Junior Stanislas, Olly Lee and Jack Collison are on target in a comfortable
pre-season victory
16.07.2011
BISHOP'S STORTFORD v WEST HAM UNITED XI
PRE-SEASON MATCH
SATURDAY 16 JULY 2011
KICK-OFF: 3PM
Final score - Bishop's Stortford 0-3 West Ham United XI
92 mins - Referee Hodges blows his whistle and that is that. That was a good
workout for West Ham, who return to action on Wednesday evening in Denmark,
where they take on FC Copenhagen. Back on these shores, the Hammers travel
to Wycombe Wanderers a week today and Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday 26
July. Don't forget, both whufc.com and West Ham TV will have exclusive
highlights and post-match reaction from Woodside Park.
90 mins - Into added-time and West Ham come close again. Sanchez's cross is
headed back across goal by Montano and the Spaniard follows in and smashes a
shot that hits a defender and goes behind. The corner is too strong and I
would think that time is nearly up.
89 mins - The sun is shining brightly here at Woodside Park and West Ham
have also shone this afternoon. The home side have worked hard and made West
Ham work hard for their victory. For the Hammers, it is a real positive to
see Parker, Noble and Collison back in action. Montano has also caught the
eye with his play.
87 mins - Today's attendance is announced as 810.
86 mins - Stortford have battled gamely and come close again as the ball
drops to Prestedge, but his shot is too close to Stech, who collects.
84 mins - So close to 4-0 and a deserved goal for Montano. Collison wins the
ball on the edge of the box and slides it inside for Montano, but his
well-struck shot is beaten away by Wright. It drops to McCallum, whose
volley hits a defender and goes out for a corner. The corner is delivered to
the near post and nothing comes from it.
82 mins - GOAL! Stortford have a free-kick that Stech punches clear to
Parker. Montano does well to slide a superb ball to Collison on halfway. The
No15 races clear of the defence before dancing around the goalkeeper and
slotting into the unguarded net with his left foot.
81 mins - Fry is beaten to the ball and it is worked to Francis. He takes a
touch and shoots low across Stech. The big goalkeeper throws out his right
hand and pushes the ball away.
78 mins - Montano puts in a superb cross from the left but it's too strong
for McCallum. A Stortford player needs the physio on and during the break in
play, Hall comes on for Lletget.
76 mins - The three midfielders have shifted positions. Noble is the one
sitting now.
75 mins - Robert Hall is going to come on the for the final few minutes. It
will be the forward's third appearance in six days. He did very well on the
pre-season tour in Switzerland, particularly catching the eye in Monday's
game against BSC Young Boys.
74 mins - Lettejallow meets the corner with a firm header, but he directs
the ball straight into the turf. It bounces up and over the crossbar.
73 mins - A chance for Stortford to deliver the ball into the box as Driver
brings down Salah. The free-kick is cleared, but the hosts keep up the
pressure and win a corner. Good spirit from Ian Walker's men.
70 mins - Good play again from Montano, who beats a man and loses his
footing. He gets up quickly and then finds Lletget. The American feeds the
ball back to Montano, who goes past a defender before shooting low into the
side-netting at the near post.
68 mins - Neat feet from Montano and Noble inside the box. Noble tries to
pick out Collison, but a defender gets a toe in and Stortford clear. One of
the 'No number' players beats McNaughton with decent pace and finds a
team-mate, but he delays too long and Parker gets in a strong and well-timed
tackle.
67 mins - Bishop's Stortford are pretty much watching West Ham pass the ball
around. It's not as if they are playing poorly - they just can't get the
ball from a West Ham team that has three top-class midfielders running the
show.
64 mins - Montano is on fire! He beats two men again and slips the ball in
for Lletget. He takes a touch and shoots from 18 yards, but the ball goes a
yard or two wide of the far post.
63 mins - Montano is an elusive runner with more pace than he is perhaps
given credit for. He slips past one defender and then a second before being
hauled to the ground. Superb play. Driver is at left-back, Sanchez at
right-back and Fry has gone in alongside McNaughton. McCallum is up front.
62 mins - Brown, Spence, Reid and Nouble are the quartet replaced. Parker
has the captain's armband on.
61 mins - Collison does well in midfield, collecting a pass from Noble and
trying to feed a through ball to Nouble. It's just too strong and goalkeeper
Wright dives out to claim.
59 mins - Fitness coach Swift whistles loudly to the substitutes to come
back to the bench. We'll see Sanchez, Fry, McCallum and Driver soon.
55 mins - Brown and Montano combine to clear from deep inside the West Ham
half. Montano romps down the left wing, but Collison's sweeping pass is too
high and too strong and flies out for a throw. The Wales international
raises his hand in apology.
54 mins - Noble and Parker are painting pretty patterns in the centre of
midfield, popping passes around with speed and accuracy. The sun has come
out again, but for how long?
52 mins - Noble shows his class with a delightful pass inside right-back
Lettejallow for Brown. He crosses and Nouble gets there first, but cannot
direct his effort on target under pressure from Phillip.
51 mins - Collison and Noble work the corner short but the latter's delivery
to the near post is volleyed clear. It looks like the game will follow a
similar pattern, with the Hammers well on top.
50 mins - Nouble chests down for Montano on halfway and the winger runs 50
yards before a defender slides in and knocks the ball over the fence behind
the goal. Another corner.
49 mins - Lletget picks out the run of Spence with a neat pass. The
overlapping full-back slides a cross inside towards Nouble, but a defender
cuts it out. Corner. Montano's delivery is high and goalkeeper Wright comes
out and punches clear.
48 mins - Stortford's new team has three players in it with no numbers on
their backs. Interesting.
46 mins - We're off and running again. West Ham's formation is unchanged,
with Parker in front of the back four and Noble and Collison in central
midfield.
Parker is wearing the No12 shirt, Collison the No15 and Noble the No16.
Moncur, Lee and Abdulla have gone off. Kick-off is delayed slightly while
Collison puts on a GPS vest. Meanwhile, Sam Allardyce is signing autographs
for some young fans.
Half-time score - Bishop's Stortford 0-2 West Ham United XI
Bishop's Stortford's second-half team will be Wright, Lettejallow, Anderson,
Hahn, Olafunmishe, Boueno, Thomson, Prestedge, Francis, McKenzie and Salah.
No news yet on any changes for the Hammers, but Parker, Collison and Noble
are all out warming-up on the pitch, along with the other substitutes.
46 mins - The half-time whistle is blown. That was, for the most part, a
comfortable 45 minutes for the Hammers. Stortford are going to field a
completely new XI after the break.
45 mins - Downes is telling his players to 'Keep the ball inside Stortford's
half'. They do just that as a diagonal pass drops to Montano 25 yards out.
He takes a touch and slams a low shot across Eyre and wide of the far post.
Good effort.
44 mins - West Ham's players are working hard when Stortford have the ball,
which is encouraging. If they work as hard as their opponents, then the
Hammers' greater quality will shine through and more chances will be
created.
42 mins - Lletget spreads play wide right for Spence, who controls well. He
cuts inside and tries to pick out Nouble, but the ball clips Moncur and runs
away from the striker. Unlucky, that. West Ham appear to have weathered the
Stortford storm.
41 mins - Brown crosses from the left and a clearing header drops to Lee,
but he can't control and Habu clears. Collison joins Parker on the
touchline. I wonder if both will be on at half-time?
40 mins - Parker emerges for a warm-up run along the touchline. The Hammer
of the Year receives some applause from the stands.
38 mins - Calver has come alive, collecting a pass from Tyriaki before
beating Spence. After a couple of tricks, Reid pokes the ball behind.
Dadson's corner flashes across the six-yard box and out for a goal kick.
Downes shouts at his players to up their game.
37 mins - The hosts are having a little spell here as Calver's cross is
headed behind by McNaughton. Again, West Ham fail to clear their lines and
Dadson loses Moncur before shooting at the near post, but Stech is there to
make an easy catch.
35 mins - A first chance for Stortford as Reid concedes free-kick 25 yards
from goal. Tyriaki takes it and the ball takes a nick off Brown and goes
behind. Brown wins the header from the corner and then blocks a cross.
Stortford stay on the offensive as McNaughton and Nouble fail to properly
clear their lines, but when Calver tries a trick, he loses control and the
ball goes behind for a goal kick.
34 mins - Lletget robs Braithwaite down the left touchline and finds Moncur.
He skips past a challenge and gets to the edge of the box on the right-hand
side, but his slide-rule pass inside for Nouble is wayward and Nouble
collects.
30 mins - The supporters are running for cover to escape the deluge from the
skies! On the pitch, West Ham are in total control of proceedings. Stech has
been a virtual spectator for the opening half-hour.
28 mins - I spoke too soon, there. Stanislas is replaced by Montano. The
Colombia-born player heads over to the left wing. The rain is absolutely
chucking it down, drumming on the roof of the stand.
27 mins - Stanislas again. He shoots from the angle but this time it's too
high. The winger has looked really sharp in pre-season. He also looks to
have a real hunger to make his mark next term.
26 mins - Patient build-up play from the Hammers involving Lletget, Lee and
Stanislas before Moncur shoots low from 25 yards. He drags it wide of the
left-hand post,
23 mins - Abdulla spreads play wide to the right for Spence. He plays in
Moncur, who tries to pick out the run of Nouble. The big striker is offside,
though. If he can time those runs, he certainly has the pace to get away
from his marker.
21 mins - Manager Allardyce is sitting two rows in front of me in the main
stand here and I'm sure he's been impressed with what he has seen so far.
Saying that, Stortford are coming into things a little more.
18 mins - It's belting it down again here. In fact, one might even say it's
raining goals! If West Ham can maintain their level, this could be very
convincing. Lee crosses from the left and Nouble jumps and glances his
header wide. Lletget was behind Nouble and may have been better placed, but
we shall never know.
17 mins - GOAL! Spence lays the ball inside the full-back again and Nouble
shows his power to hold off Abdullahi. He shoots low and the ball beats Eyre
and cannons back off the base of the far post. Lee follows up and side-foots
home from eight yards.
16 mins - Stortford are having real trouble maintaining any sort of
possession.
13 mins - The goal was coming and was no more than West Ham deserve. To be
honest, they're completely dominating the game. Cole is penalised for
handball and Stanislas has another chance to deliver. This time, he collects
the ball short and shoots from 25 yards. It dips just over the top.
11 mins - GOAL! Stanislas takes the free-kick square to Abdulla, who
immediately lays it back to the No9. He looks up and crosses into the danger
zone. McNaughton slides but makes no contact, but his effort wrong-foots
Eyre and the ball bounces high into the top right-hand corner. Stanislas
takes the plaudits, but I'm not sure he meant it! Two goals in two games for
the winger.
10 mins - Jordan Brown is brought down near the left touchline midway inside
the Stortford half. Stanislas to take...
8 mins - That's another chance for the Hammers. Spence threads a neat ball
inside the full-back for Nouble. He looks to be in on goal, but instead
crosses for Moncur. The midfielder's touch is a bit loose and his lay-off
for Stanislas is cut out. Shame.
6 mins - The ball is worked, via a deflection, to Spence on the right wing,
Downes urges him to 'Get at 'em', so he does before crossing towards the far
post. Lee slides in, but cannot get sufficient power on the ball to divert
it past Eyre.
4 mins - It looks to me that West Ham are playing in a 4-1-4-1 formation.
Spence, Reid, McNaughton and Brown are across the back, with Abdulla in
front of the back four. Lletget, Moncur, Lee and Stanislas are across the
midfield, with Nouble up front.
3 mins - It's all West Ham in the early going but they've not forged an
opening yet. Lee finds Moncur through the middle, but he over-hits his pass
to Nouble and the ball rolls out for a throw.
2 mins - Abdulla looks lively in the early going as he wins the ball from
left-back Braithwaite. Lletget is involved before Spence crosses high
towards Nouble, but the striker is offside.
1 min - Spence gets forward well down the right and receives a pass from
Abdulla, but his cross is short and easily cut out.
3.01pm - We're off and running...
2.58pm - West Ham United are led out by captain Winston Reid. Bishop's
Stortford are being captained by Mo Habu. The two teams shake hands and
break away into their respective halves. Reid hands a commemorative pennant
to Ian Walker and we're nearly ready to go. Referee Rob Hodges calls the two
captains together and the home side will kick-off, shooting towards the
Stansted Airport end of the stadium.
2.55pm - The two teams have headed back to their respective dressing rooms
ahead of kick-off.
2.50pm - Bishop's Stortford are managed by Ian Walker, who is still sporting
his famous 'curtains' haircut. He is also wearing a very distinctive light
grey suit.
2.45pm - There are so many players on the pitch warming up that you would
think we've had a pitch invasion! Seriously, though, this fixture represents
a big opportunity for the club's young players to shine in front of manager
Sam Allardyce. Particularly those who didn't travel with the squad to
Switzerland will be keen to turn it on. However, the home side will also be
desperate to impress and gain themselves a big scalp. I reckon we're in for
a competitive game.
2.40pm - The rain has stopped, thankfully. The sun did pop its head through
the clouds for a short while but it has now disappeared again. Saying that,
I reckon we could be set fair for a dry 90 minutes.
2.35pm - You've got to hand it to Bishop's Stortford. With things getting
ever more difficult for non-league clubs financially, they have arranged a
pre-season meeting with Gabala FC - the Azerbaijan Premier League side
managed by former Arsenal and England manager Tony Adams. On 26 August,
Woodside Park will also play host to England's Under-17s for a friendly
match against Czech Republic.
2.22pm - Bishop's Stortford are going to play two XIs, with each playing 45
minutes each - barring injury. The first half XI is Eyre, Jeffries,
Braithwaite, Abdullahi, Habu, Jones, Cole, Hanchip, Calver, Tyriaki and
Dadson.
2.20pm - West Ham United's starting XI and substitutes have been named. The
big news is that Scott Parker, Mark Noble and Jack Collison are all on the
bench and in line to make their first appearances of the pre-season. The
starting XI in full is Stech, Spence, Reid, McNaughton, Brown, Abdulla,
Moncur, Lee, Stanislas, Nouble and Lletget. The substitutes are Larkins,
Parker, Noble, Collison, Hall, Driver, Fry, McCallum, Sanchez and Montano.
1.50pm - A West Ham United XI also visited Bishop's Stortford on 29 July
2010, when the Hammers ran out 4-0 winners. Freddie Sears scored all four
goals in a comprehensive victory.
1.40pm - It's rain, rain, rain all the way here at Bishop's Stortford as new
development coach Ian Hendon and fitness coach Eamon Swift emerge from the
tunnel to prepare the pitch for the Hammers' pre-match warm-up. The official
website and West Ham TV will have an exclusive first interview with Hendon
soon.
Good afternoon and welcome to the familiar surroundings of Woodside Park for
this afternoon's pre-season match between Bishop's Stortford and a West Ham
United XI. It is wet and, to be honest, the weather is downright horrible
here on the Essex/Hertfordshire border.
First-team coach Wally Downes is in charge of the Hammers this afternoon,
but manager Sam Allardyce is also in attendance to watch a young side take
on the Blue Square North newcomers.
Mark Noble, Jack Collison and Scott Parker are all included in a matchday
squad for the first time in pre-season, having travelled with the squad to
their six-day training camp in Switzerland.
Of the other players who travelled to Switzerland, Marek Stech, Winston
Reid, Jordan Spence, Jordan Brown, George Moncur, Olly Lee, Junior
Stanislas, Frank Nouble and Robert Hall have all been named in today's
squad.
Alongside them, young professionals Callum Driver, Callum McNaughton, Matt
Fry, Sebastian Lletget and Ahmed Abdulla will all be eager to make their
mark in front of Allardyce.
Bishop's Stortford, who are managed by former Tottenham Hotspur and England
goalkeeper Ian Walker, have been moved into the Blue Square North this
season following the expulsion of Rushden & Diamonds.
Woodside Park, of course, has played host to West Ham's reserve team
regularly in recent seasons. Defender McNaughton will feel especially at
home, having been born in the town and spent a period on loan with Bishop's
Stortford last season.
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Carlton 'feeling positive'
WHUFC.com
The club's second-longest serving player is feeling good and ready for the
new season ahead
16.07.2011
Carlton Cole is stepping up his pre-season work having returned to action in
a West Ham United shirt. The England striker is set to travel with the rest
of the squad for Wednesday's match away to FC Copenhagen having made his
first appearance of the pre-season in last week's match with FC Basel. He
looked more than lively and Cole is more than prepared to cope with the
rigours of a lengthy Championship campaign. "I am feeling positive," he told
whufc.com. "I have been doing some work on my own as well as with the rest
of the team out in our training camp in Switzerland. I then came on in our
game on Wednesday and it was good to play. I feel good and strong."
Cole, who is the club's second longest-serving player, is renowned as one of
the hardest workers at Chadwell Heath and usually among the last to leave at
the end of the day. While speculation remains over the future of the club's
England players, with Premier League sides constantly linked with approaches
- Cole is focused only on the task at hand. The 27-year-old, who played 43
times last season, scoring eleven goals, added: "I am as committed to West
Ham as always. I am a West Ham player and have no knowledge that is going to
be any different. Unless I am told something different, I am a West Ham
player and will be doing my all for the team.
"There has been a lot of things reported and that it was a done deal that I
was moving to another club, but that is not the case and I want our fans to
know, unless I am told anything different, I am as committed as ever to the
team and getting the club back in the Premier League."
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Allardyce pulled Eidur deal
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 16th July 2011
By: Staff Writer
Eidur Gudjohnsen's transfer to West Ham fell through after the plug was
pulled by Sam Allardyce. According to a source at West Ham, Allardyce
withdrew the contract offer after failing to be sufficiently convinced by
the 32-year-old striker's desire to play for the club. The West Ham boss met
Gudjohnsen - who had already passed a medical - on Friday, the day after he
returned from Switzerland with the first team squad. Allardyce had insisted
on speaking with the former Barcelona and Chelsea star prior to agreeing a
deal.
Allardyce is understood to have expressed his reservations following that
meeting - and before Gudjohnsen's father, who also acts as his business
representative, told West Ham later in the day that AEK Athens had entered
the race to sign his son. According to the club source, Allardyce pulled the
plug on the deal first thing this morning having decided that signing the
much-travelled Gudjohnsen would not be in the club's best interests, leaving
the path clear for AEK to sign the out-of-contract forward. Rumours that the
deal to sign Gudjohnsen was cancelled due to Carlton Cole's refusal to join
Stoke were also dismissed by the source.
Groundhogsen day - timeline
16th June: Gudjohnsen released by Stoke City.
9th July: West Ham linked with a third bid for Gudjohnsen.
12th July: West Ham complete talks with Gudjohnsen: contractual terms
agreed. A four-year old KUMB Forum thread is revived.
14th July: Gudjohnsen passes a medical in Essex. Sam Allardyce returns from
Switzerland.
15th July: Allardyce meets Gudjohnsen to discuss the move.
15th July: Arnor Gudjohnsen tells West Ham AEK Athens want to sign his son.
16th July: Allardyce informs the Gudjohnsen's that the deal is off.
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Bishops Stortford 0 West Ham Utd XI 3
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 16th July 2011
By: Staff Writer
Scott Parker, Mark Noble and Jack Collison all made their first appearances
of pre-season as a West Ham XI strolled to victory in the pouring rain. Led
by Wally Downes under the watchful eye of Sam Allardyce in the stands, the
Hammers recorded their first victory of pre-season at Woodside Park this
afternoon through goals from Junior Stanislas, Olly Lee and Collison. Having
started strongly it was no surprise when the Hammers took an 11th minute
lead through Junior Stanislas, whose cross somehow evaded everyone in the
box before nestling in the back of the home side's net.
With Bishops Stortford still reeling from Stanislas' freak opener, West Ham
were two-nil up just six minutes later. Olly Lee was alert enough to be
first to react to a Frank Nouble strike that cannoned off the woodwork
following some good build-up play by United. Stanislas, who had looked sharp
in the game's opening stages was replaced just ahead of the half-hour mark
much to his obvious disappointment. However that failed to dampen the
spirits of his team mates who saw out the half with some ease.
With Noble, Parker and Collison all introduced at the break West Ham
continued to control the game. The only surprise was that the 810 hardy
souls in the stands who had braved the driving rain had to wait until the
82nd minute to see a third West Ham goal. However for Hammers fans in
attendance it was a goal well worth waiting for, as Jack Collison completed
the victory with a 60-yard run that culminated with him rounding the
goalkeeper and planting the ball into the empty net. A number of the players
featuring at Woodside Park today will join the rest of the first team squad
when they travel to Denmark early next week for Wednesday night's friendly
with FC Copenhagen. The match is being broadcast on Danish TV.
Bishops Stortford 0 West Ham Utd 3: match facts
West Ham United: Stech, Spence (Sanchez 62), Reid (c) (Driver 62),
McNaughton, Brown (Fry 62), Abdulla (Noble 46), Moncur (Parker 46), Lee
(Collison 46), Stanislas (Montano 28), Nouble (McCallum 62), Lletget (Hall
78).
Subs not used: Larkins.
Goals: Stanislas (11), Lee (17), Collison (82).
Bishops Stortford (first half): Eyre, Jeffries, Braithwaite, Abdullahi, Habu
(c), Jones, Cole, Hanchip, Calver, Tyriaki, Dadson.
Bishops Stortford (second half): Wright, Lettejallow, Anderson, Hahn,
Olafunmishe, Boueno, Thomson, Prestedge, Francis, McKenzie, Salah.
Referee: Rob Hodges.
Attendance: 810.
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Hammers cancel deal for Iceland striker
Published 23:00 16/07/11 By Mirror Football
The Mirror
West Ham have pulled the plug on signing Eidur Gudjohnsen. The Icelandic
striker seemed all set to sign for the east London club after having a
medical on Thursday.
But West Ham boss Sam Allardyce was unhappy that the player stalled on
putting pen to paper and ended his interest in the experienced forward.
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Stoke refused Cole the same wages as Kenwyne Jones
Published 23:00 16/07/11 By Paul Smith
The Mirror
Carlton Cole turned his back on a move to Stoke after the club wouldn't
offer him the same wages as striker Kenwyne Jones. Jones is reported to be
on £45,000 a week – but City refused to pay West Ham's Cole more than
£40,000, claiming they had a strict salary cap in place.
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Abramovich to make final decision on West Ham ace
Published 23:00 16/07/11 By Paul Smith
The Mirror
Roman Abramovich will make the final decision on whether or not to sign West
Ham's Scott Parker next week. Chelsea made an informal enquiry about Parker
on Thursday regarding a loan or permanent deal. But the England midfield ace
has already informed the Hammers he has no wish to go out on loan, which
would have been the preferred option for the Championship club. Now it's up
to Blues owner Abramovich whether or not to sanction a move. Aston Villa are
watching the situation but claims they have made a £7m bid have been
dismissed. The fee the Hammers are demanding to allow Parker to be sold or
go out on loan has cooled interest in him. Spurs manager Harry Redknapp, who
was tipped to make a move for Parker, said the figures didn't add up and he
understood his club's reluctance to bid. "If you take into account the fee
of around £8m, signing on fees and wages you're talking about a £30m deal,"
said Redknapp. "There is no way the club would sanction a deal for a
30-year-old who would have no resale value at the end of his contract."
Parker earns £65,000 a week at Upton Park and when he signed a new four-year
deal in September last year, no provision was made for a cut in wages if the
club were relegated. West Ham were prepared to let Parker join a club on a
season-long loan but wanted £4.5m and Parker's wages covered. But that was
taken off the table when Parker said he would rather stay at the Hammers
than go on loan.
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Allardyce: I pulled the plug on Gudjohnsen West Ham deal
London24
Dave Evans
Saturday, July 16, 2011
11:03 PM
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has pulled the plug on the deal to sign Iceland
international striker Eidur Gudjohnsen. The 32-year-old, who was released by
Stoke City at the end of last season, passed a medical at Upton Park on
Thursday and the deal seemed set to go through. But the Hammers pulled out
of the deal when the striker, who was on loan at Fulham last season, failed
to make a decision. "The bottom line was that for me, Eidur had enough time
to make a decision," explained the West Ham manager. "The time I gave him
elapsed so instead of us sitting and waiting for him, I decided from my
point of view that it was better to call the deal off."
Allardyce had made a new striker his top priority in the transfer window and
he was frustrated that he could not secure the signature of the player who
played under him at Bolton Wanderers. "I am very disappointed because I
thought the deal was done and dusted yesterday," he said. "But what happened
is his father flew in last night and something happened between me finishing
with him and his father arriving. "There must have been another deal that
appeared somewhere else, but irrespective of that, Eidur needed to give me a
decision, he didn't, so I made the decision for both of us by nor pursing
him."
Gudjohnsen is said to be having talks with Greek side Panathinaikos, while
Allardyce will continue with his striker search. So has he got a back-up
plan? "Not yet!" he admitted.
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Allardyce: It was good to give West Ham trio a game
London 24
Dave Evans, West Ham correspondent
Saturday, July 16, 2011
11:12 PM
Bishop Stortford 0 West Ham 3
Scott Parker, Mark Noble and Jack Collison all played their first game of
pre-season as the Hammers eased to a 3-0 victory over Blue Square North side
Bishop's Stortford on Saturday. The West Ham midfield trip played the second
half and Collison rounded off a promising display with a goal close to the
end, but the Hammers had already carved out a 2-0 first-half lead by the
time they were introduced. A crowd of 810 braved the torrential rain both
before and during this friendly clash and they were rewarded with a
competent performance from a young Hammers side. It took West Ham just 11
minutes to open the scoring. They won a free kick out on the left wing and
when Junior Stanislas swung the ball in, it was missed by every defender as
well as young Hammers centre half Callum McNaughton as it slipped into the
net by the far post.
Stanislas was looking very lively and twice went close with shots from the
edge of the box, before limping off halfway through the half with a slight
groin injury. By then West Ham had made it 2-0. Striker Frank Nouble turned
his man in the area and when his low shot unluckily struck the far post, it
rebounded straight into the path of Olly Lee who rammed it home. Manager Sam
Allardyce watched the game from the stand and he must have been impressed by
the likes of Jordan Spence, Jordan Brown and Cristian Montano as they
continued to harry the Stortford defence.
West Ham's three star men were on from the start of the second half and for
much of the second 45 minutes it was a case of keep ball for the Hammers as
Stortford were left chasing the ball. A superb turn, dribble and pass from
Montano released Sebastien Lletget only for him to shoot inches wide with
just the keeper to beat, but Montano's pass proved more effective in the
last couple of minutes as he picked out Collison's timely run and the
midfielder rounded the goalkeeper before touching into an empty net to
complete the scoring.
Allardyce was pleased with the performance as well as getting the chance to
play some of his more experienced players. "It was good to see Mark Noble
getting a game because he had a slight problem out in Switzerland," revealed
the Hammers boss. "We were able to give him half a game today which is good
and the same with Scott (Parker) and Jack (Collison). "It was good to see
them and it looks like a comfortable victory for us."
West Ham: Stech, Spence (Sanchez), McNaughton, Reid (Fry), Brown (Driver),
Abdullah (Noble), Lee (Collison), Moncur (Parker), Stanislas (Montano),
Lletget (Hall), Nouble (McCallum).
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West Ham and Birmingham weigh up move for Sunderland Centre Back
July 17, 2011 · 0 Comments
Both West Ham United and Birmingham City are considering making a bid for
Sunderland's Anton Ferdinand, with reports that Ferdinand is considering his
future at the Stadium of Light. This comes about as a result of new arrivals
Wes Brown and John O' Shea from Manchester United joining Steve Bruce's
squad and Ferdinand worrying about his future first team involvement on
Wearside. An established part of the first eleven at Sunderland since
joining from West Ham in 2008, the 26 year old is concerned that the new
arrivals could seriously threaten his position in the team. Whether
Ferdinand would consider dropping down to the Championship though is
entirely another matter. But both Birmingham and West Ham are considered two
of the front runners to gain promotion back to the Premier League at the
first time of asking next term. It is not thought though that Steve Bruce
would even consider selling Ferdinand and it would probably take an over the
odds fee for Bruce to accept.
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JAMES TOMKINS IS SAM ALLARDYCE'S TOP MAN
17th July 2011 By Tony Stenson
Daily Star
WEST HAM have opened talks on a new deal for blossoming centre-half James
Tomkins. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce wants to mould the England Under-21 star
into the bedrock of his future defence. The departure of skipper Matthew
Upson on a free at the end of last season and the sale of Portuguese Manuel
da Costa to Russians Lokomotiv Moscow has opened the door for Tomkins. He
still has two years left on his current contract but both player and
Allardyce are keen to thrash out a new, long-term deal with a
performance-related pay rise to tie him to the club. Several Premier League
clubs including Stoke and Bolton have sniffed around Tomkins after West
Ham's relegation to the Championship last season. Allardyce has brought in
Abdoulaye Faye from Stoke to bolster the defence but the manager is also
anxious to retain the club's best young players to push for an immediate
return to the Premier League. Talks are also ongoing with sought-after Wales
midfielder Jack Collison.
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