are successful."
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Anton keeping schtum - KUMB
Filed: Thursday, 3rd July 2008
By: Staff Writer
Anton Ferdinand has dismissed rumours linking him with a move to pastures
new - for now. The United centre-half, talking to SkySports this morning
revealed that he had heard nothing regarding bids from clubs such as Aston
Villa and Newcastle, both of whom have been linked with a move for the
23-year-old. Speaking from Africa this morning where he is currently
involved in a charity project, Ferdinand said: "It's just speculation. Until
I get back to London I don't know what is going on. "For me personally,
until Alan Curbishley says I am not a West Ham player, then I will be a West
Ham player. "I love playing for the club."
Ferdinand has been linked with several clubs since the end of last season
after rumours suggesting West Ham United had placed an £8m million price tag
on his head first arose. Tottenham have already denied any interest whilst
Aston Villa and Newcastle are said to be monitoring the situation closely.
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Ferdinand focused on Hammers - SSN
Defender unconcerned by speculation
By Peter Fraser Last updated: 3rd July 2008
Anton Ferdinand insists that he is unaware of any interest from clubs
attempting to lure him away from West Ham. The defender is believed to be a
target of Aston Villa and Newcastle as sides begin to return to pre-season
training. However, Ferdinand, 23, is adamant that he will remain focused
upon life at Upton Park until manager Alan Curbishley tells him otherwise.
"It's just speculation," Ferdinand told Sky Sports News while undertaking
charity work in Africa. "Until I get back to London I don't know what is
going on. "For me personally, until Alan Curbishley says I am not a West Ham
player, then I will be a West Ham player. I love playing for the club."
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I Will Never Forget This Trip
From OLIVER HARVEY
Nairobi, Kenya
HE is the Premier League star who passed up a summer of boozing, WAGs and
luxury beach holidays to visit the disease-ravaged slums of Africa. While
many footie multi-millionaires - including Manchester United wizard
Cristiano Ronaldo - have been sunning themselves from the Med to Miami, West
Ham and England star Robert Green was visiting fly-infested Aids clinics in
the shanty towns of Kenya. Holding two-week-old Michelle Kendi, whose mum
has been struck down by the HIV virus, the £2million goalie confessed: "The
next time I moan about staying in a five-star hotel before a big match I'll
think about the people in this place. "Their stories really hit me hard.
I've seen a family of six living in a shack smaller than my kitchen who have
witnessed so much misery. "They watched from a maize field as people were
hacked with machetes and burned alive. "Footballers live in a bubble. It's a
wonderful life but I want to experience other things. I can't remember what
I did for a holiday last summer. But I'll remember this trip forever."
Robert, 28, spent three weeks working up to eight hours a day in slums to
raise awareness for African charity AMREF, the African Medical and Research
Foundation. His trip included a gruelling climb last Saturday of Africa's
highest peak, the near-20,000ft Mount Kilimanjaro in neighbouring Tanzania,
to raise thousands of pounds for the charity. Robert added: "It's not St
Tropez here, that's for sure."
The Sun caught up with the player in Kenya's capital Nairobi before he
returned yesterday for pre-season training. The city has experienced some
of the nation's worst ethnic violence following elections. It is also home
to Kibera, Africa's second-biggest slum, where 1.2million people cram into
630 acres of mud and tin-roofed shacks. There are open sewers everywhere,
HIV is rampant and tuberculosis is common. The first thing Robert noticed as
he stepped from the charity's jeep was the stench. It is a caustic mixture
of burning plastic, wood fires and human waste. He said: "The smell was
overpowering. It stayed in my nostrils and on my clothes."
Robert was surrounded by a mob of laughing children, clutching his hand and
yelling: "How are you?" The slum dwellers knew him because, after religion,
Premier League football is the obsession here. On every street corner
ramshackle huts screen live games where fans are charged 12p to watch a
match.
Many proudly wear replica Manchester United, Arsenal and England shirts. The
filthy pathways are littered with plastic bags. AMREF social worker Dorcus
Kimathi, 35, said: "The bags are what we call flying toilets. At night
people are too scared to leave their houses to use the communal toilets for
fear of criminals. So they use bags and throw them over the houses. "Life
here is pathetic. The Government is always promising to improve things but
thousands of people here are still waiting."
Robert holds two-week-old Michelle Kendi, who was born in this fetid
settlement. Her single mum Mildred, 22, lives in the one room of a tiny mud
hut with her two children. She shares a bathroom with 120 others. Many here
survive on just 50p a day. Mildred told the footballer: "I had an HIV test
when I lost my husband in 2005. The test was positive. I was shocked and
devastated but, after therapy sessions with AMREF, I was able to cope.
"There is a stigma with HIV. When my neighbours found out I had it they
wouldn't use the same washing line as me and started scrubbing the bathroom
I use."
AMREF pays for Mildred's HIV treatment. She gets an allowance from the
charity for counselling work she does with others with HIV. Robert then sat
choked with emotion after meeting Mildred's neighbour, mum-of-three Felestus
Amina, 36, who described the harrowing scenes she had witnessed during the
election riots. She said: "I watched as a man was stabbed to death. A mob
stabbed him with arrows again and again because he was from one tribe and
they were from another. I got caught with tear gas and have a problem with
my left eye. Now I'm two months behind with the rent."
Felestus is HIV positive too and receives free drugs and counselling from
AMREF. Robert said: "It was very moving listening to these women's stories."
He toured an AMREF clinic, which is funded by our Lottery, and saw schools,
toilets and clean water paid for by the charity. The star, who is single,
said: "I'm not damning football. It has been my life for 20 years and I love
it. "But now, when people say 'What have you done with your life?' I can say
I've seen another side of life in Africa."
To donate go to justgiving.com/robertgreenkiliclimb .
Cheques payable to AMREF UK can be sent to AMREF, Clifford's Inn, Fetter
Lane, London EC4A 1BZ.
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Hammers boss Curbishley set to bring in teenage star Eyjolfsson - Daily Mail
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 9:45 AM on 03rd July 2008
West Ham's first signing of the summer is expected to be highly-rated
defender Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson. The 17-year-old Icelander impressed manager
Alan Curbishley on trial from HK Kopavogur last season, and the Hammers are
likely to announce a permanent deal by the end of the week. Eyjolfsson is a
centre-half but has impressed as a holding midfielder. He was also wanted by
Bayern Munich and had a trial at Hertha Berlin but has decided to join West
Ham, who are owned by his fellow Icelander Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson. One
defender who could be leaving Upton Park is Anton Ferdinand, with Tottenham
and Aston Villa tracking the £10million-rated star.
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Ferdinand focused on Hammers - TeamTalk
Centre-back Anton Ferdinand insists that he is unaware of any interest from
clubs attempting to lure him away from West Ham. The defender is believed to
be a target for Aston Villa and Newcastle as sides begin to return to
pre-season training. However, Ferdinand, 23, is adamant that he will remain
focused upon life at Upton Park until manager Alan Curbishley tells him
otherwise. "It's just speculation," Ferdinand told Sky Sports News while
undertaking charity work in Africa. "Until I get back to London I don't know
what is going on. "For me personally, until Alan Curbishley says I am not a
West Ham player, then I will be a West Ham player. I love playing for the
club."
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Wright could right man for Ipswich - TeamTalk
Ipswich boss Jim Magilton is close to completing the signing of a new
goalkeeper ahead of the new Championship season. Magilton, who has been
without a number one since the departure of Neil Alexander last season, is
expected to have a new shot-stopper in place over the next couple of days.
Former loanee Stephen Bywater was thought to be in the running to land a
permanant deal but Magilton confirmed this week he would not be pursuing the
Derby man any further. However, ex-England international Richard Wright is
now firmly in the frame. Magilton told the club's official website: "It's
been well documented that we would be interested in Richard if he is
available but we have also enquired about other keepers. "It can be a slow
process bringing in players. "Patience is not something that comes easily to
me but the most important factor is that we get the right player at this
football club."
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Ben Hunt Signs From West Ham - Vital Football
Bristol Rovers have today signed teenage striker Ben Hunt from Premiership
West Ham. Youngsters Ben Swallow, James Tyrell and Joe White have all been
given professional contracts after impressing Lennie Lawrence and Paul
Trollope
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Bilic's legacy still around at Upton Park? By Steve Turner - fansonline.net
Posted on Thursday 03 Jul 2008 10:20:00
News that West Ham are interested in signing the Croation striker Josip
Tadic was met with pleasant surprise by the player today. Tadic, 20, plays
for homeland side Dinamo Zagreb and has already featured for the Under-21s.
"I don't know what to say. I'm very surprised, in a positive way of course,"
he said in a paper in Croatia, possibly called Croatia Today. "It would be
nice to play for the club for which Slaven Bilic and Igor Stimac once
played." The frontman once played for Bayer Leverkusen, but didn't do too
well, and has since joined his home side, where he is contracted until 2011.
Earlier this year he scored a hat-trick in Dinamo's 6-1 victory over NK
Rijeka. His official website, which bizarrely links to a girl with a
backpack, says he is quiet and professional, respected by his teammates and
coaches. So, replacement for Bellamy then? Well, this one may have legs,
though you'd have to wonder whether bringing the Croation equivalent of
Carlton Cole would make any sense.
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Ferdinand dismisses Villa link - ExpressandStar.com
West Ham defender Anton Ferdinand has dismissed reports linking him with a
move to Villa as "just speculation." Reports continue to suggest that the
Hammers are interested in offloading the centre-back, with Villa thought to
be the main contenders in the hunt for his signature. On the day Curtis
Davies offically became a Villa player in a permanent £10million deal from
West Brom, any dreams of partnering Davies with Ferdinand appear to be
evaporating into the mist. He said: "It's just speculation. Until Alan
Curbishley tells me I am not a West Ham player, then I'll be a West Ham
player. I love playing for the club."
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Hammers win defender race - Clubcall
20080703 11:14
Alan Curbishley is said to be on the verge of making his first summer
signing in the shape of Icelandic defender Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson. The West
Ham boss has been keeping an eye on the 17-year-old defender after he
impressed whilst on trial from HK Kopavogur last season. He can also play in
the the midfield and was wanted by Bayern Muncih as well as Hertha Berlin
where he had another successful trial. It is thought the presence of owner
and fellow Icelander Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson at Upton Park may be what has
tipped the transfer in the Hammers' favour.
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HAMMERS TALK: Curbs sets sights on Croatian hitman - Guardian Series
WEST Ham boss Alan Curbishley could be set to reinforce his attacking
options with the signature of Croatian hitman Josip Tadic. Injury prone
Craig Bellamy missed a large part of last season while rumours persist about
Bobby Zamora's future at Upton Park. Tadic currently plays in his homeland
for Dinamo Zagreb and has also appeared for the Croatian U21 side. He is
contracted to Dinamo until 2011 but has told Croatian press that an offer
from the Londoners would be extremely tempting. "I don't know what to say.
I'm very surprised, in a positive way of course," he said. "It would be nice
to play for the club for which Slaven Bilic and Igor Stimac once played."
The 20-year-old hitman has had one previous forray outside of Zagreb, when
he had an unsuccessful season at German club Bayer Leverkusen.
9:00am today
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