WHUFC.com
West Ham United favourite George Parris has called for commitment ahead of
the new season
09.06.2011
George Parris believes West Ham United will have to play with passion if
they are going to enjoy a successful 2011/12 campaign. The former Hammers
midfielder, who made 298 appearances during nine seasons at the Boleyn
Ground, became a firm fans' favourite due to his endless endeavour,
boundless energy and 100 per cent commitment every time he pulled on a
claret and blue shirt. The 1990/91 Hammer of the Year runner-up believes
those same qualities - as well as concentration in defensive areas - will be
vital if West Ham are to gain promotion from the npower Championship at the
first attempt. "The basic thing is not to give away so many stupid goals,"
said Parris, who holds his popular annual Children's Mini-Soccer Tournament
at the Boleyn Ground on Sunday 12 June. "Last season, there were so many
times when we got ahead and let it slip, so that is something that can
definitely be remedied. "They need to go out there, play with a little bit
of passion and enjoy it, because if they're not enjoying what they are
doing, then it's always going to be a struggle. "In some of the games, I
felt the passion was missing. When you play football, you obviously go out
and try in every game, but there were some when you looked and thought that
if everybody lifted it another ten or 15 per cent then we'd have got more
points, and sometimes we did. It was a bit disappointing, really."
Parris also believes new manager Sam Allardyce is the right man to instil
the invaluable characteristics of determination and confidence into a squad
that has won just 15 league matches over the past two seasons. "We needed
someone who is passionate about the game and for that passion to translate
to the players. Whether or not that will ultimately be good enough remains
to be seen, but at least we'd know that everybody had tried their best. "If
we start well, the confidence builds and, before you know it, you all go out
there and are confident in your team-mates and in your own ability. "It
doesn't take too much to get a half-decent side together, the same way it
doesn't take too much to let one or two bad results work against you. "It's
definitely a thin line and, with the players we've got here, there's no
reason why we can't do well and go up next season."
Of those players who will line-up in a West Ham shirt when the new season
kicks-off on Saturday 6 August, Parris is hoping that a number of his fellow
Academy graduates will rise to the challenge and lead the promotion charge.
"Obviously we finished bottom and the table doesn't lie, so it's been a very
disappointing season.
"I would think the home-grown players definitely have a part to play next
season. Judging by what we did and didn't do last season, there is no reason
why they shouldn't get a chance. "Obviously the Championship is a tough
division, but you never know. "I think Freddie Sears, Zavon Hines and Jordan
Spence got in at the back end of last season, so there is scope for them to
play their part in the squad that comes back for pre-season. If we can add
to that squad, then I think we can make a good fist of it next season."
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Barrera targets Cuba victory
WHUFC.com
Pablo Barrera's Mexico continue their CONCACAF Gold Cup campaign by facing
Cuba on Thursday night
09.06.2011
Pablo Barrera will hope to help shoot Mexico through to the CONCACAF Gold
Cup quarter-finals when El Tri take on Cuba on Thursday evening. Mexico
began their campaign with a comprehensive 5-0 win over El Salvador in
Arlington, Texas, on Sunday. With Cuba falling to defeat by the same
scoreline at the hands of Costa Rica in their own opening Group A fixture, a
Mexican victory on Wednesday combined with a Costa Rican win or draw against
El Salvador would send Barrera and his compatriots through to the last-eight
with a game to spare. The West Ham United winger has been in impressive form
for his country and is expected to start when the Mexicans lock horns with
Cuba at the Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte, North Carolina. With
Manchester United striker Javier 'Chicarito' Hernandez, who netted a
hat-trick against El Salvador, also at the top of his game, Mexico have been
installed as the bookmakers' favourites to win the tournament for a record
sixth time.
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Sears wants more
WHUFC.com
Freddie Sears is determined to shoot the club back to the Barclays Premier
League next season
09.06.2011
For Freddie Sears, the joy of being named Young Hammer of the Year was
overshadowed by the club he loves being relegated to the Championship. The
England Under-21 forward returned from a loan spell at Scunthorpe United
shortly before Christmas to make quite an impression during the latter
stages of what has been a largely disappointing 2010/11 campaign. Sears
scored his second goal for the club in the New Year's Day win over
Wolverhampton Wanderers before putting the finishing touches to the FA Cup
fifth-round victory over Burnley. The 21-year-old also caught the eye at
Stamford Bridge in April, when he gave Chelsea and England left-back Ashley
Cole a thorough examination. Sears, who is approaching 50 first-team
appearances for the club he joined at the age of eleven, was naturally
delighted to collect the award - Sponsored by Clinton Cards - but hugely
disappointed by the club's failure to stay in the Barclays Premier League.
"Personally, it's obviously a big achievement to win this award. I'm
delighted," Sears told West Ham TV. "When you look at the likes of the
players who have won it in the past, it means a lot to win it. "For [Academy
Director] Tony Carr to sit down and think I'm the best young player at the
club this season is a big achievement. Personally, I think I've done well
when I've come in, but it just leaves a sour taste with the club being
relegated. "Hopefully we can try and push on and go on from where we are
next season. "Obviously, at the minute it's all doom and gloom because we've
been relegated but there is a bright future at the club. If you look at the
young players at the club and hopefully everyone will stay so hopefully we
can get a core to the team next year and have a real go in the
Championship."
As he reaches a decade at the club he supports, Sears is acutely aware of
just how difficult this season has been for his fellow fans and has vowed to
help to put things right in 2011/12. "You take the support for granted
sometimes. The fans are brilliant at home and away games. At Wigan, I got
goose bumps because they were brilliant when we were 2-0 up and even when we
went down at the end. "There are going to be disappointed people but if the
fans stick with us and we try to repay them, then it can only result in good
things. "I think it's the club in general and the fan base that is so
special. From the backroom staff to the players, everyone is committed to
doing their best for the club. Just pulling on the West Ham shirt inspires
me and makes me want to do well. "When you see the boys who have come
through the Academy like me, it means even more to us and we go out and give
it 110 per cent every time. It is even more special for us because we know
how hard we have had to work to get into the first-team squad and we want to
stay there."
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Double your money
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 9th June 2011
By: Staff Writer
Newcastle United are understood to be holding our for around double the fee
offered by West Ham United yesterday for Kevin Nolan. The north East club
rejected West Ham's opening offer of £3million yesterday. However KUMB
understands that the Magpies are willing to part company with the
28-year-old midfielder should the Irons raise their bid to nearer £6million
- double West Ham's opening gambit. In other transfer news today, DJ
Campbell has ruled himself out of a move to east London having stated that
he will only consider a move to a club based in the Premier League. "I'm 29
now and feel at the peak of my career," he told the Sun. "Blackpool's been
great but I think people realise that if I want to take my career on and
play for England I have to be in the Premier League."
Jack Collison is rumoured to be interesting Stoke boss Tony Pulis, who has
been linked with virtually every West Ham player in the past 12 months.
Pulis is said to be considering making a bid for the Welsh international,
who missed much of last season through injury. Meanwhile rumours suggesting
Kevin Davies is set to leave Bolton this summer have begun to circulate in
the North West. Given West Ham boss Sam Allardyce's close working
relationship with the 34-year-old, don't be surprised to see him linked with
a move to West Ham in the near future.
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Hines rejects contract offer
Allardyce still hopeful striker will stay with Hammers
Last Updated: June 9, 2011 6:09pm
Zavon Hines has turned down West Ham's offer of a new deal but Sam Allardyce
still hopes he will stay. The 22-year-old's current contract expires over
the summer and the Hammers are keen to keep him as they look to bounce
straight back to the Premier League. He has now rejected the opportunity to
commit his long-term future to the club after deciding to keep his options
open for the moment. However, new manager Allardyce does not believe it is
certain Hines will be on his way out of Upton Park and plans to hold further
talks with the striker. "Zavon has turned down a contract but that doesn't
mean that is the end of the matter and he will leave the club," said the
former Blackburn boss. "As far as I am aware talks are still ongoing and he
could stay."
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Ba in talks over move to Merseyside
Published 23:00 09/06/11 By Alan Nixon
The Mirror
Feee-agent striker Demba Ba is in negotiations with Evertonand has told pals
he would like a move to the Merseysiders. The former West Ham star will have
to lower his £4million-a-year salary terms to clinch a deal, but it is felt
Toffees boss David Moyes has a fighting chance of landing him in the next
week.
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Exclusive - Reid: Allardyce will dispel 'long ball' myth at West Ham
TalkSport
By Nick Rostron-Pike
Thursday, June 9
Peter Reid believes Sam Allardyce will prove his critics wrong during his
time at West Ham. The former Bolton, Newcastle and Blackburn manager was
appointed Hammers boss following Avram Grant's departure from Upton Park.
Allardyce has been tagged 'anti-football' by many pundits in recent years
following his time at Ewood Park but Reid has claimed this label is a
fabrication. Speaking to the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show, Reid said:
"There's this fallacy about him [Allardyce] playing long ball football. "I
used to watch his Bolton sides, with the likes of Youri Djorkaeff and
Jay-Jay Okocha, and you can't play the long balls with the likes of them.
"He just wins football matches and plays to the players' strengths. "He'll
do the same at the Hammers. They are a fantastic football club and you
wouldn't bet against them coming back up straight away next year."
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EXCLUSIVE: West Ham boss Allardyce yet to decide on coaches' futures
East London Advertiser
Matt Diner
Thursday, June 9, 2011
4:50 PM
Sam Allardyce has revealed that coaches that are currently at West Ham will
have the opportunity to keep their jobs under his regime. The former
Blackburn man has the reputation for remaining loyal to those who have
worked under him in previous jobs and although Neil McDonald, who was his
number two at Blackburn will take up the same position at Upton Park,
Allardyce admitted little else had been sorted out. "Neil McDonald will be
my assistant at the club, but I don't know if some of the staff that were
there last season have already left the club, but those are still there will
be come pre-season training on July 1st," he said. "From then on we will
move forward and add personnel when we see fit but at the moment I am busy
getting everything in place for the start of pre-season."
That could mean good news for out of contract duo Wally Downes and Steve
Lomas. Downes was brought in as a defensive coach by former boss Avram
Grant, while Lomas replaced Alex Dyer in late January. Both were only signed
on short term deals and it was expected their affiliation to the club would
end but it seems Allardyce does not wish to rule anything out at this early
stage.
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Blow for Hammers as Hines rejects new contract
By talkSPORT
Thursday, June 9
West Ham have been dealt a major blow after talented forward Zavon Hines
rejected a new deal to stay at Upton Park. The 22-year-old is out of
contract with the east London club and can walk away as a free agent this
summer. West Ham's new manager Sam Allardyce is determined to keep Hines and
the other best young players at the club. Even though the former England
Under-21 striker has turned down the chance to stay at Upton Park, the
Hammers boss remains hopeful he can change his mind despite the club
suffering relegation into the Championship. Allardyce said: "Zavon has
turned down a contract. "But that doesn't mean that is the end of the matter
and he will leave the club. As far as I am aware talks are still ongoing and
he could stay."
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West Ham rumours scotched
11:50am Thursday 9th June 2011
Thurrock Gazette
RUMOURS linking West Ham with a £3/4m bid for Southend United midfielder
Kane Ferdinand have been scotched. Press reports suggested the Hammers were
set to swoop for 18-year-old Ferdinand following their relegation from the
Premier League. But a spokesman for the Shrimpers said: "We have not had any
contact at all," while a Hammers spokesman said the club do not comment on
speculation. A product of Southend's youth system, Ferdinand signed a
two-and-a-half year professional deal with Blues in March after breaking
into the first team
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