WHUFC.com
One of four possible home league debutants on Saturday, Winston Reid is going to savour the occasion
19.08.2010
Winston Reid would relish the opportunity to make his home debut for West Ham United in Saturday's much-anticipated home opener against Bolton Wanderers. The New Zealand defender's debut came last week away to Aston Villa and, having had a taste of the club's loyal support with the travelling fans, is eager to run-out in front of the home faithful. The fixture is a Kids for a Quid game, an initiative that should help raise the roof even more at the Boleyn Ground. Reid said: "The support at Villa was something else. To see that many people away from home cheering and right behind us even when we were losing was special. It will be amazing to walk out at Upton Park and feel that from 30,000 people."
As well as Reid, Tal Ben Haim, Pablo Barrera and Frederic Piquionne could also come into Avram Grant's thinking for his starting lineup with all four yet to start a match at home for the Hammers. They and the rest of the squad are looking to bounce back quickly from the Villa disappointment and make a statement of intent. "Against Villa, we had a poor start," Reid added. "We started the second half pretty well but unfortunately they scored the third goal and then it was uphill from there. It was tough but against Bolton we will look to start well. That will be important. "They are strong but we will hold our own and hopefully do well. We have to up our game from last week."
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Herita back at the back
WHUFC.com
Two home matches against Bolton Wanderers and Oxford will help Herita Ilunga to settle into the team again
19.08.2010
Herita Ilunga is enjoying being back in the thick of it with West Ham United after injury blighted last season at the Boleyn Ground. The left-back was a welcome sight at left-back in the league opener last weekend and should lineup on Saturday for his first top-flight home game since 10 February. In fact, the 45 minutes that day against Birmingham City and his run-out last week at Aston Villa were his only Barclays Premier League minutes so far in 2010. Having worked hard with the club's medical team and played a full part in pre-season, Ilunga is ready to remind that he can be a major player in the squad. "I am fit. I have worked a lot during the summer and in the holidays. It went very well. I am happy with how pre-season went. I have to keep working like that."
As such, Ilunga is eager to figure against Bolton Wanderers this Saturday - when it is Kids for a Quid for all youngsters coming with an adult and also against Oxford United next Tuesday. That match has tickets at just £5 for children and £10 for adults and Ilunga relishes such competitions - all three of his Hammers goals to date have come in the cups. "It was very difficult to watch last season. The first time I experienced that in my career and to have four months away from the pitch was very hard to take. But that is football. The most important thing for me is that I am back to help the team. "I am positive about the new season. The manager has come in with a good mentality and everybody wants to work well. I think it will be a great season for the club."
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Travel update for Saturday
WHUFC.com
Important travel news ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League meeting with Bolton Wanderers
19.08.2010
Supporters using public transport to travel to the Barclays Premier League fixture with Bolton Wanderers on Saturday 21 August should take note of the following important information. The London Underground District line will be closed between Embankment and Barking/Upney all day, while the Hammersmith and City line will be closed between Moorgate and Barking. Fans are urged to use rail replacement buses or use alternative Tube and rail services to reach either Canning Town or Barking stations, from which they can either walk or take a bus. London Underground have also informed the club that the District and Hammersmith and City lines will also be closed between Aldgate East and Barking/Upney all day on Saturday 11 September, when Chelsea will visit the Boleyn Ground. The District and Hammersmith and City lines will also be closed between Whitechapel and East Ham all day on Saturday 25 September, when Tottenham Hotspur will provide the opposition. Transport for London has informed the club that these works are being carried out to upgrade the District line, as well as on Network Rail and Crossrail schemes, and have been scheduled following talks with all five London-based Barclays Premier League clubs.
For further information, visit www.tfl.gov.uk
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Hammers turn to Taylor
Wanderers midfielder linked with Upton Park switch
By Elliot Ball Last updated: 19th August 2010
SSN
Skysports.com understands Bolton Wanderers' Matt Taylor has emerged as a target for West Ham United. The Trotters wide man has been on the periphery at the Reebok Stadium since boss Owen Coyle took over the club at the start of the year. Taylor, who lost his place in the Whites starting XI last season when Arsenal's Jack Wilshere arrived on loan, has also failed to regain his place on the opening day of this season when he was named on the bench against Fulham. With the arrival of Martin Petrov from Manchester City, Taylor's first-team chances look set to be limited once again and the former Portsmouth performer may eye a move to East London to get regular football under his belt. Hammers boss Avram Grant is keen to add to his squad after taking over the club this summer, especially after seeing his side get beaten 3-0 by Aston Villa on the opening day of the season. Grant felt his side lacked the cutting edge to get something out of the Villa Park fixture and the Israeli tactician looks to have turned his attention to bringing the 28-year-old to Upton Park.
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Cotterill warns Hammers
Pompey manager determined to keep Wilson
Last updated: 19th August 2010
SSN
Steve Cotterill has hit out at West Ham for poaching staff from Portsmouth but warned that Marc Wilson will be harder to prise away. Avram Grant managed Pompey last season before leaving over the summer to take charge at Upton Park. He then appointed senior coach Paul Groves and goalkeeping coach David Coles, while Cotterill says the club analyst could soon be on his way to West Ham as well. The Portsmouth boss is unhappy with the situation but does not expect the Hammers to try and sign defender Wilson. The highly-rated 23-year-old has been linked with a move to the Premier League club and Cotterill hopes that if Grant is interested he will conduct his business in an appropriate manner. "Surely West Ham have done their swooping on Portsmouth, There is a manager, assistant manager and a goalkeeping coach," Cotterill told Sky Sports News. "From what I hear as well they are going to be nicking our analyst, so I am sure there is nothing else that Avram wants to take from me. "I'm sure he'll look down at us with some sympathy and not put in a bid for Marc Wilson. "I would hope he'd come to me but he hasn't done about our analyst."
Cotterill maintains that Wilson remains an integral part of his plans at Fratton Park and will not be going anywhere. Asked what would happen if the player hinted he wanted to leave, Cotterill replied: "It doesn't matter if he does. He is captain and I want him here."
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Cole - I'm going nowhere
Powerful forward quashes Anfield link
By James Riach Last updated: 19th August 2010
SSN
West Ham striker Carlton Cole insists that he will still be at the club when the summer transfer window closes. The 26-year-old has been linked with a move away from Upton Park with Liverpool thought to be keen on the former Chelsea man. But England international Cole denies that he wants out of the Hammers, and says he is more than happy at his current club. When asked if he will be staying with West Ham, he told Sky Sports News: "Yeah I don't see why not. Obviously there's a lot of transfer rumours with people moving here and there, but I see myself at West Ham and I'm focused on West Ham and that's all that needs to be said. "I'm happy where I am. It's going to take a lot for me to move and as long as I'm wanted here I can see my future here.
"I have got nowhere I'd rather be than West Ham at the moment because West Ham gave me my chance and I want to correct last season. "There's been no contact (from Liverpool), it's all paper talk. Nothing can turn my head and I'm fully focused, I'm fully fit and raring to go and I just want to put a good shift in. "I was focusing on my injury all through the summer and I've come back stronger - hopefully I can just do the job for West Ham and keep fit."
New manager Avram Grant is shaping his squad for a long and arduous Premier League campaign having taken the reins from Gianfranco Zola earlier in the summer Cole admits things are different under the Israeli tactician than the previous regime, but he is confident things will soon start to click. "It's different. Obviously the manager has got his own way of thinking and the boys are trying to adapt to the way he likes to do things," he added. "These things take time, he's getting to know us all individually and I think we can look forward to a good season. "We've brought in some good new players. I was a bit disappointed when Thomas Hitzlsperger got injured but hopefully he can come back as soon as possible and bolster our midfield. "We've got a few more new signings as well so hopefully they can come in and do the job."
The Hammers did not get off to the best of starts last weekend though, as they slumped to a comprehensive 3-0 defeat away at Aston Villa on the opening day. Cole admits the squad were disappointed with the result, and is looking for a response when Bolton travel to East London on Saturday. He remarked: "It wasn't really the ideal start. Everyone was hyped up for the game and everyone knew that the first game was hopefully a must-win but it didn't work out that way and on the field it wasn't that great for us. "But we're going to bounce back and the players are all up for it this week against Bolton at home and we just need to put in a good performance and a good shift. "Because it was the first game of the season, everyone was finding their feet and I think that I did not personally have a great performance, but I'd like to think I'm going to correct that in the next game. "I know the players were really really devastated after the game about how we performed, and the boys are definitely going to put in a great performance on Saturday."
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Swans have a Nouble cause
Published: Today
The Sun
SWANSEA and Leicester are locked in a battle to sign West Ham's highly-rated striker Frank Nouble on loan. Nouble, 18, starred for England's Under-19s at the European Championships.
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Carlton has Upton Spark
The Sun
By PAT SHEEHAN
Published: Today
CARLTON COLE has given boss Avram Grant a major boost by pledging his future to West Ham. The Hammers striker has been linked with a £20million move to Liverpool but insists he will slug it out at Upton Park for as long as he is wanted. Cole, 26, who signed a new contract 18 months ago, said: "I've never been happier than where I am. "It'd take an awful lot for me to move away. I see my future here at Upton Park, nowhere else. "I'll never forget West Ham were the club who gave me my big break in the Premier League. I want to repay that faith they had in me." Cole missed three months last season with a long-term knee injury and aggravated the problem by attempting to come back before he was fully fit. He added: "I want to be around to correct last season, we didn't have the best. "There's been talk about other clubs but nothing is worrying me, I am totally focused on West Ham."
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Grant is on Matt's Tayl
The Sun
Published: Today
AVRAM GRANT is plotting a £3million swoop for Bolton midfielder Matt Taylor. West Ham boss Grant wants to strengthen his squad following Saturday's 3-0 opening-day surrender at Aston Villa. Taylor, 28, cost the Trotters £4m from Portsmouth in January 2008. He was axed last term when Jack Wilshere, 18, joined on loan from Arsenal. And he was relegated to the bench at the weekend against Fulham following Martin Petrov's arrival from Manchester City.
Taylor fears his first-team chances are slim and would welcome a move.
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Hammers keen on £2m Taylor
Published 23:00 19/08/10 By John Cross
The Mirror
Bolton midfielder Matt Taylor is a £2m target for West Ham and Blackburn. Wanderers boss Owen Coyle could be ready to listen to offers for the versatile 28-year-old. West Ham boss Avram Grant wants to strengthen his squad while Blackburn would be keen if Taylor is available Taylor signed a new contract last year at Bolton but his reputation for spectacular goals and being able to operate in midfield or defence means he has a few admirers.
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Curbs backs Eggy for Sheff Wed takeover
Published 23:00 19/08/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Eggert Magnusson will bring "energy" and "enthusiasm" to Sheffield Wednesday, Alan Curbishley has claimed. Mirror Sport revealed yesterday that the former West Ham chairman is fronting a consortium to takeover the League One Side. Curbishley was appointed at Upton Park by the Icelandic business back in 2006 before Magnusson departed the following year. And the former Charlton and West Ham manager said: "He would be good for Sheffield Wednesday - he would be full on and enthusiastic. Whoever the manager is, he will get on alright with him. You have got to be prepared that he will have his say on performances because he does know a little bit about football but what is wrong with that. "Sheffield Wednesday need someone to go in there.
He loves football and he is so enthusiastic and the West Ham fans understood that. He wants to do well and has got a lot of energy. Too much energy sometimes because he doesn't stop!"
Magnusson was removed from his post at West Ham after lavishing millions of pounds on transfers and high wages during his 10-month reign. "Perhaps that might have been inexperience," Curbishley added. "He had never been in a football club before or run a football club before. He would have learned a lot from that."
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Spurs, Liverpool, West Ham and Stoke miss out on French striker
Published 11:18 19/08/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
Marseille have confirmed they have reached an agreement in principle with Nice for striker Loic Remy. The 23-year-old is currently en route to the Stade Velodrome to undergo a medical after Nice accepted Marseille's offer which, according to reports, was in the region of €15million (around £12.4million).
Remy has been courted by several clubs this summer but is delighted to be closing in on a move to the defending Ligue 1 champions. "I am very pleased and proud that Marseille are interested in me," Remy said in L'Equipe. "After waiting so long for a transfer, everything has accelerated very quickly. I'm surprised. "I need time to think but I am committed (to moving)."
Remy has emerged as the hottest prospect in France after impressing at Nice following a switch from Lyon in 2008. He has scored 26 goals in 68 games for the club and played a key part in establishing them as a Ligue 1 outfit. Marseille are also interested in Toulouse striker Andre-Pierre Gignac but his current club have denied receiving an offer for the France international. A Toulouse statement this morning read: "Contrary to reports in the media last night, Toulouse have not received an offer from Marseille for Andre-Pierre Gignac."
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Jussi Jaaskelainen slams Fabio Capello's treatment of Rob Green
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 2:06 AM on 20th August 2010
Daily Mail
Bolton keeper Jussi Jaaskelainen has blasted Fabio Capello for his part in Rob Green's nightmare World Cup. Jaaskelainen will get a chance to chat with Green about the summer's events when Bolton travel to West Ham on Saturday. And the Finn said: 'Capello should have given him more confidence by giving him a few more games before the World Cup and made sure he knew he was his number one. 'It's never nice for a goalkeeper if you don't know if the manager is behind you.'
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West Ham primed to make move for Bolton star Matty Taylor as Radoslav Kovac rejects Stoke
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 1:24 AM on 20th August 2010
Daily Mail
West Ham are interested in signing Bolton's Matty Taylor but have yet to make an inquiry. The 28-year-old former Portsmouth midfielder has been sidelined by the arrival of Martin Petrov. West Ham's Radoslav Kovac, meanwhile, has rejected a move to Stoke. Manager Tony Pulis may revive interest in Tottenham midfielder Jamie O'Hara.
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Danny Gabbidon in Wales squad to face Montenegro
Aug 20 2010
Dailypoist.co.uk
WEST Ham defender Danny Gabbidon has been named in the Wales squad for their opening Euro 2012 qualifier against Montenegro next month. Gabbidon has been hampered by a succession of groin problems in recent years but is now beginning another comeback bid after successful surgery in the summer.
The 30-year-old has not played competitive football since April but was on the bench for the Hammers' Premier League opener at Aston Villa on Saturday.
Wales manager John Toshack did not risk the Cwmbran-born player for last week's friendly defeat of Luxembourg but is confident he will be fit for the trip to Podgorica on September 3. Gabbidon last played for his country in last November's friendly victory over Scotland. He is joined in Toshack's 25-man squad by former West Ham team-mate James Collins, who has missed Wales' last two outings. The Aston Villa defender pulled out of the trip to Croatia in May to attend the birth of his child and did not feature in the 5-1 thrashing of Luxembourg in Llanelli due to a calf injury. Toshack keeps faith with the 17 players on duty in last week's convincing performance, while St Mirren's Andy Dorman returns.
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WEST HAM WILL LET MATTHEW UPSON GO FOR £6M
20th August 2010 By Sami Mokbel
Daily Star
WEST HAM have slapped a £6m price tag on England defender Matthew Upson. The centre-half is out of contract at the end of the season when he can leave Upton Park for nothing. Upson feels he needs to be playing European football to maintain his international career and has so far failed to give Hammers boss Avram Grant any assurances over his future. He has been linked with big-money moves over the past 12 months, with former club Arsenal, Sunderland and Tottenham all interested. Now the Hammers have opened the door for the 31-year-old to leave before the transfer window slams shut in 11 days – so that he does not exit the club on a free transfer next summer. Co-owner David Gold said: "We want to keep Matt here, but at the same time we know we may have to sell him if he tells us he doesn't want to stay. "We don't want to let him leave the club for nothing. It's a difficult balancing act and a dilemma for us. "If someone came in and bid £6m or £7m for him, we would have to sell."
Gold insists that while several Premier League clubs have shown an interest in the former Birmingham defender, West Ham are still to receive a firm offer.
The Hammers chief still hasn't given up hope of getting him to commit to a new deal. But with the prospect of not receiving a penny for Upson now a real possibility, Gold is keen to resolve his future and quickly. And Gold has even offered Upson the chance to end his career at Upton Park in a bid to keep him.
He said: "We will do everything in our power to keep hold of Matt Upson – as we will do with all our best players. We want to see Upson end his career with West Ham. We want to sit down and talk to him about a new contract – and quickly – because we are in a tricky situation."
Meanwhile, Gold has confirmed skipper Scott Parker has opened talks over a new long-term West Ham contract. Parker has been linked with Spurs and Liverpool but Gold said: "We are hopeful Scott will sign a new contract and talks are ongoing. "We know he is very happy at the club."
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Potters boss: No Kovac deal
Thursday 19th August 2010 14:35
TeamTalk
Stoke manager Tony Pulis has revealed the Potters have ended their interest in signing West Ham United midfielder Radoslav Kovac. The Potters were keen on a swoop for the Czech Republic international as the Irons look to cut their wage bill, but a move failed to materialise. "We got close to a deal for Kovac last week but West Ham pulled him back and wanted him to stay, so that one is over with," said Pulis.
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