WHUFC.com
All the essential background and team news ahead of Wednesday's pre-season
friendly
13.07.2010
Pre-season friendly
Peterborough United v West Ham United
London Road
Wednesday 14 July 2010
Kick-off: 7.45pm
Referee: Kevin Wright
Introduction
• West Ham United travel to League One new boys Peterborough United for
their first pre-season fixture ahead of the 2010/11 Barclays Premier League
season. The match will mark new manager Avram Grant's first game in charge
of the Hammers.
• Wednesday's friendly could also see Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger
make his first appearance in a West Ham shirt following his summer arrival
from S.S. Lazio.
• The two teams have met on a number of occasions in pre-season friendly
matches in recent seasons. Jermain Defoe and Frederic Kanoute scored in a
2-0 win at London Road in July 2001. Three years later, Teddy Sheringham
made his debut in a 1-1 draw at the same venue, while Craig Bellamy scored
twice in a 2-0 win at Peterborough in July 2008.
Last meeting
• West Ham United scored a 2-1 home Division Two victory over Peterborough
United in the club's most recent competitive meeting at the Boleyn Ground on
9 February 1993.
• Peter Butler and Steve Jones put West Ham 2-0 up within 13 minutes and,
although Marcus Ebdon halved the deficit nine minutes before half-time,
Billy Bonds' Hammers held on to pick up all three points. Butler scored his
first goal for the Hammers in front of a 12,537-strong crowd.
The teams that day were -
West Ham United: Miklosko, Breacker, Dicks, Potts, Gale (Holmes), M.Allen,
Robson, Butler, Keen, Morley, Jones
Goals: Butler 4, Jones 13
Peterborough United: Bennett, Luke, Spearing, Halsall, Bradshaw, Welsh
(Howarth), Sterling, McGlashan, Curtis (Iorfa), Adcock, Philliskirk
Goal: Ebdon 36
Last time out
Sunday 9 May 2010
Barclays Premier League
West Ham United 1-1 Manchester City
West Ham United: Green, Faubert, Da Costa, Upson, Daprela, Parker, Boa Morte
(Stanislas 64), Kovac, Diamanti (Spence 87), Ilan, Cole (Franco 64)
Subs: Kurucz, Gabbidon, Spector, McCarthy
Goal: Boa Morte 17
Sunday 2 May 2010
Coca-Cola Championship
Plymouth Argyle 1-2 Peterborough United
Peterborough United: Lewis, Morgan, Little, Bennett, Andrew, Lee, Rowe,
Simpson, Mackail-Smith, Dickinson (Wright 64), Koranteng
Subs: Griffiths, McKeown, Green, Mills, McCrae, Piergianni
Goals: Mackail-Smith 63, 69
Old boys
• There could be a familiar face on show on Wednesday evening in the shape
of Academy graduate Grant McCann. The midfielder joined the Posh from
Scunthorpe United earlier this summer. McCann made four substitute
appearances for the Hammers between May and October 2001.
• Academy of Football graduate and former West Ham United full-back Noel
Cantwell was Peterborough manager on two occasions, taking charge at London
Road between 1972 and 1977 and 1986 and 1988.
• Other famous faces to have played for both clubs are Bobby Barnes, Matthew
Etherington, Bill Green, Steven Laurie, Dave Llewellyn, Adam Newton and Alf
Tirrell.
Grant McCann
Previous meetings
Head to head (League unless stated)
9 February 1993 - West Ham United 2-1 Peterborough United
12 September 1992 - Peterborough United 1-3 West Ham United
Overall record v Peterborough United (all competitions) W 2 D 0 L 0
West Ham United
• West Ham United will be seeking to make a positive start under new manager
Avram Grant, having ended last season in a disappointing 17th place in the
Barclays Premier League table.
• The Hammers will travel to Peterborough United unbeaten in two competitive
meetings with the Posh. Both Division Two fixtures played during the 1992/93
season ended in wins for West Ham.
• West Ham will travel to Germany for a pre-season training camp this
weekend. The camp which will include matches against German Bundesliga side
VfL Borussia Monchengladbach in Ruhpolding on Saturday 17 July and just
across the border in Austria in Kitzbuhel against Greek champions
Panathinaikos on Friday 23 July.
• Aside from new manager Grant, assistant manager Paul Groves and goalkeeper
coach David Coles will also be in the West Ham dugout for the first time at
Peterborough, having both followed the Israeli to the Boleyn Ground from
Portsmouth.
• Young professionals Matt Fry, Olly Lee and Anthony Edgar have all signed
new contracts with the club and will hope to impress the new manager this
season. Defender Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson will also be eager to push on after
spending the second half of last season on loan at Belgian side KSV
Roeselare.
• A number of players have departed from West Ham since the end of the
2009/10 season. Josh Payne, Bondz N'Gala, Ilan, Guille Franco, Davide
Ferrari, Danny Kearns, Terry Dixon and Tony Brookes have all departed after
their respective contracts expired, while Mido's short-term loan from
Middlesbrough was not renewed.
• Grant's side will kick-off their Premier League campaign with a trip to
Aston Villa on Saturday 14 August.
Thomas Hitzlsperger
Peterborough United
• Like West Ham United, Gary Johnson's Peterborough United will be seeking a
positive start to their pre-season schedule after a disappointing 2009/10
campaign that saw the Posh relegated from the Coca-Cola Championship after a
stay of just one season.
• Peterborough began their pre-season preparations with a friendly meeting
with Portuguese First Division side SC Olhanense at the Jose Arcanjo stadium
in Olhao on Saturday. The match ended in a 2-0 victory for the hosts.
• West Ham Academy graduate Grant McCann, who appeared in Tony Carr's
Testimonial match at the Boleyn Ground in May, joined Peterborough from
Scunthorpe United on a free transfer earlier this summer.
• Peterborough have brought in a number of other new players during the
summer. Twenty-year-old defender Seth Nana Ofori-Twumasi has signed from
Chelsea on a three-year contract. Forward Nathaniel Mendez-Laing, 18, has
joined from Wolverhampton Wanderers on a season-long loan. Mark Little has
also moved to London Road from Wolves on a free transfer, while James
Wesolowski has joined from Leicester City for an undisclosed fee and
defender Kelvin Langmead has arrived on a three-year contract from
Shrewsbury Town.
• A number of players have left London Road during the summer. Defender
Craig Morgan has joined Championship side Preston North End, while
Argentinean midfielder Sergio Torres has moved to Crawley Town. Forward
Shaun Batt has moved to Championship new boys Millwall for an undisclosed
fee, while teenage striker Kwesi Appiah has departed the club by mutual
consent. Striker Scott Rendell, meanwhile, has joined Wycombe Wanderers,
while full-back Danny Andrew has linked up with Cheltenham Town.
• Winger George Boyd, who spent part of last season on loan at Championship
play-off hopefuls Nottingham Forest, has signed a new three-year contract
with the club this month.
• Peterborough will begin their quest to gain promotion from League One with
a home fixture against Bristol Rovers on Saturday 7 August.
Team news
• West Ham United will be without their four representatives at the 2010
FIFA World Cup - England's Robert Green and Matthew Upson, Switzerland's
Valon Behrami and the United States' Jonathan Spector - as well as Scott
Parker, who returned to training this week after spending the early part of
his summer with England's provisional World Cup squad.
• Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger could make his West Ham debut
following his summer arrival from Italian club S.S. Lazio.
• Herita Ilunga and Kieron Dyer have returned to full pre-season training
following back and calf problems respectively and could both be involved at
London Road.
• Jack Collison and Young Hammer of the Year Zavon Hines will be unavailable
as both continue their recovery from long-term knee injuries.
• Frank Nouble will also be absent after joining up with the England squad
ahead of the UEFA European Under-19 Championship finals in France later this
month.
Training
General information
• Tickets for Wednesday's fixture are available from Peterborough United.
Seating is priced at £22 Adults, £14 Over-65s and Students and £8 for
Under-16s. Standing tickets in the Noyes End terrace are priced at £17
Adults, £14 Over-65s and Students and £8 for Under-16s. To order your
tickets, visit www.theposhtickets.com or call 0844 847 1934.
• The weather forecast is for sunny intervals with a top temperature of
around 23C.
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Goalkeepers tipped to shine
WHUFC.com
Goalkeeper coach David Coles believes Peter Kurucz and Marek Stech have
great potential
13.07.2010
Peter Kurucz and Marek Stech will have the perfect opportunity to impress
new West Ham United manager Avram Grant during Wednesday's opening
pre-season friendly at Peterborough United. With Robert Green given an
extended break following England's FIFA 2010 World Cup campaign, youngsters
Kurucz and Stech are expected to be given 45 minutes each at London Road.
Goalkeeper coach David Coles has spent the past ten days working closely
with the pair and said both Under-21 internationals look like fine
prospects. "I think the club has a good stock of goalkeepers," he told
WHUTV. "I spoke to Ludo Miklosko over the weekend and said what a credit
they are to him because he has got some good athletes and some really good
up-and-coming young goalkeepers. It's my job to help them along the way and
nurture them through. "I've been impressed with Peter and certainly with
Marek. They're very dynamic and they've responded to what we've done. We've
had quite a hard pre-season and an eye-opener into what I do as a
goalkeeping coach. It's a little bit different to what they're used to, but
they've responded really well. "This is a good opportunity for them. They're
going to share the game tomorrow night and play 45 minutes each and, when we
go away, they'll have the game against Borussia Monchengladbach before
Robert joins us on 18 July, which I'm really looking forward to. "I had a
nice call from Robert when I joined the club which was much appreciated and
I'm looking forward to striking up a rapport with him and helping him back
to where he should be."
A keen student of the art of goalkeeping, Coles has overseen the development
of a host of promising young stoppers during spells at Southampton and
Portsmouth. There, he was credited with helping the likes of Paul Smith,
Jamie Ashdown and Asmir Begovic become Premier League players. At the same
time, Coles earned a superb reputation for his work with internationals Paul
Jones, Antti Niemi and David James. "Over the period of time of my career, I
have done quite well with young goalkeepers. I do like going in with the
Academy kids and certainly like working with the younger ones. It's about
passing on my knowledge and learning at the same time."
Such is Coles' interest in goalkeeping that he had a book on the subject
published in 2003, highlighting the importance of working on both the mental
and physical facets of the game. "The major thing that I work, even in
training, is the psychological factors. I think there's so much that can be
done in training to enhance the performance in the game. We do a lot of
imagery work and focusing and concentration work, as well as the technical,
tactical and physical side of the game. "We make a save or come and deal
with a cross or distribute the ball but the game is not over. There is still
organisation of the back four and your position in relation to where the
ball is, so staying in the game is becoming more poignant because of the
concentration factor. "In one split-second the ball can be back up your end
and you can be dealing with a cross and organising again."
*Academy goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet has pulled out of the Turkey Under-18 squad
for a friendly double-header in Estonia this week to concentrate on his
pre-season training. The decision was made with the full consent of the
Turkish Football Federation.
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Russian link dismissed
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 13th July 2010
By: Staff Writer
A story linking a Russian billionaire with a major investment into West Ham
United has been dismissed as pure speculation. Neil Ashton, writing in the
News of the World at the weekend claimed that Russian-American businessman
Leonid 'Len' Blavatnik was 'poised to make a £30million offer to buy into
West Ham' - adding that Blavatnik was being 'encouraged to make a bid for a
one-third share of the Hammers'. However KUMB.com have learned that neither
Blavatnik nor his representatives have made any contact with West Ham at
this stage, with the club's owners - who continue to seek additional
investors - understood to be of the opinion that there is no truth in the
story. Meanwhile another party who had previously expressed interest in
purchasing West Ham United FC revealed the reasons why he pulled out of the
running. Tony Fernandes, the Malaysian businessman and CEO of AirAsia
admitted that he withdrew from the January race to buy the club due to
Straumur's insistence that they retain 50% of the club. The 46-year-old
entrepreneur maintained in an interview with TalkSport that he was
interested in a complete buy-out only. David Sullivan and David Gold
purchased 50% of West Ham from the Icelandic owners, CB Holdings, in
mid-January. The pair recently purchased a further 10% of the club, giving
them a majority share.
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Sidwell to Ful in the blanksBy GRAHAM HILL
Published: Today
The Sun
ASTON VILLA midfielder Steve Sidwell will decide whether to join Fulham or
West Ham by the weekend. Managerless Fulham are leading the chase but the
former Chelsea player wants to see who gets the job at Craven Cottage. West
Ham are waiting in the wings and their boss Avram Grant managed Sidwell at
Stamford Bridge. Wigan have also shown an interest in the 27-year-old, who
is one of six players told they can leave Villa Park. Ex-England Under-21
skipper Nigel Reo-Coker is up for sale at £4million.
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Mexican may shun Celtic
Juarez would rather move to England or Spain
By Patricio Figueroa Last updated: 13th July 2010
SSN
Mexican star Efrain Juarez has not agreed a deal with Celtic as he is
hopeful of sealing a move to England or Spain. Scottish sources had
suggested that the full-back, who can also play in midfield, was on the
brink of sealing a move to Celtic. His agent Jorge Berlanga admits the
interest from Scotland, but suggested he was more inclined to wait for a
move to England or Spain. "I will be starting negotiations during this week
for Efrain to play in Europe," Berlanga confirmed.
"What I can say for the moment is that he has not accepted any offers to
play in Scotland because he prefers other leagues like the Spanish and
English. "I cannot say the names in Spain and England, but what I can say is
that he will not be continuing with Pumas."
The 22-year-old impressed at the World Cup finals and now he is hoping that
will result in a move. "The club and my agent are in talks," said Juarez,
who has also been linked with West Ham. "There are approaches, but I cannot
talk because it does not come to me but to my club and my agent. "If I
leave, then obviously this will be a dream come true."
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West Ham target Efrain Juarez wants to play in England or Spain after
turning down Celtic
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 4:58 PM on 13th July 2010
Daily Mail
Mexican star Efrain Juarez has snubbed a move to Celtic as he wants to play
in Europe. The full-back was reported to be on the brink of joining the
Scottish Premier League club but his agent Jorge Berlanga insists he wants
to play in England or Spain. Juarez, who plays for Mexican outfit UNAM
Pumas, has been linked with West Ham but Berlanga refused to confirm or deny
reports. 'I will be starting negotiations during this week for Efrain to
play in Europe,' Berlanga confirmed. 'What I can say for the moment is that
he has not accepted any offers to play in Scotland because he prefers other
leagues like the Spanish and English. 'I cannot say the names in Spain and
England, but what I can say is that he will not be continuing with Pumas.'
Juarez, 22, went further by revealing his agent was in talks with one club
but refused to say it was West Ham. He said: 'The club and my agent are in
talks. There are approaches, but I cannot talk because it does not come to
me but to my club and my agent. If I leave, then obviously this will be a
dream come true.'
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West Ham striker Nouble: Loans were good for me
14.07.10 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United striker Frank Nouble says he's a better player for his loan
spells away last season. Former Chelsea forward Nouble hopes to enjoy more
starts with West Ham under new manager Avram Grant this term. He told
whufc.com: "The loan experience last year was good. I went to West Brom
first, which was good, and then at Swindon we lost in the play-off final,
which was a bitter blow, but I think I'm better for those experiences now.
I've come back a bit stronger and am raring to go."
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West Ham and England - A Way Forward?
Billy Blagg - Fri Jul 9 2010
It p*sses other clubs supporters off enormously, of course, but West Ham
fans have always claimed more than a bit of credit for England's solitary
World Cup victory in 1966.
To be fair, even we realise it does appear a bit of nonsense at times, but
then us fans don't often get much opportunity to crow about anything any
more so I think its fair game to don a pair of rose-tinted ones every now
and then and pretend Bobby Charlton, Ball, Banks and the others were merely
bit players.
Now, everybody knows of course, that apart from providing the Captain and
the best defender that England has ever produced, the final's hat-trick hero
Geoff Hurst and the fourth goal-scorer Martin Peters also plied their trade
on the training ground at Chadwell Heath. Any statistical analysis would
reveal that. What isn't made clear from the history books though is how the
tactics employed by West Ham under Ron Greenwood at that time also helped in
the make-up of the World Cup winning side.
Moore's quick free-kick that led to England's second goal in the final,
Martin Peters' ability to ghost in from midfield to become an extra forward
and, more importantly, the long pass forward from defence that found Geoff
Hurst for England's fourth were all torn from the pages of West Ham's
coaching manual.
In fact, if you look at what happened at Wembley in '66, you'll see a trend
started just a few years earlier when Greenwood moved from North to East
London and started a revolution that culminated in West Ham's Cup Winners
Cup victory at Wembley in 1965.
Alf Ramsey's new ideas on overlapping full-backs and breaking midfield
players all had their association with Greenwood's. In fact, one of the
great fallacies about Ramsey's 'wingless wonders' is just that; Alf tried
several wingers in the group games leading up to the quarter-final against
Argentina and it was only the fear that the South Americans would dominate
his midfield that made Ramsey switch his tactics. Once England had claimed
victory with Hurst's solitary goal, it was easy for Ramsey to keep the same
line-up for the following matches. The rest, as they say…
Even many current West Ham fans don't realise it, but the Hammers were a
glamour outfit at that time and there would be few players at the '66 World
Cup who wouldn't be aware of the profile of one of England's foremost club
sides.
Now, it's true that by the time of the next World Cup, West Ham's heyday had
not only well and truly passed but some of Greenwood's passing football had
been outdone by a form of the game that was an anathema to the purist ideas
of the manager. It's also fair to say that the dreams of winning the English
league with a side playing joyous passing football had hit a brick wall and
would never recover. However, West Ham's association with producing young
players and developing them to play the 'right way' is something that never
lost its association with this unfashionable corner of London.
Tony Carr has been Director of Youth Development at West Ham since 1973 and
'The Academy' over which he presides has produced many fine players for West
Ham and England over the years. Most recently current England squad players
like Rio Ferdinand, Frank Lampard, Michael Carrick, Glen Johnson, Joe Cole
and even, to a certain extent, Jermaine Defoe have come under Carr's guiding
hands and, although the club never reaps the full benefit of their
investments – on the pitch at least – it is a fact that many players find
their way to Chadwell Heath because they know they will get their
opportunity in the first team if they are good enough.
It is a tradition long associated with a club that has produced some of the
best young players seen in England since '66 and, bearing in mind the
current state of the Premiership, English football and the national side
itself I think it's something that West Ham should be seriously looking at
exploiting further.
Like them or not, new owners Messrs Gold and Sullivan are talking the talk
on West Ham's virtues. There is no doubt they are steeped in the history of
the club, its association with the 1966 'Holy Trinity', the Academy and the
wealth of talent that has found its way out of Upton Park to the benefit of
some of the biggest sides in Europe. It would be a big step to back up that
talk with some action but, in many ways, what is there to lose?
Trevor Brooking has been bemoaning the lack of opportunities for young
players at clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea and I think it's something the
Hammers should be exploiting. Even the most dyed-in-the-wool claret and blue
supporter doesn't expect West Ham to be worrying the Champions League any
time soon and some of us aren't even particularly bothered about it, we just
want to see entertaining football with occasionally – just occasionally mind
we don't want to get too excited – the opportunity of a bit of cup success
somewhere.
So why don't we take the opportunity to shake up the current squad and also,
perhaps, give ourselves the opportunity to congratulate ourselves again some
time in the future when another England captain gets to emulate a feat last
seen 44 years ago? After all, it's not as if West Ham's recent transfer
policy has seen us rampaging through Europe – for the most part the only
areas of Europe that have been keen to see us are spots like Burnley, Hull,
Stoke and Wigan!
Here's my plan: West Ham should try and tempt some of the up and coming
players who look like they have what it takes to go all the way. I don't
suppose Arsenal will initially agree to sell Keiron Gibbs for example but
how long does the left-back intend to sit behind the long queue of French
defenders in front of him? I don't pretend to have in–depth knowledge of
every young prospect in the country and I'm sure players like Rodwell at
Everton and Wellbeck at Manchester United are probably happy enough where
they are and have decent prospects of breaking into the first team but its
clubs like Arsenal and Chelsea that West Ham should be targeting as well as
keeping an eye out at clubs like Norwich and Crystal Palace where, in my
opinion, they missed out on not going for young winger Victor Moses who
would have fitted in well at Upton Park.
Not a youth product by any means but Carlton Cole is another player who was
long touted as a prospect but who wasn't given opportunities at other clubs.
It could be argued, had it not been for injury, then Cole could have been
the option for the misfiring Heskey.
The argument against developing young talent is that no clubs want to risk a
player that may cost them a couple of league places and the associated
payments made by the Premier League. But I'd argue that doesn't apply at
West Ham where, provided we're not relegated, most are not bothered if we
finish tenth or thirteenth providing the football is good and we've got good
prospects to cheer.
It may sound revolutionary but I honestly think that West Ham fans would
welcome bringing through some exciting England prospects and give themselves
at least a shot at some future glory than pay £16m for a Mexican or
Brazilian import who may be traumatised by homesickness and end up being
sold on eight months later. In any case, how many fans want to provide a 12
month home to the next Pele and become a feeder club for Chelsea? I can
think of nothing worse.
The great thing about West Ham is that we don't have to do too much to start
this revolution. Everybody knows about the Academy and admires what it does
and players like Carrick and Defoe have long admitted they came to West Ham
because they knew their chances of breaking into the first team were better.
Interesting to note that even as I was writing this news broke that
highly-rated youngster Dan Gosling has quit Everton and is looking for a
move to Upton Park. His reason? He wants first-team football!
Nothing changes within The Academy itself, of course. We continue to develop
as we have but just make it a policy to supplement from elsewhere; just
asking at first, offering a good fee here or there and then keep coming back
as the young England prospects find themselves strangled out at their own
clubs by another French or Italian import who has found their way in front
of them on the team sheet. Chase every good English player who we think can
make the grade – we've done it successfully for the past three decades so
what's so different? – and try and resurrect the traditions of a club built
on doing things the right way.
My dream is somewhere down the line another Moore is unearthed in the back
streets of Barking but there's no reason why he can't be found in the
reserves or youth sides of some of the lumbering giants of our Champions
League sides and given an opportunity they're not going to get if they stay
where they are.
Of course, if they make it at West Ham then those same sides that ignored
them at first will be back in and common-sense says they will move on for a
fat fee and the promise of playing Barcelona every Wednesday fortnight. But
what have West Ham to lose? There's just a chance we may build up a good
young side of English players, sprinkled with a few imports that actually
win us something sometime, but if they don't it will still be good for
English football and, by definition, the West Ham name and tradition.
Obviously it would never be the same as '66 but I'd have been as pleased as
punch if a fit Rio Ferdinand had lifted the World Cup this summer flanked by
Cole, Lampard and Johnson. Time will probably show that this 'Golden
Generation' lacked the substance to go all the way but that doesn't mean we
shouldn't try and provide the next one.
We've had a few scrapped blueprints recently at Upton Park but I think this
is one that would work to everyone's benefit and it's surely better than
chasing the CL pipe-dream. It'll cheer Sir Trevor no end too!
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Sunderland and West Ham face Asamoah Gyan fight as Fenerbahce make £10m bid
for Rennes' World Cup star
By Sportsmail Reporter
Last updated at 2:21 PM on 13th July 2010
The Daily Mail
Fenerbahce have tried to blow Sunderland and West Ham United out of the
water by submitting a £10million bid for Rennes striker Asamoah Gyan. The
Ghana striker impressed at the World Cup and was on the 10-man short list
for the player of the tournament award eventually won by Uruguay's Diego
Forlan. Gyan, 24, is most keen to move to the Barclays Premier League and a
move for about £7m had been expected. However, Rennes are trying to cash in
on the interest and are understood to have responded to Fenerbahce's offer
by pushing the asking price to almost £17m.
The Hammers have already stalled their pursuit while they look at Nice
striker Loic Remy and Santos wonderkid Neymar, while the new price-tag is
likely to be beyond Sunderland. The Wearsiders have been linked with a
renewed move for Paraguay striker Nelson Valdez after it emerged that he had
a £4.2m release clause in his Borussia Dortmund contract. Valdez said: 'I
have received a lucrative offer from Holland, but there is also interest
from Russia, Portugal and England. My agent is weighing up the options.'
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Nice striker Remy rejects Lyon for West Ham move
13.07.10 | tribalfootball.com
Nice striker Loic Remy wants a move to West Ham United. West Ham now look
likely to have won the race for Remy, with co-owner David Sullivan
reportedly in France thrashing out the final details. Remy is one of
France's hottest talents and the 23-year-old scored 15 goals in 33
appearances last season. The France international has also been linked with
a move back to Lyon, where he spent seven years in their youth team and
three in the senior side, but Remy now admits "that is no longer my main
aim".
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West Ham sweat on Barrera work permit
13.07.10 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United are sweating on a successful work permit application for
Pablo Barrera. Barrera will sign for West Ham later this week if his work
permit application is successful. The 23-year-old has agreed a £4million,
two-year deal to join the Hammers from Mexican club Pumas UNAM.
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West Ham signing Hitzlsperger: Wonderful to be back in England
13.07.10 | tribalfootball.com
Former Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger has again admitted how
happy he is with his move to West Ham United. Hitzlsperger spent five years
at Villa Park earlier in his career, and cannot wait to get back into
Premier League action. "I am just excited to be back. My time here in the
Premier League was great for me," said the 28-year-old German international,
who missed out on the World Cup finals. "I have been abroad for five years
now and coming back it is just wonderful. I have so many good memories."
Hitzlsperger added on whufc.com: "Playing for a big club like West Ham is
great for me and I just want to be successful. "I have come here, the club
had a difficult last season last year and we want to finish higher up the
table. "I am looking forward to it so much and I am just glad to be here."
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West Ham boss Grant: McCarthy needs to help himself
13.07.10 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United boss Avram Grant says he is counting on Benni McCarthy for
the new season. Grant insists West Ham will do all they can to get McCarthy
into peak physical shape. He told whufc.com: "We have Benni McCarthy in our
squad. He is a good player. We are helping him but he needs to help himself
to be better. "So far from what I have seen in training, he is doing well. "
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