WHUFC.com
The first-team squad enjoyed an packed opening day their pre-season training
camp
09.07.2011
West Ham United kicked-off their pre-season training camp in Switzerland
with a busy and varied day of training on Saturday. The 26-strong first-team
squad were up early for a session in the swimming pool before heading off to
a nearby training complex for activation and an intensive hour-long football
session. After a break for lunch and an afternoon of well-earned rest, the
squad reassembled and returned to the training centre for another hour of
circuit training and specific strength and conditioning work. The likes of
Robert Green, Scott Parker, new boys Kevin Nolan and Abdoulaye Faye and
trialists Joey O'Brien and Hernani da Rosa were all put through their paces
by manager Sam Allardyce, assistant manager Neil McDonald and the backroom
staff. "Linking the staff and the integration of all the departments are
very important at this time of year - the medical, sport science and
football departments have created a very good working programme to encourage
the football and fitness of the players in the build up for the start of our
new season," said the manager. "We have had three very good sessions today
which we will review at the end of the evening. All the players appear to
have come through their sessions today and there are no injuries, which is
one of the most important things in our pre-season. "We are in a very
tranquil spot in the mountains of Switzerland. We're training at altitude
which is always good for the condition of the players. What little downtime
the players have, there are good facilities at the hotel, a fantastic lake,
outdoor swimming pool and a mini golf course where they can enjoy each
other's company. "This helps with the very important matter of team bonding
that is vital."
Supporters should note that both whufc.com and West Ham TV will keep you
updated regularly with all the news from Switzerland, including live text
updates from the Uhren Cup fixtures with BSC Young Boys and FC Basel on
Monday and Wednesday evenings respectively.
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Stanislas staking his claim
WHUFC.com
Junior Stanislas has returned to fitness and is targeting a regular place in
Sam Allardyce's starting XI
09.07.2011
Junior Stanislas is approaching full fitness and targeting a regular
first-team place in the new season. Speaking from West Ham United's
pre-season training camp in Switzerland, the 21-year-old is eager to put a
year of injury and frustration behind him. Stanislas underwent hernia
surgery in January, ending his involvement in what had, to that point, been
an encouraging campaign for the versatile forward. Having returned to
reserve-team action in April, he told West Ham TV he is now ready to stake
his claim for a spot in Sam Allardyce's starting XI. "I'd say I'm 90 per
cent fit," he revealed. "I still get little niggles and stuff, but at the
moment it seems to be getting stronger and stronger every day, so it's all
good. "The last few seasons I've been in and out and last season I had my
injury problems, so this season I just want to play as many games as I can
and hopefully be a regular in the side."
A popular figure with Hammers supporters, Stanislas has netted important
goals in the past, most notably in the Carling Cup victory over Millwall in
August 2009.
With an npower Championship meeting with The Lions slated for 17 September,
the south London-born player is naturally keen to be fit and on form for
that fixture.
Bearing that in mind, Stanislas gave his all during Saturday's intensive
training session, where the outfield players took part in a series of
keep-ball exercises under the watchful eyes of Allardyce and assistant
manager Neil McDonald. "We got up very early this morning and had a little
pool session and stretch-off to loosen up, had a bit of breakfast and then
it was straight down to the training pitch," he added. "We got worked quite
hard but it's all good fitness work under the belt ready for the season.
"Obviously it's a lot more enjoyable [to use a ball in training] than doing
just straight running, but we did a lot of that before we left to come out
here, so we're still getting the fitness work done, but this time with a
ball. "Pre-season is about getting the work done for the beginning of the
season and all through the season. The harder you work, the easier fitness
will be when we're playing in the season."
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Squad start in Switzerland
WHUFC.com
The club's six-day training camp began in bright sunshine in Switzerland on
Saturday
09.07.2011
West Ham United kicked-off their pre-season training camp in Switzerland in
bright sunshine. The Hammers arrived at their base near Bern late on Friday
evening before eating a welcome meal and heading for bed. The 26-man squad
rose early on Saturday morning for a group session in the swimming pool to
loosen up their joints and muscles. After a healthy breakfast the players
and staff, led by manager Sam Allardyce, boarded the team coach for the
short journey to the picturesque training complex. The whole squad,
including England trio Robert Green, Scott Parker and Carlton Cole, got
themselves up to with an activation session in the gymnasium before heading
outside on to the pristine pitches. There, under a warm sun and blue skies,
the players were put through their paces by Allardyce, assistant manager
Neil McDonald and members of the medicine and sport science department. The
Hammers will train at least twice a day throughout their stay in Switzerland
as the manager gets his players up to speed ahead of the start of the
2011/12 npower Championship campaign on 7 August. As part of his
preparations, Allardyce will send his players into action for the first time
at the Uhren Cup pre-season competition. West Ham will take on Swiss Super
League side BSC Young Boys in Grenchen on Monday evening before tackling
reigning Swiss champions FC Basel on Wednesday.
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Big year for Brown
WHUFC.com
Jordan Brown is eager to make up for lost time and is hoping to impress Sam
Allardyce in pre-season
09.07.2011
Jordan Brown is fighting fit and ready for the biggest season of his career.
Still only 19, the Hammers left-back has put to paper on a new contract and
is eager to make up for lost time. Last season, Brown was on a roll and
looking set to stake a claim for the left-back berth only for disaster to
strike with a thigh injury in December. "I was doing well," Brown told West
Ham TV. "Just as I started to be doing well until Christmas and just as I
started to be involved with the first team, I got injured in a training
session and it just went on and on. "I never played again until the last
friendly of the season when I got the last half hour. I missed quite a bit
of it. Maybe it happened for a reason, you never know."
Brown is refusing to dwell on the disappointment of just seven reserve-team
appearances last season, nor the hurt of watching the club he has
represented since he was seven being relegated to the Championship. There is
a new start for all at Chadwell Heath and Brown wants 2011/12 to be a season
to remember - with the first step being travelling with the first-team squad
to Switzerland this weekend in the hope of competing with Herita Ilunga for
the left-back berth. "I am looking forward to it. It is a big thing for me
to sign again. It is another big step towards where I want to be and
hopefully I will make the most of it."
The youngster, who hails from Benfleet in south Essex, added: "It is going
to be a new start for everyone. The manager is not going to know us young
boys and we have to see who can get in. "For the younger players there will
be more games and the coaches will need more bodies I want to do as much as
I can in pre-season and get as many games as I can. "This season could be
the one. I told my family that this could be the biggest season I have ever
had, and I need to show what I can do. It can only take one game and you
have to take your chance when it comes."
Talking of families, Brown said he would not be contemplating the chance he
has now if it was not for their superb support. "I wouldn't have been able
to do it. I had to get to training every day before I was driving. To have
them around and be able to talk to them before and after games, it helps a
lot."
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Tottenham implicated in phone records theft
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 10th July 2011
By: Staff Writer
The Olympic Park Legacy Company have called in Police to investigate claims
that its chief executive had his telephone records accessed by unauthorised
agents.
Last week West Ham United contacted the Police following claims in the
Sunday Times that the personal records of its employees had been
surreptitiously gained by corporate investigators acting on behalf of
Tottenham Hotspur, West Ham's rivals in the battle to win tenancy of the
£500million stadium post-2012 Olympic games.
And less than seven days later, the OPLC have confirmed that they too have
contacted the authorities after suspecting foul play. According to today's
edition of the Times, the OPLC called in police when they discovered that
records of phone calls made by chief executive Andrew Altman had been
acquired by unauthorised agents.
It is further reported that call records belonging to West Ham's vice-chair
Karren Brady were also accessed by the corporate sleuths, who had been
employed by Tottenham to covertly investigate both the OPLC voting committee
and employees of the club.
The revelation that Spurs have allowed themselves to become embroiled in a
row regarding the unlawful access of personal phone records could not have
come at a worse time for the north London club, following the national
outrage this week over the News of the World's phone-tapping confessions - a
scandal that led to the sudden demise of the 168-year-old newspaper.
In last week's edition the Sunday Times reported that the OPLC director at
the centre of the case, Dionne Knight, has been spied on at her home by
Tottenham's agents. Ms Knight lives with her 14-year-old daughter. Ms Knight
- and West Ham United's Olympic Director Ian Tompkins - were both suspended
from their respective organisations last week following the revelation that
she had been temporarily employed by West Ham as a consultant. The Times
report today that West Ham had been assured by Mr Tompkins that the OPLC had
authorised Ms Knight's employment; the OPLC dispute that version of events
and continue to insist that they were unaware Ms Knight had undertaken work
for the club.
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Masters bid ends in defeat
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 9th July 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United's vets went out of the London Masters at the first stage
tonight. Despite not losing a game, the unlucky Hammers failed to progress
to the final by virtue of goal difference. West Ham opened their campaign
with a 3-2 win over Chelsea that came courtesy of goals from Kevin Horlock,
Steve Lomas and a last-minute Ian Pearce winner. Chelsea were then beaten
4-3 by QPR in the next Group B fixture. That result meant that West Ham
needed to secure a win against reigning London Masters champions QPR in
order to progress to the final - and they were but one minute away from
doing just that. Despite falling 3-1 behind early doors (Gallen (2) and
Meaker for QPR, Matt Holland for West Ham) United rallied to pull the game
back to 3-3 through goals from John Moncur and Steve Lomas. With two minutes
of play remaining, captain Lomas put the Irons ahead for the first time in
the tie with a header - a goal that put West Ham top of the goup again.
However an equaliser for QPR - with little more than 60 seconds left on the
clock - earned Rangers a vital point, and one that saw them through to the
final on goals scored.
In Group A, unfancied Watford upset the odds to send Arsenal and Tottenham
packing. The final was won by the Hornets who beat QPR 3-2.
London Masters 2011: Results
Group A
Arsenal 0 Watford 3
Tottenham 3 Arsenal 2
Watford 2 Tottenham 2
1. Watford 2 5-3 6
2. Tottenham 2 5-4 3
3. Arsenal 2 2-6 0
Group B
Chelsea 2 West Ham Utd 3 (Horlock, Lomas, Pearce)
QPR 4 Chelsea 3
West Ham Utd 4 QPR 4 (Holland, Moncur, Lomas 2)
1. QPR 2 8-7 4
2. West Ham Utd 2 7-6 4
3. Chelsea 2 5-7 0
Final
QPR 2 Watford 3
West Ham United: Squad
Lee Bracey (GK); Ian Pearce; Kenny Brown; Kevin Horlock; Steve Lomas (c);
Keith Rowland; Matt Holland; John Moncur.
2011 National Finalists
Rangers (Northern); Liverpool (Merseyside); Leeds (Yorkshire); Aston Villa
(Midlands); Watford (London); Central champions to be confirmed.
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Contract talks for Collison
West Ham midfielder not paying attention to transfer talk
Last Updated: July 9, 2011 2:23pm
SSN
Jack Collison has confirmed he is in discussions over a new deal at West Ham
after being linked with a move elsewhere this summer. Skysports.com revealed
late last month that Collison had entered into talks with the Championship
club regarding an extension. An agreement has yet to be struck and reports
suggest West Brom have now expressed an interest in signing the midfielder.
Collison is aware of the transfer talk but is staying focused on trying to
reach an accord with the Hammers. "It's flattering but I'm in negotiations
over a contract at the moment," he said in The Sun about the link to West
Brom. "Let's see how that goes."
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Stoke in talks with duo
Potters keen to land West Ham striker and former Spurs defender
Last Updated: July 9, 2011 8:34pm
SSN
Chairman Peter Coates has revealed that Stoke City are in negotations with
Carlton Cole and Jonathan Woodgate about potential moves. West Ham striker
Cole has been linked with a move to The Potters since the Hammers'
relegation from the Premier League and it is understood that a deal for the
27-year-old could be completed for an initial fee of around £4.5 million.
Cole joined fellow England internationals Rob Green and Scott Parker as part
of Sam Allardyce's 26-man squad that travelled to Switzerland on Friday for
a six-day training camp.
Progress
Coates said: "Cole's a player the club is interested in and Tony Pulis has
liked him for a long time, we think he's a very good player. "It's not done
and dusted but it's work in progress. "He's a player the club is interested
in and Tony Pulis has liked him for a long time, we think he's a very good
player." Meanwhile, Coates has admitted free agent Woodgate could well be a
target for the club, with a view to a play-per-play deal. The former Real
Madrid and Tottenham defender's career has been plagued by injury. Coates
added: "We're working on that and it's something we're prepared to do. "It's
work in progress but we're taking a risk. We hope we'll be able to do
something."
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Liverpool midfielder to be handed Hamburg chance
Published 23:00 09/07/11 By Dave Kidd
The Mirror
Joe Cole will be handed the chance to revive his career in the Bundesliga
with Hamburg. The German club's new sporting director Frank Arnesen is keen
to give the Liverpool outcast an escape route from Anfield. QPR, West Ham,
Tottenham and Fulham have all enquired about bringing Cole back to London
but cannot get close to his £90,000-a-week Liverpool wages.
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Only "ridiculous" offers will tempt Leeds to sell
Published 23:00 09/07/11 By Mirror Football
The Mirror
Ken Bates has vowed it will take "ridiculous" money to prise top assets
Robert Snodgrass, Luciano Becchio and Max Gradel out of Leeds. Scotland's
Snodgrass has had an £8million price tag put on him to scare off Premier
Leaguers Norwich, West Brom and Stoke. Swansea are planning a £3m bid for
Argentine striker Becchio, while West Ham are primed to make a £2m offer for
Gradel. But Leeds chairman Bates said: "We have no intention of selling our
top players unless the offer is so ridiculous it will enable manager Simon
Grayson to strengthen his team in other ways."
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Allardyce introduces triple pre-season sessions
Published 23:00 09/07/11 By Mark Isaacs
The Mirror
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is cracking the whip with his players by
introducing TRIPLE sessions for the squad during pre-season. Allardyce is
determined to transform the club following their relegation and will come
down hard on his players as they look to bounce straight back into the top
flight. The former Bolton and Blackburn boss is renowned for his strict
discipline but none of the first-team squad were prepared for the three
sessions a day when they jetted back from their holidays last week.
Allardyce wants his players in prime condition when the new season gets
underway on August 6.
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West Ham set to sign Iceland striker
Published 23:00 09/07/11 By Paul Smith
The Mirror
West Ham are poised to sign Eidur Gudjohnsen on a free transfer following
his exit from Fulham. The 32-year-old Iceland striker had a one-year
contract offer rescinded following Mark Hughes's departure from Craven
Cottage. Swansea tried to take Gudjohnsen to the Liberty Stadium and the
former Barcelona and Chelsea star was on the verge of agreeing terms until
the Hammers intervened. Manager Sam Allardyce, who worked with Gudjohnsen
at Bolton, switched his attention after hitting problems trying to secure
Stoke's Glenn Whelan in the deal that will see Carlton Cole join Stoke.
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Essien injury could spell approach for West Ham star
Published 23:00 09/07/11 By Mirror Football
The Mirror
Chelsea will discover the full extent of Michael Essien's knee injury
tomorrow. And if the midfielder faces a lengthy lay-off, it could prompt a
shock move to take Scott Parker back to Stamford Bridge.
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Cole's Stoke move hits a snag
ESPNsoccernet staff
July 9, 2011
Carlton Cole's transfer to Stoke still looks a long way off after he flew
out to Switzerland with the rest of the West Ham squad for a six-day
training camp.
Widespread reports on Saturday suggested England striker Cole was on the
verge of a £4.5 million move to the Potters, with the fee potentially rising
to £6 million depending on performances. Stoke are thought to have already
had one bid rejected for Cole, who looks set to follow Demba Ba out of the
Upton Park exit door following the club's relegation from the Premier
League. Tony Pulis is also thought to be interested in Birmingham striker
Cameron Jerome as he looks to bolster Stoke's striking power ahead of the
new season. Cole's fellow England internationals Scott Parker and Robert
Green, targets for Aston Villa and West Brom respectively, also made the
trip to Switzerland.
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West Ham's Allardyce blames Thatcher for UK soccer's decline
By Mike Collett
14:53 BST, Sat 9 Jul 2011
LONDON, July 9 Reuters - West Ham United manager Sam Allardyce has blamed
former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher for "killing football" and
creating a modern-day generation of unfit, obese children in the United
Kingdom. Allardyce says that all UK sports, not just soccer, are suffering
because of policies adopted by Thatcher's Conservative governments
throughout the 1980s. In a scathing attack in The Sun newspaper on Saturday,
Allardyce said: "Since Margaret Thatcher stopped teachers being paid extra
money for coaching sports after school, all sporting activities have
diminished on a competitive basis. "Kids are now more obese and unfit than
ever. All the prime young athletes we were ready to develop just aren't
there, so we get a lesser quality of player. "It has not just undermined our
game, it has undermined many sports in this country and created an unhealthy
child. Thatcher killed football, there is no doubt about it."
A recent report stated that one in three children in Britain are obese or
overweight and that 32 per cent of children play less than an hour of sport
a week. In the last 20 years, around 5,000 school playing fields have been
sold off or built over as England's men's national team have continually
floundered in attempts to repeat their 1966 World Cup triumph.
Allardyce, a keen student of sporting education, continued: "Look at how
little kids do to what I did. I was a 200 metres runner, a 4x400m relay
runner and a triple jumper. "I was a batsman in cricket, a freestyler in
swimming and swam for the town. I did the pommel horse in gymnastics and I
was really good on the trampoline, as well as being a footballer. "Kids
don't do any of that now. All of that sporting activity allowed me to play
in the top division in this country."
Allardyce, who recently took over at English second division side West Ham,
maintains the consequences of Thatcher's policies now mean clubs are having
to sign up children at increasingly young ages to ensure they have
opportunities to flourish. "This was a working-class game but it's only at
private schools where the children get the sports opportunities I had -- and
even then a lot of them don't play football, it's mainly rugby," said the
ex-Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers boss. "Despite putting in place all
sorts of advanced academy systems at clubs we are only producing half the
players the school system used to."
The Football Association estimates it takes 10,000 hours of training and
education from the age of about seven or eight to be able to be good enough
to play professional football -- accepting a child has the talent to begin
with. Allardyce added: "Even a club like Manchester United can only provide
4,000 hours at the moment. It's hard to do more because parents have to
drive their kids there four nights a week as well as on a Sunday. "Until we
wake up and realise how important school sport is to our kids we will never
repair the damage," he concluded.
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Potters target Cole and look to take a risk with Woodgate
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 10:50 PM on 9th July 2011
Daily Mail
Stoke chairman Peter Coates has admitted the club are negotiating moves for
Carlton Cole and Jonathan Woodgate. Striker Cole joined fellow England
internationals Rob Green and Scott Parker as part of the Hammers' 26-man
squad that travelled to Switzerland yesterday for a six-day training camp.
The 27-year-old has been linked with a move to the Potters since the
Hammers' relegation from the Premier League and a deal could now be
completed, for an initial fee of around £4.5million.
Coates said: 'Cole's a player the club is interested in and Tony Pulis has
liked him for a long time, we think he's a very good player. 'It's not done
and dusted but it's work in progress.' QPR were also thought to be
monitoring Cole's availability but he could now be set for a move to the
Britannia Stadium, which may end Pulis' pursuit of Birmingham forward
Cameron Jerome.
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WEST HAM WANT ADAM LALLANA
Daily Star
10th July 2011 By Sunday Star reporter
WEST HAM are after Southampton's England Under-21s attacking midfield player
Adam Lallana, 23, who has scored 30 goals in the last two seasons.
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