WHUFC.com
All the early team news and background for Saturday's friendly trip to
Ipswich Town
30.07.2010
Pre-season friendly
Ipswich Town v West Ham United
Portman Road
Saturday 31 July 2010
Kick-off: 3pm
Introduction
• West Ham United will travel to Championship club Ipswich Town for their
fifth pre-season friendly ahead of the 2010/11 Barclays Premier League
season.
• The Hammers will only have to make the short trip up the A12 to Suffolk
for what promises to be an entertaining game against Roy Keane's side, who
ended last season 15th in the Championship.
• West Ham will be looking to make it five wins from as many matches in
pre-season. So far, Avram Grant's men have secured victories over League One
outfit Peterborough United (2-1), German side VfL Borussia Monchengladbach
(2-0), Greek champions Panathinaikos (1-0) and League One outfit MK Dons
(2-0)
• Saturday's fixture could see Pablo Barrera and Frederic Piquionne make
their debuts for the club after a full week's training at Chadwell Heath.
• The match will be the first of three final pre-season friendly matches
contested before the Barclays Premier League season commences with a trip to
Aston Villa on Saturday 14 August. Following Wednesday's fixture, Grant and
his squad will travel to League One outfit Southend United on Tuesday before
completing their preparations with the visit of Spanish Primera League club
RC Deportivo La Coruna to the Boleyn Ground on Saturday 7 August.
• Kieron Dyer joined Ipswich Town as a child, signing as a trainee. He made
his senior Ipswich Town debut in the 3-1 home Division One win over Crystal
Palace on Boxing Day 1996. He went on to total 112 appearances and 12 goals
over three seasons at Ipswich Town. He signed for Newcastle United for £6m
in July 1999.
Last meeting
• West Ham United last visited Ipswich for a pre-season fixture on 4 August
2008, when Dean Ashton scored a hat-trick in a 5-3 victory for the visitors.
Craig Bellamy and Mark Noble were also on target.
The lineups were:
Ipswich Town: R Wright, D Wright, Balkestein (Bruce 65), McAuley, Smith,
Shumulikoski, Haynes (Peters 82), Garvan (Miller 76), Counago (Rhodes 76),
Lisbie (Lee 65), Quinn (Trotter 82)
Subs not used: Supple, Naylor
West Ham United: Green (Stech 60), Neill (c), Ferdinand (Davenport), Upson,
Widdowson, Behrami (Mullins 62), Noble, Parker, Etherington (Reid 45),
Bellamy (Hines 23), Ashton (Stanislas 83)
Subs not used: Stokes, Collison, Spence
• The most recent competitive meetings between the two clubs came in the
Division One play-offs at the climax of the 2004/05 season. A 2-2 draw at
the Boleyn Ground was followed by an unforgettable 2-0 win at Portman Road
in the second leg.
Last time out
Wednesday 28 July 2010
Pre-season friendly
MK Dons 0-2 West Ham United
West Ham United: Green (Wessels 46), Tomkins, Gabbidon (Spector 46), Upson
(Da Costa 46), Daprela (Ilunga 64), Kovac (Hitzlsperger 64), Parker (Noble
64), Diamanti (Faubert 64), Ben-Hatira (McCarthy 64), Stanislas (Boa Morte
64), Caraglio (Cole 64)
Sub not used: Sears
Goals: Faubert, Cole
Tuesday 29 July 2010
Pre-season friendly
Bury Town 0-1 Ipswich Town
Goal: McAuley
West Ham United
• Avram Grant's West Ham United will be aiming to continue the bright start
they have made to their pre-season schedule, which has seen them defeat
League One new boys Peterborough United (2-1) at London Road, German
Bundesliga challengers VfL Borussia Monchengladbach (2-0) in Ruhpolding,
Greek double winners Panathinaikos (1-0) in the Austrian town of Kitzbuhel
and MK Dons (2-0) at stadium:mk.
• West Ham will continue their pre-season preparations with a Tuesday visit
to League One side Southend United before completing their warm-up fixtures
with the visit of Spanish Primera Division club RC Deportivo La Coruna to
the Boleyn Ground for the SBOBET Cup tie on Saturday 7 August.
• Carlton Cole has been in fine form in pre-season, scoring in the victories
over Peterborough, Monchengladbach and MK Dons with just 45 minute run-outs
in each contest. Benni McCarthy also enjoyed a fine evening against the
Germans, netting his first goal for the club with a fine half-volley.
• Thomas Hitzlsperger has made a bright start to his West Ham career
following his summer arrival from SS Lazio, scoring his first goal for the
club with a direct free-kick in the 1-0 victory over Panathinaikos.
• Julien Faubert is also off the mark this summer, netting the first against
MK Dons in midweek, having assisted on McCarthy's goal against
Monchengladbach.
• West Ham United have gone 311 minutes without conceding this summer since
Peter Kurucz was beaten by Peterborough United's Dave Hibbert in the 49th
minute of the meeting on 14 July. Since then there have been clean sheets
against VfL Borussia Monchengladbach, Panathinaikos and MK Dons.
• Grant's side will kick-off their Premier League campaign with a trip to
Aston Villa on Saturday 14 August.
Ipswich
• Roy Keane has seen plenty of activity in his squad this summer. Most
recently, defender Alex Bruce has joined Leeds United this week with Owen
Garvan and Jonathan Stead due to join Crystal Palace and Blackpool
respectively.
• Republic of Ireland midfielder Mark Kennedy, a player Keane knows well,
has joined from Cardiff City and got 45 minutes in the midweek 1-0 win
against Bury Town, when Gareth McAuley scored the only goal midway through
the second half.
• Keane is expected to give his youngsters a chance to shine this season,
including highly-rated left-back Shane O'Connor.
• Ipswich will begin their Npower Championship campaign away to
Middlesbrough on Saturday 7 August.
Team news
• West Ham United manager Avram Grant should give debuts to Pablo Barrera
and Frederic Piquionne.
• Robert Green, Matthew Upson and Jonathan Spector should get their second
run-outs of the summer after returning to action against Peterborough United
on Wednesday. Valon Behrami is still being nursed back carefully although he
has been in training.
• Triallist goalkeeper Stefan Wessels will not be involved, having left the
club after a week of training and Grant is expected to stick with his
first-team squad for the match.
• Kieron Dyer sat out in midweek to focus on strength work. The former
Ipswich favourite is expected to get an extended run-out on Saturday.
• Freddie Sears, fresh from a four-goal haul for the reserves on Thursday,
is also unlikely to figure while one of Marek Stech and Peter Kurucz will
provide cover for Green in goal.
• Long-term injury absentees Zavon Hines and Jack Collison (both knee) will
not be available.
• For Ipswich, Sunderland goalkeeper Marton Fulop has yet to complete his
move so may not figure while Mark Kennedy may make his home bow after his
move from Cardiff. Another former Sunderland man in Conor Hourihane may get
his first taste of Portman Road, though.
• Most notably, Ipswich's highly-rated 17-year-old forward Connor Wickham,
an England youth international, may not play again until September with an
ankle problem while David Norris, the midfielder, is also out with a back
problem. Winger Luciano Civelli will be out for two weeks with a knock.
General information
• The weather forecast is for a generally sunny day with some cloud.
Temperatures are expected to peak at around 21C in the afternoon.
• Tickets are priced at £20 for adults, £15 for Over-60s, Under-20s,
full-time students and disabled supporters, and £5 for Under-16s.
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Barrera excited about debut
WHUFC.com
The pre-season trip to Ipswich Town should mark Pablo Barrera's first
appearance in the claret and blue
30.07.2010
It may not have the glamour of a World Cup showdown at Soccer City but
winger Pablo Barrera is raring to step out at Portman Road against Ipswich
Town on Saturday for his first appearance for West Ham United. The Mexican
international's last run-out was in his country's FIFA World Cup Round of 16
showdown with Argentina in Johannesburg but 34 days later, he will open a
new chapter of his career in rather more tranquil surroundings in Suffolk.
Speaking exclusively to whufc.com, the 23-year-old winger said: "I am really
excited. I don't know much about the team we are playing but I'm really
looking forward to my first game. I don't mind how much time I get - I just
want to start playing with my new team and get up to speed."
Barrera, signed from Mexican club Pumas in mid-July, flew back into London
on Sunday and began training with his new team-mates this week. He added:
"I've only been training for four days and I'm not yet at 100 per cent
physically. I'm getting there little by little. I had two-three weeks off
after the World Cup, although I did some training in Mexico with Pumas
before the move to West Ham happened."
The presence of Roy Keane in the opposition dugout means little to Barrera,
who confessed to being unaware of the identity of the former Manchester
United captain. His only concern is to make a good first impression in a
Hammers shirt. "I don't know our opponents and don't know the manager - I'm
just excited about my first game."
West Ham supporters will feel the same judging by the tantalising glimpses
of his wing play seen during his three substitute appearances at the World
Cup.
Barrera, who will be joined as a debutant by Frederic Piquionne, added that
manager Avram Grant had asked him to produce more of the same once he has
found his feet in the East End. "The manager's spoken to my agent and he
told him that he wants me to keep playing as I did in the World Cup, to play
out wide and play my own game." Starting, hopefully, at Portman Road.
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Upson heading home
WHUFC.com
Matthew Upson will return to his native Suffolk when West Ham United face
Ipswich Town on Saturday
30.07.2010
Matthew Upson returns home to Suffolk on Saturday feeling decidedly upbeat
about West Ham United's chances ahead of the new Barclays Premier League
season. The Hammers will be in pre-season friendly action at Ipswich Town
this weekend, just 25 miles from the England defender's birthplace in the
north of the county. With a host of friends and family members set to cheer
him on, the 31-year-old expects Avram Grant's side to put on an impressive
show against the Tractor Boys. Having enjoyed an extended summer break
following his exertions at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Upson returned to action
in Wednesday's 2-0 friendly victory at League One outfit MK Dons, looking
his assured self alongside Wales international Danny Gabbidon. On Saturday,
Upson is expecting a slightly tougher test against Roy Keane's Ipswich, who
will compete in the Championship in 2010/11. "I'll have a couple of people
texting me for tickets!" he told WHUTV. "It's a good fixture for us. They're
a good team with a good manager and I think they'll be up for it. "I think
these games are designed to get various things out of them. The obvious
object is to win the games, but you're looking at everything - fitness,
tactics and all other aspects of the game. It was a good exercise for us and
a good game. "For me, it was my first 45 minutes since I've been back. It's
very good to have competition for places - it's an essential for every good
squad and good team and keeps everyone on their toes. "It was good at the
training camp out in Germany. We worked hard but when it was relaxed it was
relaxed and we had some down time, which was important. It was hot and, for
me, it looks like it's been a pretty successful summer so far."
Upson believes manager Grant will begin to finalise his plans for the new
season at Portman Road before giving his first-choice XI a chance to impress
when Spanish giants RC Deportivo La Coruna visit the Boleyn Ground on
Saturday 7 August. With the likes of Thomas Hitzlsperger, Pablo Barrera and
Frederic Piquionne - both of whom could make their first-team debuts at
Ipswich - added to an already talented squad, the captain believes the
future is bright.
"You will see signs at Ipswich but definitely that last fixture of the
pre-season calendar before the big kick-off, you generally see close to what
the starting XI is going to be and the shape we're going to play. It's
interesting times. "It's been a good camp. There have been some good
additions and I think this is the strongest squad I've seen at the club in a
good couple of seasons. The manager has bought some good players and
hopefully we'll improve on last season."
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Extra friendly announced
WHUFC.com
West Ham United will travel to Southend United for a pre-season friendly on
Tuesday night
30.07.2010
West Ham United are pleased to announced the addition of an extra pre-season
friendly to the club's schedule. The Hammers will head to the Essex seaside
on Tuesday, with Avram Gant's side taking on League Two newcomers Southend
United. With under a fortnight to go until the start of the new Barclays
Premier League campaign, the club will take a full first-team squad to Roots
Hall, with kick-off at 7.45pm. The last time the two sides met in a
competitive fixture saw a Marlon Harewood brace defeat the Shrimpers 2-0 at
the Boleyn Ground in the League Cup second round in August 2004. The last
friendly meeting was 28 July 2007, when Bobby Zamora, Craig Bellamy and
Freddie Ljungberg scored in a 3-1 away victory for the Hammers. Next week's
friendly comes just days after the West Ham youth team tasted success at the
same venue, having won the Southend Youth Challenge Cup last weekend.
Tickets for the match are priced at £10 for adults and £5 for concessions.
West Ham have been allocated 2,700 tickets, which are on general sale now.
Tickets ordered today online or by telephone will be posted to supporters,
and will also be available from the West Stand Ticket Office until 3pm
Tuesday. Any remaining tickets will be on sale through the North Stand
turnstiles on the night of the game. However, the club would strongly
recommend supporters purchase tickets in advance for this fixture. Please
check whufc.com on the day of the game for matchday information. Southend
United's Commercial Department also has a number of corporate hospitality
packages available at prices to suite all budgets. For details, call the
Blues' corporate sales manager Junior Garrod on 01702 304128. West Ham will
travel to Championship side Ipswich Town on Saturday afternoon before
playing host to Spanish club RC Deportivo La Coruna in SBOBET Cup in aid of
the Academy on Saturday 7 August.
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Hammers team up with Apsley
WHUFC.com
Avram Grant's team will look the part in the new season with a new
partnership with Apsley Tailors
30.07.2010
Apsley Tailors have teamed up with West Ham United to design, fit and supply
the squad with bespoke suits and accessories for the 2010/11 season.
Established in 1889, Apsley offers luxury, handmade, bespoke tailoring of
exceptional quality, in great speed and for excellent value from showrooms
on Pall Mall, London.
Apsley said: "Apsley are proud and excited to be in partnership with West
Ham United. Over the years Apsley have been tailors for the British Military
and Royal Navy as well as many diplomatic houses, members clubs and
corporate companies in the UK and worldwide. We are delighted to add West
Ham United to the list of our prestigious clients."
A bespoke suit from Apsley starts from just £450, so to get your new suit
for the new season call 0207 925 2238 to book a fitting or visit the website
for further information.
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Sears scores four
WHUFC.com
Bishop's Stortford found Freddie Sears too hot to handle in the friendly
meeting with the Hammers
29.07.2010
Freddie Sears continued his electric form with all four goals as a West Ham
United XI cruised to victory away to Bishop's Stortford. The Conference
South hosts were no match for the England Under-21 international with Sears
a lively presence from start to finish. Indeed, the striker, who scored four
goals at the same stadium for the reserves against West Bromwich Albion two
years ago next month, could have had five or six - such was his play. The
20-year-old, who has been working hard on his physique and fitness over the
summer, was content with his haul, though, and to continue where he left off
after impressing manager Avram Grant during last week's training camp in
Germany. He got a welcome extended run-out under his belt as well, having
been rested in the senior side's win at MK Dons on Wednesday. "It was nice
to come and get a full 90 minutes and the result followed," Sears told
WHUTV. "The team played really well. We went forward and looked good. "It
was one of those games where everything I tried came off for me in the end,
you just need an early goal. The confidence was flying then and they just
seemed to all come along."
Sears began the scoring with a spot-kick on 31 minutes after the impressive
Cristian Montano was bundled over in the penalty. There was never any
question that Sears would step up and score, given his penalty prowess of
the past. He then added two in quick succession on 41 and 44 minutes before
rounding it in style with a breakway goal on 69 minutes. "it was nice to get
the penalty. It gets you going, you either score or you miss but I was
confident I was going to score. That set me in good stead really. The last
goal summed it all up. I started the move and I have ended up getting a toe
on it to score. It is just a shame i couldn't get any more!"
Reminded of his previous four-goal show against West Brom, Sears was quick
to pay tribute to the setting of Woodside Park on the Essex-Herts border -
as well of course as the role of his team-mates on the night. "It is a
lovely ground. The stadium is nice and all the people around here are
friendly, it is a good place to come and play."
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Depor to mark Boleyn bows
WHUFC.com
The big match against RC Deportivo La Coruna will be Pablo Barrera's first
real taste of the Boleyn Ground
30.07.2010
There is just over a week to go until West Ham United welcome RC Deportivo
La Coruna to the Boleyn Ground for the SBOBET Cup. Supporters can make sure
of their seat now for the glamour pre-season friendly against the Spanish
giants on Saturday 7 August, which will be the first chance to see new
signings such as Thomas Hitzlsperger and Frederic Piquionne in action at
home. Perhaps the most intriguing battle will be between Mexico's FIFA World
Cup wingers Pablo Barrera and Andres Guardado. Barrera - the Hammers' third
new recruit of the summer - could make his first appearance for the club
this Saturday at Ipswich Town as a warm-up while Guardado is Deportivo's
star man and has just pledged his future to the Riazor club. The match will
be the ideal way to judge how ready Avram Grant's men are for the new
Barclays Premier League season with it all getting under way just seven days
later away to Aston Villa. With advanced ticket prices starting at just £10
for season ticket holders, fans are advised to move fast to make sure of
their seat. Deportivo, who finshed tenth in La Liga last term, have enjoyed
an illustrious recent history, winning the Spanish title for the first time
in their history in 2000 and finishing as runners-up in each of the
following two seasons. The Galician club reached the UEFA Champions League
semi-finals in 2003/04.
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Hammers in ringer riddle
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 30th July 2010
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have angered Argentinian club Rosario Central by apparently
fielding Milton Caraglio without permission. The 21-year-old forward arrived
in London earlier this week and featured for the Hammers in the 2-0 win at
MK Dons on Wednesday night. However the desicion to play Caraglio has left
his club furious, as they claim West Ham fielded the Argentinian without
permission. "It's a shame what happened. We knew nothing of this, it is an
outrage," one senior source is quoted as saying by Le Capital. Eduardo
Masias, the club's financial director added that "it would have been wiser
[for Caraglio] to play yesterday's friendly between Central and Tiro
Federal, as the player is still under contract."
Caraglio - who failed to impress in his 60 minutes on the field at Milton
Keynes - was, according to Rosario, supposed to be in London for talks over
a potential £5million move and to undertake a medical should those talks
prove fruitful. They maintain that they were never asked if Caraglio could
play in a competitive friendly match. West Ham are yet to comment.
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Do you want to go to the seaside?
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 30th July 2010
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have announced that they will face Southend United at Roots Hall on
August 3rd. The Shrimpers - who were relegated from League One last season
after an horrendous end to the campaign which coincided with them having to
sell their best players in order to stay afloat - host what is expected to
be a strong Hammers outfit next Tuesday, for what will be the latest in a
long line of recent meetings. The last time the two clubs met was in a
specially-arranged behind-closed-doors friendly back in October 2008 when an
Irons XI triumphed 2-1 at Chadwell Heath. Prior to that, Alan Curbishley's
side beat the Blues 3-1 in July 2007 in a match to celebrate Southend's
centenary through goals from Bobby Zamora, Craig Bellamy and Freddy
Ljungberg. Such has been the turnaround in playing staff, of the players who
featured that day three years ago only Rob Green, Danny Gabbidon, Mark Noble
and Carlton Cole remain at the club.
Remaning first team pre-season fixtures
Ipswich Town (a) Saturday, 31 July
Southend United (d) Tuesday, 2nd August
Deportiva La Coruna (h) Saturday, 7th August
First team pre-season results
Peterborough 1-2 West Ham United (Cole, Edgar)
Borussia Monchengladbach 0-2 West Ham United (Cole, McCarthy)
Panathanaikos 0-1 West Ham United (Hitzlsperger)
MK Dons 0-2 West Ham United (Faubert, Cole)
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Potters urged to sign Cole
Etherington wants Hammers striker to join him at Stoke
By James Dall Last updated: 30th July 2010
SSN
Matthew Etherington has urged Stoke City to sign West Ham United striker
Carlton Cole. Etherington made the switch from Upton Park to the Britannia
Stadium in January 2009 and has impressed since the transfer. The left
winger has now moved to advocate the acquisition of Cole, although it
remains to be seen if new Hammers boss Avram Grantwould allow the forward to
leave. Etherington's comments follow reports linking Stoke manager Tony
Pulis with an interest in 26-year-old Cole. "If West Ham are willing to let
him go, it would be a good move for him to come here," Etherington told The
Sentinel. "Given the ideas the manager has and the way the club want to push
forward, I'd definitely recommend it. "Coley is a London boy, he's got a
young kid and is settled down there, but he has been this way before on loan
at Aston Villa and Wolves. "It wouldn't be a problem for him living up here,
just as it hasn't been for me." He continued: "I would tell him it was the
best move I could have made. It has helped me no end in pushing my career
on. "I have been in touch with him this summer by text, just more or less to
say 'how are you?' He's one of those who's a bit elusive is Coley." "On his
day, he's one of the best strikers in the Premier League. When he's on it,
he's unbelievable - and I've witnessed that first hand at West Ham. "When
Gianfranco Zola came in as manager, he gave him a lot of confidence and it
got him his England call-ups. "He's one of those players you've got to put
an arm around and tell him how good he is to give him confidence.
"But a fully-fit Carlton Cole would be a massive asset for Stoke."
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Faubert backs Green to recover
Hammers stopper says team-mate can bounce back from gaffe
Last updated: 30th July 2010
SSN
West Ham defender Julien Faubert insists Robert Green is strong enough to
withstand any backlash from his World Cup howler this season. Hammers keeper
Green came under fire after fumbling a tame effort by Clint Dempsey during
England's 1-1 draw with USA in South Africathis summer. But Faubert insists
the 30-year-old is equipped to cope with the inevitable abuse he will
attract away from Upton Park this term. "Greenie knows what will probably
happen in all our away games," said Faubert. "But I don't think he will care
about the abuse because he is such a strong character and in training he is
the same person - always happy and smiling. "For me, Greenie is still the
best goalkeeper in England. "It was all the great saves he made last season
that kept West Ham in the Premiership."
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Hammers reject 9million Cole bid
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
WEST HAM have snubbed Stoke's £9million bid for striker Carlton Cole. But
Hammers boss Avram Grant is braced for Potters chief Tony Pulis to up his
offer for the England hitman. Stoke's move comes just 48 hours after West
Ham also turned down Tottenham's £8m move for midfield star Scott Parker.
Pulis is a long-time admirer of Cole, 26, who hit 10 Premier League goals
despite missing a large chunk of last season with a knee injury. And Stoke
winger Matthew Etherington is urging the Britannia boss to pull out all the
stops to get his former Upton Park team-mate. Etherington said: "It would be
a good move for him to come here. "Given the ideas the manager has and the
way the club want to push forward, I'd definitely recommend it. "Coley is a
London boy but it wouldn't be a problem for him living up here - just as it
hasn't been for me. I'd tell him it was the best move I could have made."
West Ham hope to tie up a deal for Tal Ben Haim in the next 48 hours. The
Portsmouth defender, 28., will be on loan until January after a groin
problem caused him to fail a medical, scuppering a four-year contract.
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West Ham caught in new transfer row over Argentine striker Milton Caraglio
Published 11:13 30/07/10 By Football Spy
The Mirror
West Ham are being dragged into another transfer row involving an
Argentinean striker due to allegations that Milton Caraglio did not have
permission to play in Tuesday night's friendly win against MK Dons .
Newspaper reports in South America suggest that R osario Central only
allowed their £5m-rated striker to travel to Europe this week in order to
sort out his Italian passport , and were therefore somewhat surprised to see
him play 64 minutes of the Hammer's pre-season win. West Ham manager Avram
Grant, meanwhile, is undecided on whether to firm up his interest in
Caraglio with a bid .
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West Ham boss Avram Grant still not made up his mind over £5m bid for
Argentina striker Milton Caraglio
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 1:53 PM on 30th July 2010
West Ham manager Avram Grant is undecided as to whether spend £5million on
Argentinian striker Milton Caraglio after a trial at Upton Park. The
22-year-old has spent his whole career at Argentinian side Rosario and
scored eleven goals over the last two seasons. Caraglio was called up to the
Argentina team by Diego Maradona earlier this year but a knee injury ruled
him out of World Cup contention. The 6ft 2in forward has already undergone
a medical at Upton Park and played for more than a hour in West Ham's 2-0
friendly victory over MK Dons.
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Upson upbeat on his return to Portman Road
Greenun24
By Elvin King
Saturday, 31 July, 2010
7:55 AM
ENGLAND World Cup goalscorer Matthew Upson returns to his native Suffolk
this afternoon (kick-off 3pm) looking for a near full strength West Ham side
to turn in an impressive display. Upson, who used to train at Portman Road
as a schoolboy having been raised near Diss on the Norfolk border, is now a
crucial figure in the Hammers defence. He believes that manager Avram Grant
will begin to finalise his plans for the new season against Roy Keane's side
before giving his first choice side a chance to impress against Deportivi La
Coruna at Upton Park on August 7. Pablo Barrera and Frederic Piquionne are
set to make their senior Hammers debuts and with Keiron Dyer, Thomas
Hitzlsperger, Scott Parker and Carlton Cole also in the squad, Ipswich are
set to be in for a big test. "I'll have people texting me for tickets," said
Upson. "And it's a good fixture for us against a good team with a good
manager. "I think they'll be up for it – and so will we. "It will be a
tougher test for us than Wednesday's 2-0 win at MK Dons and these games are
designed to get various things out of them. "The obvious object is to win,
but you're looking at everything – fitness, tactics, and other aspects of
the game. "There will be signs at Ipswich but the last fixture in the
pre-season calendar you generally see what the starting XI is going to be
and the shape we're going to play."
Dyer, 31, is set to start for the Hammers looking to make an impact this
term after a number of injury-ravished seasons. Raised just a goal kick away
from Portman Road, Dyer has already come through 45 minutes of action three
times with the Hammers this pre-season. Dyer was a product of the Town
academy and he made a big hit as a teenager before being sold to Newcastle
in July 1999 for £6million. Income from his transfer helped George Burley
build a side that won promotion to the Premier League the following year.
Keane is also set to play his strongest XI to give fans an indication of the
side he plans to field at Middlesbrough when the Championship season starts
a week today. David Norris is expected to be available to face the Hammers
after suffering a back problem with Jon Walters and Tamas Priskin the likely
front runners with young Luke Hyam possibly playing in front of the back
four. Town fans will get their first sight of new signing Mark Kennedy at
left back, while Conor Hourihan, who was signed from Sunderland last month,
could get a midfield berth. "Conor has a good attitude and has a chance to
become a player," said Keane. "We were short of players and started with him
at Leiston and Bury on consecutive nights, which was a bit unfair on him.
"But when I was his age I would have played every night and he did well."
Damien Delaney, Connor Wickham, Luca Civelli, Colin Healy and Alan Quinn
will all be missing through injury with Town having one more game – at home
to a Tottenham XI on Tuesday – before the visit to the Riverside in seven
days.
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