WHUFC.com
Goalkeepers took centre-stage on the second day of the Hammers' pre-season
training camp
10.07.2011
Water polo, diving, cycling, indoor hockey, basketball, racquetball and - of
course - football were all on the agenda on the second day of West Ham
United's pre-season training camp. The first-team squad were up bright and
early on a beautiful morning in the canton of Bern in central Switzerland,
assembling at an Olympic-size swimming pool at 7am for a water polo
tournament. Following eight highly-competitive matches, Jack Collison
(pictured) made the biggest splash, combining with team-mate Scott Parker
before scoring both goals to lead his team to victory. Collison and Parker
were assisted by Jordan Brown, who swapped his usual left-back position for
that of goalkeeper and made some heroic saves. Following the water polo,
some of the players moved to a 3m diving board to show off their skills,
while others enjoyed a ride down a water flume. After breakfast, the players
and staff hopped on to mountain bikes for the two-mile ride to the training
complex. There, under the close guidance of manager Sam Allardyce, the squad
enjoyed an hour-long practice match that saw Junior Stanislas score and miss
a penalty - saved brilliantly by Ruud Boffin - as his team won 1-0. No
sooner had the squad cycled back to the hotel for lunch when the heavens
opened and torrential rain obscured the usually breath-taking views of the
surrounding mountains. After a bite to eat and a well-earned rest - although
some of the younger members of the squad suffered a shock tennis defeat by
the backroom staff - the players reconvened for their third and final
session of the day. This time it was Abdoulaye Faye who was the goalkeeping
hero, making a series of outstanding blocks to lead his team to a thrilling
penalty shootout victory following a competitive indoor hockey match. The
players then broke away for some smaller-sided games, with basketball and
racquetball among the disciplines enjoyed.
After such an action-packed day, the squad enjoyed a hearty dinner before
spending the evening relaxing ahead of Monday's Uhren Cup meeting with Swiss
Super League side BSC Young Boys in Grenchen. The official website will be
on hand with live text updates from the big match from around 4.30pm UK
time, while whufc.com and West Ham TV will have exclusive highlights and
reaction.
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'Things have gone very well'
WHUFC.com
Head of sport medicine and sport science Andy Rolls is happy with
proceedings in Switzerland so far
10.07.2011
Head of sport medicine and sport science Andy Rolls has been delighted with
the squad's approach to their pre-season training camp in Switzerland. The
Hammers have been up early and working long and hard to get themselves in
shape for the 2011/12 npower Championship campaign. Rolls and his staff have
devised a productive and stimulating series of sessions, ranging from
keep-ball sessions to cycling to water polo. He told West Ham TV that, two
days into the trip, things were going to plan. "Things have gone very well,"
said Rolls. "The whole week has been fantastic. We sat down with Sam and
organised it from start to finish. I don't want to tempt fate but everyone
has got through with minimal problems so far. "There are always some
blisters at this time of year but you expect that because it's hot and the
ground is hard. "We've come out here and the weather has been ideal really.
It's not been too hot, although the sun has been out. The pitches are nice
and soft. It's gone really, really well."
On Saturday afternoon, the gym was a hive of activity as the squad split
into five groups to work on specific and focused parts of the body dependent
on their own individual needs. "We did a circuit for 20 minutes where we hit
all the exercises we wanted to do to strengthen the hamstrings, glutes and
anything else they need to strengthen to prevent injuries. We then split
into groups. "Myself and the staff looked at each player's individual record
and any problems that they've had and tried to see what we could do to
benefit each individual player," explained Rolls. "We split them into five
groups. The first was a lower-limb strength group, which was for players who
have had some knee problems or muscle injuries. "The second was a
flexibility group which was for players who were tight in certain areas we
found in our screening day last week. "The third was a metabolic circuit for
players to work on specific things, while the fourth was a core
stabilisation group for those who have had some groin problems. "Finally,
there was some specific groin rehab which was specific to that small group
of players."
The Hammers will take on Swiss Super League challengers BSC Young Boys in
the pre-season Uhren Cup tournament in Grenchen on Monday evening. Then, on
Wednesday, West Ham will face Swiss champions FC Basel. Before, during and
after those fixtures, Rolls said the players would be concentrating 100 per
cent on getting themselves ready for the fast-approaching season. "It's a
bit of everything in pre-season. We want to hit as many areas as we can and
look at the anaerobic side of things, because the aerobic will take care of
itself. "We have had pool sessions and football sessions, nice long breaks
after lunch for rest, massages and any treatment they needed, then we got
going again at 5pm. On Sunday, we did three sessions again at 7am, 10am and
5pm. This week is a training week."
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Baggies enquire about Collison
West Brom keen on landing Hammers midfielder
Last Updated: July 10, 2011 11:57am
SSN
Skysports.com understands that West Brom have made an enquiry over the
availability of West Ham United midfielder Jack Collison. The 22-year-old
Wales international midfielder is a man in demand following the Hammers'
relegation from the Premier League. Collison is currently contracted to the
Upton Park side until 2013, however, the club are in talks to extend his
deal. That has not stopped the interest from other clubs and West Bromhave
now approached West Ham to see if they will discuss a deal. The Hammers are
keen to trim their wage bill on the back of relegation and they may be
prepared to sell their rising star, although the Baggies could be knocked
back after co-owner David Gold recently stated that Collison was 'not for
sale'.
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Paycut is Dyer situation
Published: Today
The Sun
KIERON DYER is willing to take a massive paycut to stay in the Premier
League. The ex-England midfielder, 32, is a free agent after being released
by West Ham.
He was on £65,000 a week but is willing to see that slashed if QPR,
Blackburn or Everton follow up their interest.
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Wolves keen to snap up ex-West Ham defender
Published 23:00 10/07/11 By John Cross
The Mirror
Wolves boss Mick McCarthy has made a move for England defender Matt Upson.
Upson, 32, is a free agent after his contract at West Ham ran out. He also
interests Spurs manager Harry Redknapp. McCarthy wants to strengthen his
defence with quality and experience. Despite being relegated with the
Hammers, centre-back Upson has 21 caps and meets those requirements.
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Wigan in fight with Real Zaragoza for West Ham winger Barrera
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 11:02 PM on 10th July 2011
Daily Mail
Wigan are interested in West Ham's Mexico winger Pablo Barrera. The
24-year-old is leaning towards a move to Real Zaragoza. However, Wigan
manager Roberto Martinez wants him to stay in the Premier League and is keen
to strike a deal for a player who cost West Ham £3.5m last summer. Martinez
also likes Manchester City's Shaun Wright-Phillips but that is proving too
expensive.
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Parker moves closer to West Ham exit as Spurs and Villa step up interest
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 10:57 PM on 10th July 2011
Daily Mail
Scott Parker's exit from West Ham is set to be finalised this week as Aston
Villa and Tottenham ramp up their interest in the midfielder. The England
midfielder is available for around £7million and advanced talks are under
way with formal offers for the 30-year-old expected this week. Parker
remains keen on leaving Upton Park as he looks to give himself the best
possible chance of staying in the England fold stay ahead of Euro 2012. The
former Chelsea man is in Switzerland with the rest of Sam Allardyce's squad
but will return for talks once an offer is accepted. Villa remain in talks
over Tottenham's Alan Hutton also. Meanwhile, West Ham co-owner David Gold
has taken to Twitter to issue a hands-off warning to Jack Collison's
top-flight suitors. West Bromwich and Stoke have both been linked with the
Wales midfielder - who has held talks over a new contract and Gold said:
'Jack Collison is not for sale.' West Brom, who are interested in Stoke
goalkeeper Thomas Sorensen, have allowed defender Gianni Zuiverloon, 24, to
join Real Mallorca on a three year deal.
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Fernandes wanted to bring Zola back to Upton Park if West Ham bid had
succeeded
Last updated at 12:01 AM on 11th July 2011
Daily Mail
Grand Prix team owner Tony Fernandes was going to consider bringing back
Gianfranco Zola as West Ham manager if his proposed takeover had succeeded.
Airline tycoon Fernandes, who runs Team Lotus, had told West Ham not to
appoint a manager while he was in negotiations to buy a controlling 51 per
cent stake. Instead Fernandes's offer was dismissed as derisory and Sam
Allardyce chosen as boss — decisions that alienated the Malaysian, a
lifelong Hammers fan. He called the Hammers high command of David Gold,
David Sullivan and Karren Brady 'not nice people to deal with to put it
mildly' and Allardyce 'a tragic selection'.
Fernandes said: 'West Ham is all about a style of football which you won't
get with Allardyce. And I just can't understand why Avram Grant was ever in
charge. Zola is far more suited to managing the club. 'There are not many
teams with West Ham's support and traditions. But the way I was treated by
Brady in particular has put me off football. I'm concentrating on my F1 team
now. I can build something here'. Unfortunately for Fernandes, both his
cars were out of the race after 10 laps at the British Grand Prix.
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