WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce has seen his numbers swelled with the return of some familiar
faces on Thursday
07.07.2011
Robert Green and Scott Parker were among those joining in training for the
first time this summer at a rain-sodden Chadwell Heath on Thursday. The
England duo, who finished last season late after international commitments,
were put through their paces alongside Marek Stech, Winston Reid, James
Tomkins and Jack Collison, who also had national-team duty beyond the end of
May.
Pablo Barrera has been given extra time off because of his exploits at the
CONCACAF Gold Cup and will not join his team-mates in Switzerland when they
travel this weekend. Gary O'Neil was also back in for the next phase of his
rehab, having discarded his crutches following ankle surgery at the end of
last season.
The Hammers will take on BSC Young Boys on Monday, although it remains to be
seen whether those just returning to action will be involved in that opening
fixture of the summer. The week-long training camp will culminate in a match
next Wednesday against FC Basel. Sam Allardyce will also take along some of
the club's most promising youngsters and they could get a chance to impress
in one or both of the fixtures.
Also involved in training on Thursday was Brazil-born triallist Hernani da
Rosa. Hernani, who has Polish citizenship, has spent the last eight years in
the Ekstraklasa, most recently with Korona Kielce.
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Da Rosa's Hammers trip
Published: Today
The Sun
WEST HAM will decide next week whether to sign Polish defender Hernani da
Rosa. They have opted to take the Brazil-born centre-back, 27, on their
pre-season tour of Switzerland after a successful four-day trial. The
Hammers are said to be offering Polish club Korona Kielce an initial
£500,000.
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Scott Parker set to stay in claret and blue
Published 23:01 07/07/11 By James Nursey
The Mirror
Aston Villa are ready to make a move for Scott Parker – as Stewart Downing
prepares to tell manager Alex McLeish he wants to leave. Parker had talks
with new West Ham boss Sam Allardyce yesterday, with his future yet to be
resolved. Harry Redknapp was red-hot favourite to land Parker, but the Spurs
boss is under strict orders to sell before buys and his squad is overloaded
with midfielders. That has alerted several clubs that they may be able to
snatch the England midfielder from under Redknapp's nose. McLeish is keen to
strengthen his midfield and is at the front of the chase to land 30-year-old
Parker, who was hoping to have left Upton Park by now. Arsenal and Liverpool
did show tentative interest but in both cases that has now cooled and Villa
believe they have a chance of landing Parker. Everton are another club
watching developments. Parker has made no secret of the fact that he would
like to get back into the Premier League following the Hammers' relegation
to the Championship, and would love Champions League football to both help
his England career and his chances of being a Three Lions regular at Euro
2012.
Despite being voted Football Writers' Association Player of the Year last
season, Parker knows his England chances could be hampered if he stays at
West Ham.
He is unlikely to rush into moving though, as he fancies joining Tottenham
if Redknapp can successfully shake up his squad. Parker has four years left
on his contract, but West Ham may be willing to allow him to go for around
£5million. As Tottenham scrap to keep hold of Luka Modric, transfer business
at White Hart Lane have been very limited so far. Jermaine Jenas and Wilson
Palacios - who is interesting Napoli - are two potential outgoings who could
make way for Parker, but there have been no concrete offers yet. Parker may
hold off on a decision until he knows whether a move to Tottenham is a
possibility - especially as Spurs chairman Daniel Levy may be against
signing another player over 30. Redknapp is also keeping tabs on
developments with Liverpool misfit Joe Cole. The Spurs boss tried to sign
Cole, who's been linked with a loan move to former cub West Ham, last summer
and remains a fan. But, again, a deal could only happen if Redknapp moves
players on.
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QPR step up bid for Carlton Cole
Published 23:00 07/07/11 By Darren Lewis
The Mirror
Neil Warnock will step up his bid to land West Ham striker Carlton Cole in
the coming days - to prove reports of his demise as QPR boss have been
greatly exaggerated. Warnock will also continue trying to persuade
midfielder Adel Taraabt to give the club another season instead of quitting
for pastures new. The Rangers boss will then set about bringing in the other
three players on his shortlist to strengthen last season's Championship
winners. It has been claimed Warnock is a dead man walking, with suggestions
that former Chelsea boss Claudio Ranieri is set to take over his job. The
rumours have spiralled out of control following the uncontested claim from
Peterborough director of football Barry Fry that QPR lost out on Posh
striker Craig Mackail-Smith because Warnock couldn't guarantee he'd be the
manager long term . Add to that the anger among fans, who face a rise of up
to 40 per cent for tickets next season, and it is easy to see why gloom has
overtaken a summer that should have been filled with optimism for Rangers
fans.
Howard Prosser, author of From Buckets to Billionaires Vol III, which charts
the Hoops' fall and rise over the last 10 years, said: "QPR fans are not
happy. Not at all. The first problem was the rise in ticket prices. "We are
not Chelsea or Arsenal or Tottenham. And even though the club might
rationalise things by saying the tickets are more cost effective you are
still paying through the nose for a half-decent seat. "The people who run
the club need to do something soon. They will tell you all day long about
how they saved the club, and they are right, but since they have come in it
has been one PR disaster after another."
Before Warnock's arrival, Rangers billionaire owners Fabio Briatore, Bernie
Ecclestone and Lakshmi Mittal had been through a staggering EIGHT managers
in four years. It was only Warnock that has given the club direction - his
achievement in taking the club up this summer is his seventh promotion with
six different clubs.
Fears are already growing behind the scenes that, should QPR dispense with
Warnock's services, the club will go into meltdown as they will have no real
football leadership despite the business acumen of the custodians. Prosser
added: "Now that we are in the Premier League, this should be a happy time.
We should be excited by the investment in the playing side. "We should
already be looking to the future and talking about exciting new signings -
but it hasn't happened. Instead, we live on rumours without hearing anything
concrete."
Should Warnock land £6million-rated Cole, it will go a long way to appeasing
fans unhappy with losing out on Mackail-Smith to Brighton. Prosser went on:
"Having two or three of the richest people in the world at the club, you'd
think the finances would be in the best shape ever. But the Barry Fry quotes
[suggesting Warnock does not have the backing of the board] are very
worrying." However, a feeling exists at Loftus Road that Fry's outburst may
have come after the former Peterborough boss had told fans Mackail-Smith
would only go to a Premier League club - only to end up selling him to
Brighton. Despite 35 goals last season, there are understood to have been
doubts as to whether Mackail-Smith could replicate his form in the Premier
League with the board preferring an experienced option. The situation was
indeed the same with Watford striker Danny Graham, who hit 24 League goals
last season to make himself top scorer in the Championship. QPR were in for
Graham, but he eventually moved to Swansea. Cole, 27, has hit double figures
in goals in each of his last three seasons and has made seven appearances
for England. As for Taraabt, tales of the 22-year-old midfielder moving to
Arsenal - despite quips from Warnock - are met with wry smiles behind the
scenes. QPR have had just one, verbal, bid - of around £12m - for the player
from French club Paris St Germain, with one Spanish club also interested.
The west Londoners are expecting PSG's bid to be formalised within the next
few days but the bid will be rejected, with Rangers only prepared to sell
for around a staggering £18million. Taarabt has three years left on his
contract, so QPR are under no pressure to sell and Warnock - who has done
superbly to keep the temperamental Moroccan focused over the last 12 months
- will fight to keep him. While he could not break into the Tottenham team
under Juande Ramos and then Harry Redknapp, Taraabt's improvement under
Warnock was such that he was crowned the Football League Player of the Year
last season. If the Italian contingent within the club's hierarchy still
want Warnock out this summer, they will have to force him out as he is
understood to have no intention of standing aside - particularly not with
two and a half years left to go on his current contract. Should common sense
prevail, however, and Warnock remain, this summer could have a happy ending
after all.
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West Ham flop eyes Spanish loan deal
Published 22:59 07/07/11 By Alan Nixon
The Mirror
Mexican winger Pablo Barrera is hoping to quit his West Ham misery by
joining Spanish side Real Zaragoza on a year-long loan. Barrera hardly
played in the Hammers relegation fight and is keen to quit the Hammers even
after Sam Allardyce's arrival. Zaragoza are keen to land Barrera but are
struggling to buy him and are pressing to take him on a temporary basis
before potentially buying him. Meanwhile, West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is
ready to add former Chesterfield manager Lee Richardson to his staff.
Richardson has started studying the psychological side of the game since
leaving the Spireites in 2009 and Big Sam is looking to bring him into his
backroom team.
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Stoke look to complete double deal for Cole and Woodgate
By talkSPORT
Thursday, July 7
Stoke are aiming to tie up the double signing of Carlton Cole and Jonathan
Woodgate. The Potters were hoping to complete a £16million deal for
Birmingham pair Cameron Jerome and Scott Dann, but now appear to be looking
elsewhere to fill the vacancies in their striking and defensive departments.
And talkSPORT understands they are currently in talks with West Ham and
England centre-forward Cole, as well as Spurs centre-half Woodgate. Cole is
likely to be available for around £6million following the Hammers'
relegation to the Championship, while Stoke are also discussing a
pay-as-you-play deal for Woodgate, who is available on a free transfer from
White Hart Lane.
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West Ham winger wanted by Real Zaragoza
By talkSPORT
Thursday, July 7
Real Zaragoza have joined the race to sign West Ham winger Pablo Barrera.
Barrera, 24, was the star performer for Mexico at the Gold Cup this summer
and scored two goals in the final to help his side win the tournament. But
he has failed to show the same kind of form for West Ham following his £4m
move last summer and struggled to break into the first-team. Espanyol have
already been linked with the talented winger, but it now appears that Real
Zaragoza are the strong favourites to clinch his signature. Barrera will be
keen to finalise his future in the next few weeks and will seek showdown
talks with Sam Allardyce when he returns for pre-season training.
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West Ham lose battle to keep Gabbidon and Spector
By talkSPORT
Thursday, July 7
Danny Gabbidon and Jonathan Spector are unlikely to return to West Ham and
will leave as free agents. West Ham boss Sam Allardyce was hoping the duo
would consider their long-term future at the club after their contracts
expired during the summer. Gabbidon, 31, has spent six-years with the east
London club, but has been affected by a number of injury problems. The Welsh
defender has been linked with a return to Cardiff and he hopes to finalise
his future in the next few weeks. Spector, 25, has been at Upton Park since
June 2006 and was the star performer in West Ham's best performance of the
season when he scored two goals to help his team thrash Manchester United
4-0 in the Carling Cup quarter final. The American international wants to
keep playing at the highest level and has been strongly linked with a move
to Hannover 96.
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Martyn Margetson signs for West Ham
London 24
Nathaniel John
Thursday, July 7, 2011
3:00 PM
West Ham have appointed Martyn Margetson as their new goalkeeping coach,
following the departure of David Coles from the Hammers' backroom staff.
Margetson, who trained with the West Ham today (Thursday), will join from
Cardiff City, who the Hammers coincidentally face on the opening day of the
season, following the appointment of Malky Mackay as Bluebirds manager.
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce was in the hunt for a new goalkeeping coach after
Coles was relieved of his duties along with first-team coach Paul Groves.
Margetson, who also works with the Wales national team, will now coach the
fit-again Peter Kurucz, Marek Stech and Ruud Boffin, although it remains to
be seen how long the 39-year-old will have the chance to mentor Robert
Green, who is expected to leave the club, should a suitable offer be
received. As a player, Margetson came through Manchester City's youth
programme and made more than 50 first-team appearances. He also played for
Bristol Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Luton, Southend and Huddersfield, before
joining Cardiff City in 2002. The Welshman was made goalkeeping coach for
the Bluebirds in the same year and was also Gary Speed's first backroom
appointment after taking over from John Toshack as manager of the Welsh
national side in 2010.
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Brazilian-born central defender Hernani on trial at West Ham
London 24
Nathaniel John
Thursday, July 7, 2011
4:59 PM
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is currently running the rule over Polish
defender Hernani, who is on trial at the club. The centre back, who plays
for Korona Kielce in Poland's top flight, was born in Brazil, but received
Polish citizenship in January of this year. With Matthew Upson, Manuel da
Costa and Danny Gabbidon having already departed the club, the Hammers are
in need of new defenders as they prepare for life in the Championship.
Hernani, along with a former Premier League player who is also on trial at
the club, will travel to Switzerland tomorrow (Friday) with the rest of the
Hammers' squad for their pre-season tour.
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Hammer time for Brazil-born Da Rosa after experienced defender completes
West Ham trial
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 10:30 PM on 7th July 2011
Daily Mail
West Ham are ready to make a move for Polish defender Hernani da Rosa after
he spent the last four days on trial with the east London club. Hernani, 27,
has a wealth of experience in the Polish league and has been one of the star
performers for his club Korona Kielce over the last few years. The
Brazil-born centre back could join the first-team squad as they jet away on
their pre-season tour of Switzerland this weekend.
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Likened to Messi last year, now Cole's fighting to prove he's more than just
an average Joe
By DOMINIC KING
Last updated at 10:45 PM on 7th July 2011
Daily Mail
To the families who were enjoying the glorious weather as they ambled
obliviously through Regent's Park, he was just another young man exercising
in the great outdoors. But had the passers-by looked more closely, they
would have seen an England international with 56 caps conducting a series of
sprints, stretching every sinew to give himself an edge before returning to
pre-season training. Determined to recapture his best form, Joe Cole has
certainly put in the hard yards this summer and the session he put himself
through in one of London's most famous settings two weeks ago showed his
determination to kick-start his Liverpool career.
As he approaches the first anniversary of his move to Anfield, Cole finds
his position in Kenny Dalglish's squad even less secure than it was at the
end of last season, following the capture of Charlie Adam from Blackpool and
the pursuit of Aston Villa's Stewart Downing. Cole was the man who arrived
on Merseyside from Chelsea to huge public acclaim and was greeted with a
ringing endorsement from captain Steven Gerrard, who wasted no time in
likening his imagination and skills to Lionel Messi. He was brought in to
provide sublime service for Fernando Torres and ease the burden on Gerrard,
and many predicted Cole would be a resounding success at Anfield and the
business was hailed as one of the best free transfers ever. It has been
anything but. A red card on his Barclays Premier League debut against
Arsenal was followed by missed penalties, injuries and plummeting form. 'I
expect better from myself,' he said last October after being hauled off by
Roy Hodgson during a chastening 2-0 defeat by Everton at Goodison Park. 'I
know I'm at a club that is going to help me through it. Every minute of
every day I'm thinking about how I can get there again.' But now Cole finds
himself confronted by possibly the biggesttask of his career. It is
inconceivable that £9million signing Adam will not be asked to become a
creative hub after 12 goals and nine assists for Blackpool last season.
LOLLY FOR OLLIE
Ian Holloway is due a £225,000 windfall from Charlie Adam's £9million move
to Liverpool. A clause in the Blackpool manager's contract entitles him to
2.5 per cent of the fee his club will receive for 25-year-old Adam, whom
Holloway signed from Rangers for £500,000 in August 2009. And, in a club
that already has a surfeit of midfielders, it is difficult to envisage the
two men playing in the same team. Many expect Cole to leave Anfield before
this transfer window closes. West Ham would have him back at Upton Park in a
heartbeat, and Queens Park Rangers have also mulled over the pros and cons
of offering him a fresh start. The 29-year-old, however, is not in a hurry
to turn his back on this particular fight. He has three years left on the
lucrative deal he penned in the Swiss town of Bad Ragaz last July but his
reasons for digging in are not purely fiscal. It gnaws away at him that he
has not met expectations and his determination in training has been
recognised by Dalglish as being exemplary.
But it is true that Liverpool would not stand in his way if the right offer
happened to come in and there are no promises he will make it into the
starting line-up.
Adam's signing could well mean the chapter on this part of Cole's career is
reaching an end but, until he hears otherwise, he will attempt to turn the
tide through perseverance and hard work. Should that happen, the afternoon
he spent toiling in Regent's Park will be worth it.
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