WHUFC.com
The challenges get tougher this summer but Kevin Keen is pleased with what he has seen from the Hammers
21.07.2010
Kevin Keen is looking forward to Friday night's meeting with Greek champions Panathinaikos as a chance to take one more step forward this pre-season.
Speaking in an exclusive interview to WHUTV from the training camp in Germany, the first-team coach said the match just across the border in Kitzbuhel, Austria would provide another chance for the squad to continue their positive progress. It will not be easy as the UEFA Champions League contenders are also in good form, having beaten VfL Wolfsburg with a 3-1 success on Tuesday. "We will have to be ready for Panathinaikos, they are quality opposition," he said. "It is just a training match, we have got to understand that, but it is nice to come through without conceding goals and winning because it breeds confidence.
"There is a bond growing between the players and the staff. I hope that builds because if we can get off to a good start with the fixtures we have got I think we can have a good season."
Keen was particularly looking forward to seeing Thomas Hitzlsperger in action once more with the Germany midfielder already looking every inch Der Hammer. "I am really hopeful that he can play and show West Ham fans what I have seen in training. "He is a West Ham player. He sees a pass, plays the right weight and angle, doesn't mind a tackle and has a great shot. I hope the fans see that over the coming weeks and months."
A former Hammers favourite himself, Keen is enjoying life on the sidelines although admitted that he never used to mind the intensity of pre-season work. "I don't think it is anywhere near as bad as when I played. There was always the anticipation of going back and working for three weeks as hard as you work for probably the whole the season. "As a coach it is different, it is all about planning, looking at your numbers and making. I think I would have enjoyed the training now. It has evolved over 10-15 or 20 years ago since I first started. It was a lot more long runs, slogs when you could be running ten miles. Now it is more football-specific, I would have enjoyed this more but I was always an OK runner."
Morale is certainly high in the camp and Keen said there was a very positive outlook for everyone connected to the club. "I wouldn't make any predictions but I do feel that Avram [Grant] has come into the club and it has all run very smoothly. There has not been a big upheaval.
"When a new manager comes in sometimes it can take time. That hasn't happened I think it has gone very smoothly with Avram, Paul Groves and David Coles. The coaching and football has been good. The players have responded well. It has been a smooth transition and I hope that translates into results at the start of the season."
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Dutch defeat for Nouble
WHUFC.com
Frank Nouble's England suffered a 1-0 defeat by Netherlands at the UEFA European U19 Championship
21.07.2010
Frank Nouble suffered disappointment as England fell to a 1-0 defeat by Netherlands at the UEFA European Under-19 Championship on Wednesday. The West Ham United forward had scored in England's opening Group A victory over Austria on Sunday, but could find no way past a staunch Dutch rearguard.
Indeed, it proved to be a hugely frustrating evening for Noel Blake's side at the ?? in Bayeux, with the Young Lions failing to create more than a handful of presentable chances. Aston Villa striker Nathan Delfouneso had England's best opportunity, only to see his shot blocked on the goalline by centre-back Bruno Martins Indi following an error by goalkeeper Jeroen Zoet. By then, Netherlands had already taken a sixth-minute lead through winger Steven Berghuis, who lost Manchester United defender Reece Brown before heading powerfully into the top right-hand corner. With Nouble playing on the left of a front three, England attempted to force an equaliser, but too often their play was too direct to trouble the Dutch back four. Netherlands, who were beaten 4-1 by host nation France in their opening fixture, held on to win with relative ease. With France thrashing Austria 5-0 on Wednesday, England must better the Dutch team's result against the Austrians when they take on the French at the Stade Louis Villemer in St-Lo on Saturday. France have six points from two matches, England and Netherlands three and Austria none. The make-or-break match will be screened live by British Eurosport, with kick-off at 5pm. In Group B, Spain booked their place in the semi-finals with a 2-1 win over neighbours Portugal, while Croatia and Italy kept their hopes alive with a goalless draw. Spain have collected a maximum six points from two matches, Portugal three and Croatia and Italy one apiece.
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Hammers winning Remy race
Improved bid swaying race for striker in Hammers' favour
By Patrick Haond Last updated: 21st July 2010
SSN
West Ham are winning the race to sign coveted Nice striker Loic Remy after making an improved bid. The 23-year-old has attracted interest from a host of clubs throughout Europe, with Roy Hodgson's Liverpool also linked with the striker. After having a couple of offers rebuffed, the Hammers have now reportedly agreed to pay the €13.5million fee for the player in just one payment, rather than in instalments which was originally proposed. This new offer seems to have swayed the race in their favour, with Nice's general manager Patrick Governatori confirming to L'Equipe that they are very close to an agreement with the Hammers. He said: "We received a new offer from West Ham which seems good and suits us. "If Liverpool want him, we need clear arrangements and commitments. West Ham are very keen. And we want to sort out that case before the end of the month."
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West Ham set to sign £14m Ajax striker
Published 23:00 21/07/10 By Darren Lewis
The Mirror
Avram Grant is set to pull off a transfer coup by signing £14million Serbian striker Miralem Sulejmani - when Martin Jol moves to Fulham. West Ham boss Grant has earmarked 21-year-old Sulejmani (above) as a future star and agreed a season-long loan deal - and a view to a permanent transfer - with Ajax two weeks ago. Jol blocked the move because he feared the impending departure of strike-partner Luis Suarez, targeted by a clutch of top European sides, would wipe out the club's firepower at a stroke. Since the row, Fulham have stepped in to lure the Ajax manager to London, leaving Sulejmani free to complete his move to Upton Park. Should he do so, then Grant would go into the new season with an impressive complement of strikers having already secured Freddie Picquionne to join Carlton Cole. Grant was also given fresh hope of sealing a deal for highly-rated French forward Loic Remy yesterday with an improved £11.3m offer from the Hammers accepted by Nice. Sulejmani was Ajax's record signing from Heerenveen at £13.8m two years ago. He said last night: "I really don't understand why Jol has vetoed my move. "It looks like he's trying to ruin my career. I was looking forward to relaunching myself at West Ham. "Avram Grant sees me as a big talent and I'm keen to make a fresh start elsewhere."
Hammers' keeper Robert Green, meanwhile, is taking out his World Cup frustrations by turning to boxing. Green's confidence took a battering in South Africa after his calamitous error for England against the USA. But he showed a mean side to his character when he joined up with the West Ham squad at their pre-season training base in Germany this week. The club's new goalkeeping coach David Coles is putting Green through sparring, shadow-boxing, skipping and working on a punchbag. Coles said: "It's a stimulus and the fitness relates to goalkeeping in terms of explosive movements, footwork and handling."
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Liverpool make player-swap offer for Nice striker - Exclusive
Published 23:00 21/07/10 By Alan Nixon
The Mirror
Liverpool boss Roy Hodgson is making a player-swap offer for Nice striker Loic Remy as he tries to raise funds and beat off West Ham to his signature.
Hodgson has offered the French club attacker Nabil El Zhar and midfielder Damien Plessis - both valued at around £700,000 - in a bid to afford £14.3 million-rated Remy. The Anfield outfit do not have the cash to buy talented Remy outright and are fuming that the Hammers have put more cash on the table for the exciting forward. The Kop are still counting their cash despite the better news of landing Joe Cole on a free transfer - and Hodgson wants to spend what he has on two new left backs after selling Emiliano Insua and losing Fabio Aurelio. Liverpool have asked Nice if they would take the player exchanges and have also pleaded to be given more time to come up with the cash, but they are running out of time to have Remy eligible for their Europa League qualifiers. Remy is keen to come to Liverpool and Nice would like to sell to the Anfield club, but they may deal with West Ham instead. Co-owner David Sullivan has offered £10 million up front plus extras. Hodgson is looking around for two left backs on a limited budget. He likes Uruguay World Cup star Jorge Fucile, but he is valued at £6.5 million and that would be too expensive for him right now.
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West Ham close in on £13m Nice striker Loic Remy
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER Last updated at 12:49 AM on 22nd July 2010
Daily Mail
West Ham are in pole position to sign Nice striker Loic Remy after making their improved £13m bid. The 23-year-old has attracted interest from a host of clubs but Nice's general manager Patrick Governatori said: 'We received a new offer from West Ham which seems good and suits us. If Liverpool want him, we need clear arrangements and commitments.'
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One Swallow and the Making of Summer?
West Ham Till I Die
I am aware that one swallow does not make a summer, but there does seem to be a definite lifting of the gloom that has long hung heavy over the club.
Unlike last summer's window, we do appear to be targeting and competing for players in the transfer market. And if the signing of Loic Remy comes off it could prove quite a coup. There is no doubt that the squad needed a transfusion of new blood; while the existing players seem to have adjusted well to Grant's management style. There was a slight concern that some members of the squad would retain a loyalty to Zola and Clarke and resent the new regime, but that does not appear to have occurred.
We fans never fully know 100% what is going on behind the scenes, but there is a positive vibe around the club. Pre-season, so far, has been promising, the Borussia MGB result being particularly impressive in the clinical nature of the performance. Lets hope that they continue in that fashion.
As well as getting in new recruits, I am hopeful that the youngsters will respond to the new challenges at the club. There are a number of prospects that need to step up their progress and increase the competition for first team places. Their objective should be to set the type of team selection dilemmas that Grant will welcome. We need a strong squad, with real competition for places in all positions, and they can certainly help provide that.
Perhaps that was part of the problem last season, too many players were guaranteed starting places? I hope that the whole squad come to realise that they must earn their places and perform consistently well or there will be another squad member pushing to displace them. That internal competitive ethos is healthy and it is the way that all top clubs should operate.
I anticipate that Carlton Cole will overcome his World Cup disappointment and start the season determined to get back in to the England reckoning. Cole improved greatly under Zola, but there is still a lot more to come from him. Whilst others such as Noble must conclusively prove that that they are, indeed, the players that we have long suspected them to be.
Most of the attention so far has been on the forward positions, but no doubt we will soon start to see movement in defence. There are rumours that we may sign Clerc and no doubt other names will enter the frame. A lot depends on Upson's future and whether he will sign the contract extension still on the table. The club need to try to resolve that issue, one way or the other, as soon as possible. Whilst decisive decisions also needs to be taken on the future of the likes of Spector and Gabbidon.
I am not getting too carried away just yet, I have been a Hammer far too long not to realise that the club often flatter to deceive. Last season it was was tough following the team, although we all continued to do so in a typically Trojan fashion. So, we would all warmly welcome a lifting of the gloom and the advent of an exciting and winning Hammers team to recharge our optimism and resurrect our belief .
There are many candidates for the role of arch-villain in the perilous recent journey that the club has undertaken. However, there is only one big, collective victim, the long suffering Hammers supporters. They are the best supporters in the land and they deserve some good times. Lets hope that they are just around the corner?
In hope, but without expectation! COYI.
SJ. Chandos.
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Bayern Munich admit English offers for West Ham target Klose
22.07.10 | tribalfootball.com
Bayern Munich striker Miroslav Klose has turned down Premiership interest this summer. However, he has vowed to stick with Bayern at least for the remaining 12 months of his contract having turned down those two approaches from England. "There were two enquiries from England which I passed on to his agent," revealed chairman Karl-Heinz Rummenigge in Sport Bild magazine. "He informed me that Miro desperately wants to stay in Munich." West Ham United are among English clubs to have been linked with Klose.
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West Ham to sell Stoke target Cole to fund Remy deal
22.07.10 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United are ready to sell striker Carlton Cole. The London Evening Standard says West Ham boss Avram Grant will need to off-load other players if he is to strengthen his squad before the start of the season, with targets including Nice striker Loic Remy. The Upton Park club had one bid of £11m rejected and are waiting for the French outfit's reaction to a second offer, thought to be £13m. Hammers striker Carlton Cole is interesting several Premier League clubs, including Stoke, and his departure would help finance the move for 23-year-old Remy.
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