WHUFC.com
Tony Carr was all smiles after watching his West Ham United U18s thrash
Colchester United
01.08.2009
Tony Carr admitted to being hugely impressed after watching his West Ham
United Under-18 side overcome Colchester United 5-0 on Saturday. The Academy
Director was in fine humour after seeing Nick Barrett, Daniel Subuola,
Daniel Purdy, Jack Werndly and Simone Bezziccheri hit the target at Little
Heath. With the first-team squad preparing to fly home from Barclays Asia
Trophy duty in China and a number of second-year scholars turning out for
the reserves at Kingstonian on Friday evening, Carr named a largely U17 side
to take on the U's. The youngsters responded superbly, going into half-time
2-0 up before adding three further strikes after the interval. Despite the
use of rolling substitutes, Carr said his players had produced a fluent,
confident display. Carr, who has recently returned from leading a coaching
course at the West Ham United USA Academy at the Hammers' partner club,
Alpharetta United, in Atlanta, Georgia, was pleased with his squad. "It was
a good performance," he said. "I was very pleased with it. We passed the
ball very well, especially considering three or four of them had had a 15 or
20 minute run out at Kingstonian the night before. "We played very well.
Obviously you can only play as well as the opposition allow you to and we
dominated the game from start to finish. I was very happy with the result
and we could even have added a couple more goals at the end."
Carr was also happy with his trip to the United States, where he spent three
days working with young players. "I went away to the USA Academy, where we
held a three-day training camp at Alpharetta in Atlanta," he explained.
"Even though the conditions were extremely hot and humid, we got some good
work done with some promising young footballers."
Back home, the U18s will return to action at Reading on Wednesday before
hosting Ipswich Town in their final domestic pre-season friendly at Little
Heath on Saturday 8 August. The scholars will then travel to the Netherlands
for an international tournament before returning to England for their
opening FA Premier Academy League fixture at Everton on Saturday 22 August.
West Ham United U18: Loveday, Smith, McNaughton, Lampe, Driver, Barrett,
Moncur, Turgot, Wearen, Abdulla, Subuola
Used subs: Mehmet, Craig, Fanimo, Purdy, Werndly, Vose, Bezziccheri
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Forward thinking for Edgar
WHUFC.com
WHUTV caught up with Anthony Edgar after a West Ham United XI side beat
Kingstonian 3-0
01.08.2009
Anthony Edgar was one of a number of youngsters that shone as a West Ham
United XI side hit three goals for the second consecutive game in the 3-0
win at Kingstonian on Friday.
Edgar formed part of a three-pronged attacked alongside Frank Nouble and
Cristian Montano that caused the home side endless problems. Defender
Matthew Fry opened the scoring midway through the first half when he turned
in an Edgar free-kick from six yards out. Nouble added a second seven
minutes later with a fine solo effort before grabbing his second after a
defensive mix-up three minutes after the break.
"I think we played well and the whole team stuck together," Edgar told
WHUTV. "We kept the ball, but it was hard as they were in for the battle and
were kicking us. But I think we did well and it was very competitive.
"It was hard but everyone had good technical ability out there and we moved
the ball well with one and two touch passing and created some good
opportunities."
After the match former West Ham defender Ian Pearce, who was lining up in
attack for Kingstonian, was full of praise for West Ham's forward line and
Edgar explained that he believes the arrival of Nouble can only help his own
game.
"It's great that Frank has come to the club. I like the style of football
that he plays. He knows where my runs are and I know where his runs are and
hopefully we can carry it on," he said.
The 18-year-old revealed that reserve-team manger Alex Dyer ensured that his
young side were only concentrating on their own performances during his
pre-match team talk.
"Alex Dyer said to us before the game that these players want to do well and
want to impress because they are playing West Ham. He told us all you need
to do is keep your head and keep the ball and we'll get the goals. I think
we did that well."
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West Ham sign left-back Daprela
BBC.co.uk
West Ham have signed Swiss left-back Fabio Daprela from Grasshopper Club
Zurich for an undisclosed fee. Daprela, 18, agreed a five-year deal with the
Hammers after flying in to sign from the Uefa European Under-19 Championship
in Ukraine. "I am very happy to come here as it is a great club with a
great manager," he told West Ham's website. "I want to play in the first
team in the Premier League. I'm looking forward to the season starting."
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Upson fee too pricey
ExpressandStar.co.uk
Villa's transfer-window frustration continued today after they were priced
out of a move for West Ham defender Matthew Upson, writes Brendan
McLoughlin. It is understood Villa, who face Juventus in tomorrow's Peace
Cup final after beating Porto 2-1 last night, were interested in offering
the former Blues defender a route back to the Second City as his search for
a new centre-back continues. But boss Martin O'Neill has been put off by the
Hammers' £15m price for the England international.
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Jimenez a coup for cautious Zola
TeamTalk
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola insists the Hammers have pulled off a coup
by signing Luis Jimenez on a season-long loan. The biggest change at Upton
Park was the club being taken over by asset management company CB Holding,
with chairman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson and vice-chairman Asgeir Fridgeirsson
resigning from the board.
Fans have been assured there will be investment in players, although boss
Zola indicated at the end of last season there would not be radical changes
to his squad as he looks to build on a ninth-placed finish in the Premier
League. The Jimenez deal appears to suit the Hammers perfectly. He has
joined for a year from Italian giants Inter Milan with a view to a permanent
move. "Gianluca Nani (West Ham technical director) tried to sign me about
six years ago for Brescia, when I first came through," said Jimenez. "I also
played with Valon Behrami. He was my team-mate at Lazio. Valon is a great
person and as a player I knew he had all the qualities to do well wherever
he went. "I am looking forward to playing with him once again and helping
West Ham do well."
The 25-year-old Chile international, known as "Jimi" to his new team-mates,
came to London following advice from Inter boss Jose Mourinho, while Luis
Figo and Patrick Vieira also spoke positively about the switch. "I spoke to
Patrick about the Premier League and heard how much he loves it," continued
Jimenez. "He told me the fans in England are great and that if I ever had
the chance to come here I should take it. Now I have that chance with West
Ham."
In order to prove himself in Europe, Jimenez has not played for his country
since March 2008 but he has kept a close eye on the team's fortunes as they
stride towards the 2010 World Cup with arguably their best crop of players
in years. "The national team are playing very well," said Jimenez. "They
have an Argentinian coach, Marcelo Bielsa. Right now I think they're the
team that are playing the best football in South American qualifying. "When
I signed for Inter, I wanted to do well there and I spoke to Bielsa and we
agreed the best thing was I stayed there. I've been out of the national team
but he took it well. "It (making an international return) depends on how I
get on with my team but I can imagine with West Ham everything will work out
fine. I am looking forward to the challenge."
Resting during international breaks could benefit Zola, who has been looking
to add to his attacking threat. "We know he is a quality player and he was
brought into this squad to improve the quality," said assistant boss Steve
Clarke. "It's early days but he's working well and he seems to have fitted
into the group well, which is good. He needs to improve his English a bit
but I'm sure over a period of time that will happen."
With Carlton Cole looking to build on the best campaign of his career,
Jimenez is likely to support the England striker. Former boss Alan
Curbishley said: "They tried to sign him when I was there. He likes to join
in with the forwards. Maybe they want to get a bit more out of their
attacking play. That is what let them down a little bit last season."
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Swiss starlet makes Hammers move
TeamTalk
West Ham manager Gianfranco Zola has brought in highly-rated Switzerland
Under-19 defender Fabio Daprela on a five-year contract. The 18-year-old has
signed up with the Hammers until 2014 after they agreed an undisclosed fee
with Grasshopper Club Zurich for his services. "I am very happy to come
here as it is a great club," he told West Ham's official website. "I saw the
team play on television last season and it is a very good team. "I think I
can learn a lot from the manager and people like Matthew Upson and Mark
Noble."
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GIANFRANCO ZOLA UP AGAINST IT
West Ham face huge struggle to stay in Premier League
News Of The World
By ROB SHEPHERD, 01/08/2009
THAT West Ham start the new season in the Premier League is itself an
achievement. Finishing a comfortable ninth in May disguised the fact the
Hammers survived a season which threatened their very existence, let alone
top-tier status. The instability of manager Alan Curbishley's early
departure was followed by the uncertainty of successor Gianfranco Zola's
early days, compounded by the collapse of former owner Bjorgolfur
Gudmundsson's business empire. It is to chief executve Scott Duxbury's
credit that he managed to keep a steady ship and that Zola, with the able
help of his assistant Steve Clarke, did not panic at the start of his
managerial career. Financial restraints mean it will be tough for Zola to
build on the foundations which he started to lay in the second half of last
season, when he began to blood another wave of bright young talent from West
Ham's revered youth academy. Much to the approval of fans, players such as
James Tomkins, Jack Collison and Junior Stanislas emerged. The danger is
that Zola and the club hierarchy start feeling a bit too pleased with
themselves far too soon. If anyone at the club thinks they have a shot at
the top eight they are deluded. At a time of financial uncertainly the main
aim for the Hammers is do just a bit better than merely survive by
developing a side that at least fulfils the supporters' craving for a fluid
style of football. To that end, Zola intends on employing a 4-3-3 system. It
didn't work when he first took over because they didn't have the players,
and eventually he had to revert to a more conventional 4-4-2. Now they are
going for a more expansive gameplan again, believing Luis Jimenez, on loan
from Inter Milan, can forge a formidable trio with Carlton Cole and Kieron
Dyer.
If Cole can stay fit, what became a toothless frontline when he was injured
for two months last season, could gel together well. And it would seem the
wily Clarke will have a back four, underpinned by England keeper Robert
Green, well drilled. However, the key players for the Hammers, especially in
a 4-3-3, will be the main men in midfield.Scott Parker and Valon Behrami
were badly missed when they missed the final quarter of last season. The
pair, in partnership with England contender Mark Noble, looks like a good
combination.
However, there is a lack of depth to the squad. With Dean Ashton not even
considered for the tour to China, if Cole gets injured again, Zola can
hardly rely on 17-year-old Frank Nouble, a signing from Chelsea, to lead the
line on a regular basis. And if new owners are not found by the turn of the
year, the club could be in trouble if they have no money to refresh the
squad in January. Then again, given the doom and gloom that surrounded the
club last January, at least the Hammers go into the new season in brighter
mood and a lot better shape - despite an awful new kit which has lost the
famed blue sleeves of their claret shirts, a strange choice for a club which
is trying to go back to its roots.
BIG HOPE: That the club resolve the ownership issue and find a new buyer so
they can concentrate on the pitch rather than off it.
KEY IN: Herita Ilunga (Toulouse £2.75m)
KEY OUT: Lee Bowyer (Birmingham free)
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Roma youngster Simone Bezziccheri scores for West Ham
02.08.09 | tribalfootball.com
Roma youngster Simone Bezziccheri was amongst the goals for West Ham United
in their 5-0 U18 victory over Colchester. Bezziccheri is trialling with the
Hammers in preseason and struck after coming off the bench yesterday. West
Ham's other scorers were Nick Barrett, Daniel Subuola, Daniel Purdy and Jack
Werndly.
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Edgar welcomes former Chelsea striker Nouble to West Ham
02.08.09 | tribalfootball.com
Anthony Edgar is delighted to see former Chelsea striker Frank Nouble join
him at West Ham United. Attacking midfielder Edgar told WHUTV: "It's great
that Frank has come to the club. I like the style of football that he plays.
"He knows where my runs are and I know where his runs are and hopefully we
can carry it on."
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