WHUFC.com
The manager has just five more days on the training pitches before it all
gets started against at Aston Villa
09.08.2010
Avram Grant will hope to see his squad's hard work come to fruition next
weekend when his West Ham United travel to Aston Villa to kick off the new
Barclays Premier League season. The manager has enjoyed a successful summer,
seeing his team go unbeaten in seven matches culminating in Saturday's
SBOBET Cup triumph against RC Deportivo La Coruna on penalties after a
goalless draw. The clean sheet was the fifth in that run, with only two
goals conceded during pre- season while Rob Green also the hero in the
shoot-out by saving the decisive Deportivo kick. Grant gave some hints to
his likely formation for Villa Park with a flexible 4-3-3 that featured a
midfield trio of Mark Noble, Scott Parker and Thomas Hitzlsperger while main
striker Carlton Cole got his reward for a run of four goals in six
appearances with a call-up by England for Wednesday's friendly against
Hungary. The new No9 will therefore be absent until Thursday and is not the
only one. Hitzlsperger, Pablo Barrera, Herita Ilunga, Tal Ben Haim, Fabio
Daprela, Jonathan Spector and Marek Stech will also be away on international
duty. Valon Behrami has been called up by Switzerland but has only just come
back with a 45-minute reserve run-out alongside Ben Haim on Saturday. Kieron
Dyer's return is being managed and he has not played since Ipswich a week
ago last Saturday while Benni McCarthy (hamstring) and Freddie Sears (thigh)
could be back in training later this week. However, Ilunga and Danny
Gabbidon - both starters against Deportivo in a back four also featuring
skipper Matt Upson and James Tomkins- look in positive health after last
season's woes.
Grant said: "This was my first trophy as West Ham manager and of course I
hope to win more. It was a good game but we must remember it was a friendly
and the last game of preparation for the season. We have achieved the target
we set for this game and we saw good things and some things we could
improve. We defend well and as a team but the attacking side can be better.
"We needed to play more quickly. The first half we weren't very quick but it
was not a typical English opponent. They passed the ball a lot but not in
our area. We couldn't press them. In the first half we played well, but the
second half we played better. "We are improving all the time. The players
are in better condition. It is OK for this period for the team but the most
important thing is we need to improve for the first game."
Grant was pleased with the contribution of his new recruits including
substitutes Barrera and Frederic Piquionne, and even suggested it could be
another busy week for the Board on the transfer front. "I don't know if
there will be new signings before the first game but there is time in the
transfer window. We will try to bring players that will make our squad
stronger. "We have signed good players and we want to change the mentality
of the team. We want to do different things. We want to bring more players
in, we want the squad to be stronger. "
Winston Reid had a watching brief against Deportivo after the centre-back
trained for the first time before the match. Grant is looking forward to
seeing him in action over the next five days before deciding whether to
throw him in against Villa. "He has big potential for the Premier League, he
has physical quality and technical quality. He is very young so he can only
get better. "The manager was also pleased to see Green once again look
imperious - he has not been beaten in two and a half matches since his
playing return while it seems Stech may be in pole position to be his
understudy. "Robert got a great reception," Grant added. "He is a very good
goalkeeper and is doing his job. I can tell you he is a very good
professional. "
Ahead of the goalkeeper, Grant was pleased to see his ideas starting to take
hold in the squad. He is determined to play attacking football where players
can express themselves freely - as long as it is with organisation. "This
will be the main style for us - to pass the ball," Grant said. "In football
today, though, you can't play just one way. The players need to be able to
play in different situations."
That will be put into practice this week at Chadwell Heath - even with the
limited numbers - before the squad heads up to the Midlands next weekend.
Grant is certain his players will be up for the fight. "We will be ready
next weekend. We have some tough matches at the start but we cannot do
anything about that. We need to think game by game and see what happens."
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Rita raring to go
WHUFC.com
Herita Ilunga is ready to put a frustrating season behind him and enjoy a
resurgent 2010/11 campaign
09.08.2010
Herita Ilunga is raring to go ahead of the new Barclays Premier League
season. West Ham United's buccaneering left-back endured a stop-start
2009/10 campaign, with jaw and leg injuries restricting him to just 17
appearances. The frustrating season was in stark contrast to the DR Congo
defender's first season with the Hammers, which saw him play 39 times and
only miss the Carling Cup defeat by Watford due to being rested. The African
has rediscovered his best form in recent weeks, however, producing a
typically effective performance in the SBOBET Cup penalty shoot-out victory
over RC Deportivo La Coruna. Having come through the pre-season strongly,
Ilunga has travelled to Cairo to represent his country in an international
friendly against Egypt on Wednesday before returning to Chadwell Heath ahead
of Saturday's trip to Aston Villa. "The preparation was very good," said the
28-year-old, who is known as 'Rita' by his team-mates. "You saw in the game
that we played very well. We controlled the game. It was not my job to take
a penalty, though! "I am very happy to come back into the squad. I feel
that, this year, everybody wants to win and wants to work together. I think
these things are very important. "Last season was life. Sometimes it is like
that. Football is sometimes difficult but you have to remain positive. Last
season was very bad for me, but I just kept looking forward and for me it
was in the past. Now I am looking forward to helping West Ham and doing
well. "We play against Egypt this week but then I will come back straight
away and be working towards Saturday's game at Aston Villa."
Ilunga's return will be welcomed by new Hammers manager Avram Grant, while
the No23 believes the club has also spent wisely on a host of impressive new
recruits during the summer transfer window. Close friend Frederic Piquionne,
who the full-back played alongside for three seasons at French club AS
Saint-Etienne, is just one of five new signings Ilunga believes will provide
a boost to West Ham's chances of enjoying a productive 2010/11 season. "We
have a lot of good players coming in this summer, including Pablo Barrera,
Thomas Hitzlsperger and Freddie Piquionne - who will all help the team. I
know Freddie very well, but all of them will be good for the team. I think
they will be a real bonus for us."
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Fanimo wins with England
WHUFC.com
Young prospect Matthias Fanimo enjoyed a weekend to remember with the Young
Lions in Finland
09.08.2010
Matthias Fanimo was a winner with England again as he helped them to lift
the Nordic Tournament title in Finland. The Academy ace played for 72
minutes of the 2-1 win against Sweden in Sunday's final as goals from Max
Clayton and Adam Morgan either side of Victor Soderstrom's equaliser did the
damage. Fanimo had stepped up to the new age level for this competition,
having been part of the U16 squad that won the Victory Shield last season
for the home nations.
Fanimo had featured in England's three group games last week when the host
nation, Denmark and Iceland were all dispatched. The teenager can also look
forward to being part of the Young Lions squad that will compete in the FA
International tournament on home soil between 21 and 30 August. Club-mate
Blair Turgott, also part of that Victory Shield success, has been called up
as well. The annual FA International Tournament will see England meet
Australia, Turkey and Portugal as part of a warm-up before the UEFA U17 EURO
qualifying campaign begins in October, ahead of the summer finals next year
when the Young Lions will defend the title that Robert Hall helped them to
win this May.
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Petrovic on Sulejmani link
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 8th August 2010
By: Staff Writer
New assistant manager Zeljko Petrovic has refuted claims that he is behind
the decision to sign Miralem Sulejmani. The 21-year-old Ajax winger jetted
into London at the weekend to undergo talks regarding a season-long loan
switch to the Hammers - a deal rumoured to be the work of Petrovic, who was
formerly Ajax boss Martin Jol's number two. However the 44-year-old former
Yugoslavian international, who arrived at the club just over a week ago
revealed that a move for the Serbian international had been in place for
some time before his arrival. "West Ham have been working on bringing
Miralem here for five or six weeks, so I had nothing to do with it," he
said. "I think he will be a gain for us, and it will also come in handy [for
him] to play here all season. I believe in his talent as he had a good first
season at Ajax."
Sulejmani has been tipped with a move away from Amsterdam all summer after
failing to impress Jol, with whom he is said to have shared a frosty
relationship. A series of injuries curtailed his last campaign, although he
featured in both of Ajax's recent Champions League qualifiers against PAOK.
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Tal sets his targets
New Hammers signing wants playing time and then permanent deal
Last updated: 8th August 2010
SSN
New signing Tal Ben Haim is aiming to get playing time under his belt to
earn a permanent deal at West Ham United. The Israeli defender played his
first 45 minutes for the Hammers in a friendly against Ipswich on Saturday
after joining from Portsmouth earlier in the week. The 28-year-old has
rejoined old Pompey boss Avram Grant, who capped him 25 times at
international level, on an initial five-month loan with a view to making his
transfer permanent in January. He now hopes to secure playing time in a bid
to gain a permanent deal and he can not wait for the challenges ahead. Ben
Haim told the club's official website: "I'm happy to be here at a good club
with good people and good players. "I'm looking forward to a new season in
the Premier League. "Of course, I'm pleased to be back in Premier League. I
have played here for six years and it is one of the best leagues in the
world. "I'm happy to be with West Ham now. My long-term plan is to stay
longer, but my immediate aim is to play."
The versatile defender insists he will be happy to play in any role Grant
gives him at the Hammers. "Obviously the manager knows me and where I prefer
to play, but I can play in a few positions, so I'd be happy to play any
position that is necessary to help the team. "Avram understands players and
likes to play good attacking football. I like to do that as well, so I think
we will work well together."
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We AV to bring in more players
The Sun
Published: Today
WEST HAM boss Avram Grant still wants to bring in more big-name stars before
the end of August. The Hammers chief has brought in Thomas Hitzlsperger,
Frederic Piquionne, Pablo Barrera, Tal Ben Haim and Winston Reid so far. But
his squad still looks thin up front with Carlton Cole and Benni McCarthy the
only forwards. West Ham have been strongly linked with a loan move for Ajax
striker Miralem Sulejmani. Grant said: "We don't have enough players."
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Remy pleading for Premier League move
Published 23:00 08/08/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
French striker Loic Remy is pleading with Nice to drop their price and let
him go to England, where four Premier League clubs want him. Remy played for
Nice at the weekend in a 0-0 draw then asked them to let him leave for less
than their £14.3million price tag. Remy visited Stoke last week but they
could not agree a fee, while West Ham and Liverpool have also failed to meet
Nice's valuation. Now Tottenham, who sent coach Joe Jordan to watch him on
Saturday night, are also willing to move for him if the price drops to
around £10m. Ironically, French side Rennes are the only club close to
offering the fee that Nice want.
Remy said: "I want to go. I really hope there can be an agreement before the
end of the month. I am interested in England, but there is also a club in
France in for me."
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Premier League preview: The Hammer won't be coming down on West Ham's
Premier League stay
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 1:16 AM on 9th August 2010
Daily Mail
The Hammers got lucky to avoid relegation with 35 points last season. The
same meagre return is unlikely to be good enough this time without basket
cases like Portsmouth and Hull around to help ailing Premier League teams.
Avram Grant, having managed under Roman Abramovich and Pompey's various
owners, is unlikely to be freaked out by the challenge of working well with
Sullivan and Gold. His chances of success are improved if he can keep the
likes of Parker, Green and Carlton Cole but West Ham's crippling debts mean
no guarantees.
Boss's toughest job
Picking the team. More through enthusiasm than anything else, owners
Sullivan and Gold get involved in team affairs. All well and good until it
undermines Avram Grant.
Hiccup on horizon
The club wants to move into the Olympic Stadium. An 80,000-seater stadium
would be good for business long term but meanwhile a move appears unlikely
and the club lacks other options.
The numbers game
4 - Number of times they've won their first match in four of the last five
seasons
8 - The number of opposition players sent off against them last season
23% - Percentage of their goals from headers last season
Alternative sponsor
cash4gold.com — If all else fails, why not trade in the co-owner?
Ins/Outs
In – Thomas Hitzlsperger (Lazio, free), Pablo Barrera (Nacional, £4m),
Frederic Piquionne (Lyon, £1m), Tal Ben Haim (Portsmouth, loan)
Out – Guillermo Franco, Ilan (both released), Matt Fry (Charlton, loan),
Bondz N'Gala (Plymouth, free)
Pick of the bunch: Frederic Piquionne proved he works well under Avram Grant
when the pair were at Portsmouth
Keep an eye out for
Robert Hall Age: 16 Position: Striker
Given the Hammers' lack of striking options, the England Under 17 star could
be in the mix sooner rather than later.
Fan's view
Ben Townsend: A mid-table finish and a cup run should be possible with Avram
in charge, though steadying the ship is main priority.
Fans' website
www. kumb.com
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Liverpool show interest in Hammers striker Cole
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent
August 9, 2010
ESPN
Liverpool have made enquires to sign West Ham's Carlton Cole, but have been
put off by a valuation in excess of £10 million. West Ham centre-forward
Cole has rejected a move to Stoke City, but he would be open to the
possibility of moving to Anfield this summer. Soccernet understands Tony
Pulis was prepared to blow his entire Stoke budget on signing the striker,
who on Saturday was named in Fabio Capello's latest England squad, only to
be rejected. However, if a big club came in with a bid that equalled or
topped Stoke's, then the Hammers could well sell their star striker. An
insider told Soccernet: "Carlton would like a move to Liverpool, but they
are short on funds as everyone knows." West Ham have brought five new
players to the club already this summer and are now in the process of
reviewing potential sales. Stoke's offer for Cole would have brought them
close to the £12 million valuation West Ham have now placed on Cole, though
at the start of the summer they thought he might even fetch £15 million.
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The season preview: West Ham United
West Ham's shy and retiring owners nurture Olympian ambitions. An
improvement on a poor campaign last term would be a start
guardian.co.uk, Monday 9 August 2010 09.04 BST
Avuncular teddy-bear-about-town Avram Grant will hope for a less stressful
tenure at West Ham than at Portsmouth. Photograph: Stephen Pond/Empics Sport
The club
Unofficial motto
Holosericorum amiculis ad fumificandam credimus
(In velvet smoking jackets we trust). The Academy almost failed its Ofsted
report last season, but the arrival of genuine Eastenders and purveyors of
gentlemen's reading material has raised hopes of a brighter future and the
much-lobbied for move to the Olympic stadium after 2012.
The age of austerity
An estimated £90m in debt and with every member of their squad bar one for
sale, it's been a summer of bargain-hunting at Upton Park. Cast-offs such as
Frédéric Piquionne, a striker whose record of scoring, on average, under six
league goals a season – and never more than 11 – as he enters his 12th year
as a professional, will earn £40,000 a week for three years.
What they want
Improvement. Last season a tiny manager brought tiny returns. By that logic,
there'll be no stopping them now.
What they get
Last season started well, in as much as they won their first game. By the
time they won another it was November and they were in the bottom three.
Avoided relegation by a place and sacked Gianfranco Zola two days later.
The players
Coalition or opposition?
Yet another crop of youngsters – Zavon Hines, Freddie Sears, James Tomkins,
Junior Stanislas and Frank Nouble – suggests a Brit-heavy first-team, though
they'll have yet another manager's global shopping spree to battle past
first.
Yoof of today
"New-Frank-Lampard-or-is-it-Michael-Carrick-dunno-take-your-pick" Jack
Collison is the brightest of the team's young stars (see above), though he
won't be much use for a little while – he's out until 2011 after knee
surgery.
Mr West Ham
Yet another youth team graduate and as cockney as the Bow Bells or the
matrimonial use of the phrase "trouble and strife", Mark Noble is at 23 the
club's longest-serving player and midfield mainstay.
Who should have his benefits cut?
He has always had his physical frailties, so Kieron Dyer can hardly be
blamed for his misfortune with injuries since his £6m arrival three years
ago – but the former chairman Eggert Magnusson, who rubber-stamped the deal,
probably can. The midfielder reacted angrily to criticism from David Gold
earlier this year, saying: "I have put in everything I can to get fit for
this club but it is not enough for some people." Certainly not when they've
got to pay you £83,000 a week, no. His contract runs out next summer,
extension unlikely.
Everybody loves…
Scott Parker is the one player labelled "really not for sale" by David
Sullivan, so important was he last season. "The confidence he spreads on the
pitch is infections," said Robert Green, who might be in need of some
infectious enthusiasm given his summer. "Scotty is forever diving in front
of the ball, taking one in the face or taking one in the privates."
Life and times
Avram Grant has become the avuncular teddy-bear-about-town for chairmen
since his very-nearly-amazing spell at Chelsea. The co-owner Gold explained
in June the three qualities that drew him and Sullivan to the Israeli: "We
needed experience and stability … and he has a great sense of humour." After
Portsmouth, it'll be a novelty to be telling silly jokes rather than being
employed by one.
Master tactician or lucky general?
The man who brought Nicolas Anelka to Chelsea and then never played him,
Grant's popularity with the wider public could be put down in part to the
slight air of making-it-up-as-he-goes-along that hangs over him. A fan of
4-5-1 – Piquionne often played as the lone frontman at Portsmouth last
season, but is likely to start the season understudying Carlton Cole.
Regrets… he's had a few
This will be the place for the inevitable mention of Thai massage parlours.
"He needs a massage not from one woman but two," said his wife, Tsofit –
something of a character herself, but that's another story. Grant doesn't
pretent to be above basic human frailties. "I'm not the special one, I am
the normal one," he once said.
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