WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce will continue his pre-season preparations at Adams Park on Saturday
22.07.2011
West Ham United will be back in action on Saturday afternoon away to Wycombe Wanderers. Sam Allardyce will take a strong squad to Adams Park for the 3pm kick-off, with the possibility that Pablo Barrera and Carlton Cole could join the majority of those who beat the Danish champions FC Copenhagen in Denmark on Wednesday. Allardyce may choose to rest two or three of those that featured in a competitive encounter at the Parken Stadium, when Freddie Sears scored the only goal of the game two minutes from time. It is the penultimate first-team friendly - there is a game at Dagenham & Redbridge on Tuesday night - before the glamour home warm-up against Real Zaragoza on Saturday week. Wycombe, who will be in confident mood after gaining promotion to League One last term, last hosted the Hammers in July 2003. Then, as now, West Ham had been relegated from the Premier League, with Wycombe running out 3-1 winners against a visiting side that included David James, Joe Cole, Jermain Defoe and Michael Carrick. One present-day link between the two clubs comes in the shape of Czech Republic Under-21 goalkeeper Marek Stech, who played one game on loan at Adams Park in March 2009. The two sides have met just three times in competitive matches previously. In the most recent of those meetings, Tony Cottee and Kenny Brown were on target as the Hammers scored a 2-0 FA Cup third-round victory at Wycombe in January 1995. Prior to that, West Ham were known as Thames Ironworks FC when they met Wycombe in the Southern League Second Division during the 1898/99 season, winning 4-1 in both matches.
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Hammers XI off to Weymouth
WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon will take his development squad to the south coast for a friendly on Saturday
19.07.2011
Ian Hendon will take a West Ham United XI to face Southern League Premier Division side Weymouth on Saturday 23 July. The Hammers' new development coach and his squad will visit the Bob Lucas Stadium for a pre-season match with a 3pm kick-off, giving south coast-based supporters the opportunity to see the club's promising young professionals in the flesh. With the first team travelling to League One newcomers Wycombe Wanderers on the same afternoon and the Under-18s on tour in Estonia this weekend, Hendon is likely to have a youthful squad at his disposal. George Moncur and Cristian Montano will hope to impress after travelling with the first-team squad for their pre-season training camp in Switzerland, while first-year professionals Callum Driver, Sergio Sanchez, Sebastian Lletget, Paul McCallum and Sam Cowler could all get a chance to shine. Young professionals Ahmed Abdulla (pictured), Callum McNaughton and Matt Fry could also feature in Dorset after helping the Hammers to a 3-0 pre-season victory at Bishop's Stortford on Saturday afternoon. The Terras - who also play in claret and blue - finished the 2011/12 season 18th in the Southern League Premier Division standings, escaping relegation on the final day of the campaign. Tickets for Saturday's fixture will be available priced at £10 Adults, £7 Concessions and £2.50 Children. For directions to the Bob Lucas Stadium, click here. Before travelling to the seaside, the development squad will take on Gillingham in a behind-closed-doors fixture on Tuesday
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Barrera departure on hold
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 22nd July 2011
By: Staff Writer
Zaragoza have pulled out of the deal to sign West Ham United's Pablo Barrera on loan, according to reports. The Mexican winger - who excelled in the recent Gold Cup competition - is the only one of West Ham's first team squad yet to feature in pre-season. However a deal to take him to the Spanish club appears to have fallen through, according to reports emanating from Spain this morning. The collapse of the deal is said to have occurred after West Ham asked Zaragoza to pay the player's wages in full plus a loan fee. The Spaniards apparently assumed they would be taking Barrera - who cost United £4million last summer - on loan for nothing, with West Ham playing his wages.
West Ham's stance is said by Marca to have altered following the Gold Cup, after which the club are said to have received a number of enquiries regarding Barrera from clubs in Russia, France and England. The 24-year-old Mexican joined West Ham from Pumas a year ago last week, but has thus far failed to settle in England.
Considered surplus to requirements by former manager Avram Grant, Barrera's appearances for the club have been few and far between. His last first team outing came back in February in the 5-1 fourth round FA Cup win over Burnley. The player - who is understood to have been one of Barry Silkman's deals - is currently contracted to West Ham until 2014, although the club have the option of excercising a one-year extention.
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Coyle on Taylor sale
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 22nd July 2011
By: Staff Writer
Bolton manager Owen Coyle has wished West Ham-bound Matt Taylor the best of luck for the future. Coyle, talking to the Bolton News this morning confirmed that Taylor was set to sign for West Ham - as revealed here on KUMB earlier in the week. "Matty Taylor is a great lad," said Coyle. "I've got so much time for him and he goes with our best wishes. We've loved working with him but sometimes in football things move on, people move on to pastures new."
Coyle also revealed that he and his club were delighted at the deal, said to be worth around £2million, which will see the left-sided player - who is said to be one of the highest earners at the Reebok Stadium - join the Hammers on a long-term contract. "It is a fantastic fee," he continued. "Matty will feel it's a good deal for him and we feel it's a good deal for the football club. "He was going into the last year of his contract and West Ham were offering a three or four-year contract. I just think when you looked at the business side, £2.2million was a good deal all round."
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Taylor in Hammers medical
Coyle happy with Hammers deal
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo. Last Updated: July 22, 2011 10:05am
SSN
Skysports.com understands Matt Taylor is undergoing a medical at West Ham ahead of his proposed move from Bolton. Taylor flew home from Bolton's tour of the USA earlier this week to hold talks and undergo a medical at Upton Park. Bolton have decided to accept West Ham's offer of £2.2million for Taylor, with the 29-year-old entering the final year of his contract at the Reebok Stadium. A number of clubs are thought to have expressed an interest in Taylor, but West Ham are in pole position to land the former Portsmouth man. Bolton boss Owen Coyle admits the offer for Taylor was too good to turn down.
Good deal
"It is a fantastic fee," Coyle told the Bolton News. "Matty will feel it's a good deal for him and we feel it's a good deal for the football club. He was going into the last year of his contract and West Ham were offering a three or four-year contract. "I just think when you looked at the business side, £2.2m was a good deal all round.
"Matty Taylor is a great lad. I've got so much time for him and he goes with our best wishes. "We've loved working with him, but sometimes in football things move on, people move on to pastures new."
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Grayson - No Max unrest
Whites boss insists winger focused on Elland Road club
By James Pearson - Follow me: @SkySportsJamesP. Last Updated: July 22, 2011 8:52am
SSN
Leeds United manager Simon Grayson insists there has been no unrest from in-demand winger Max Gradel. The Ivorian winger has been linked with a summer move away from Elland Road as he has only one year left on his contract. Championship rivals West Ham tabled a bid for the 23-year-old, although that move was swiftly rebuffed by Leeds' hierarchy. Gradel scored Leeds' midweek winner against Rochdale and Grayson insists the winger is focused on giving his best for the club. United's manager insists Gradel has not submitted a transfer request, nor has he indicated that he would like to move on.
No request
"I don't know where people get this stuff from," Grayson told the Yorkshire Evening Post. "There's been no written transfer request and no unrest from him. "You've seen from his performances in pre-season that he's focused on what he needs to do, and we don't want him to leave. "People are out there to cause a bit of trouble and unsettle players but I spoke to Max about the situation and told him to focus on his football. That's all he wants to do. "The only people who matter in this is myself, the chairman (Ken Bates) and Max Gradel."
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Cardiff City ticket allocation agreed for West Ham clash
WalesOnline.co.uk
Jul 22 2011
Cardiff City have agreed to accept 1,250 tickets for their season opening trip at West Ham United on Sunday, August 7. The Bluebirds board have been in negotiations with the Metropolitan Police and the West Ham safety group to secure the allocation based on certain conditions. The tickets will mostly be allocated to ambassadors who attended six or more away games last season and at least 1,000 of the fans will be carried to East London in a convoy of buses. A statement from the club today said: "Cardiff City have always recognised the need for control measures at this fixture and accept the particularly challenging circumstances surrounding this match.
"The compromise position will see the vast majority of visiting Cardiff fans attending via Officially recognised buses arranged by the Supporters Club and Away Travel Group, However, a limited number of qualifying supporters will be allowed to travel by private motor vehicle to South Mimms service area where a voucher/ticket exchange will take place. "In addition a further limited number of qualifying exiled supporters will also be allowed to travel direct.
We as a Club believe that the Fantastic support offered to the team and undoubted overall improvement in behaviour should be fully recognised. Subsequently, our ongoing aim is to facilitate persons with legitimate intent attending our games and we re-affirm our position of moving away from all forms of control on an evidenced step by step basis. We would like to thank all the organisations who have recognised and supported us in this regard. "The distribution of the allocation of 1,250 tickets is difficult with so many supporters attending away fixtures last season, However, with the need to ensure Official bus travel central to the Event Management plan, have determined that the supply of the majority of vouchers/tickets should be in conjunction with the regular suppliers of coach travel. "As such 1,000 travel vouchers will be available via the CCSC and Official Travel Group to Season Ticket Holders and Members. It is agreed with these groups that this allocation is distributed with priority given to those who have travelled to 6 away games during the 2010-11 season. It should be noted that these vouchers will be exchanged for tickets in the Trevor Brooking Stand lower tier. "The remaining tickets 200 tickets will be issued direct from the Ticket Office to persons who wish to travel to South Mimms and make the final journey to the stadium in their own mode of transport. The qualification for these tickets is 6 away games during the 2010-11 season. "These tickets are for the Trevor Brooking Stand upper tier and will be available on a first come first served basis from 10am Tuesday 26th July to qualifying supporters. "Please note there will be no transfer between upper and lower tiers and occupants of the upper tier in particular may be expected to remain in the stadium until it is deemed safe to exit. "We recognise the above arrangements may cause some disappointment but believe that we have reached a reasonable compromise for all parties.
"Thank you as always for your support."
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Taylor in talks with West Ham
London24
Nathaniel John
Thursday, July 21, 2011
6:00 PM
West Ham are in talks with Bolton Wanderers' versatile midfielder Matt Taylor over a prospective move to Upton Park. Taylor, who can play anywhere along the left-hand side has flown back from Bolton's USA tour to discuss joining the Hammers' chase for promotion, in a deal thought to be around the £2 million mark. The 29-year-old was in and out of Owen Coyle's side last season after battling with Bulgarian Martin Petrov for a starting place on the left-hand side of midfield, and is keen on a move down south, where he still owns a farm in Oxfordshire. It is thought that the midfielder is seen as a replacement for Thomas Hitzlsperger, who left West Ham at the end of last season following the Hammers' relegation to the Championship. Taylor began his career at Luton Town as a trainee before making a £400,000 move to Portsmouth in 2002, where he made over 200 appearances and scored 29 goals. In January 2008, Taylor made the switch up north to Bolton, for a fee of £3.5 million. The midfielder has gone on to make 139 appearances for the Trotters, scoring 23 goals in the process, including a thunderous free-kick that sailed past the helpless Rob Green at the Reebok in 2009.
If West Ham's bid is successful, Taylor would become the third player with a Bolton connection to join the Hammers since Sam Allardyce took over as manager, following the summer arrivals of Kevin Nolan and Abdoulaye Faye. A fourth player that could potentially join that list is midfielder Joey O'Brien, who is currently on trial with the Hammers. Allardyce also attempted to sign three other players he had previously managed at Bolton in the form of Jlloyd Samuel, Ricardo Gardner and Eidur Gudjohnsen. However, the West Ham manager pulled the plug on a move for Gudjohnsen after questioning the striker's desire to play for the club, after he stalled on signing a contract within a specific deadline. With Gudjohnsen failing to put pen to paper, Allardyce remains in the hunt for a striker who can help fire the Hammers out of the Championship at the first attempt.
One player whose chances of joining West Ham seem to be fading is Leeds winger Max Gradel. The Ivory Coast international was the subject of a £2.5 million bid from the Hammers, which was rejected by Leeds. The winger is now thought to be keen on a move to French side Lille, who play in the Champions League.
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Stanislas ready to play a key role in West Ham's season
London24
Nathaniel John
Friday, July 22, 2011
12:00 PM
West Ham winger Junior Stanislas has revealed that he is over the injury problems that kept him out for four months last season and he is ready to play a key role in the Hammers' push for promotion. The 21-year-old, who has represented England at under-18, 19 and 21 level, is hoping to be given a chance to show what he can do in the Championship – and he is keen to take it. "I hope to play a big role and play as many minutes on the pitch as I can," he said. "I want to score some goals and play my game." Stanislas reveals that he feels that he has been ready to make the step up to the next level and become a permanent fixture in the Hammers' first team. "I think I've been ready for a while," he said. "I'm not sure whether it is injury or lack of opportunity that has kept me back. But I am definitely ready to play."
The winger also admitted that he was over the injury problems that frustrated him last season. "I had a hernia and I had some fluid on my groin, but hopefully that has all cleared up now," he said. "Last season was mad. It was my worst season. "We didn't have our best season, but for me to be just sitting in that injury room and watching everyone else playing was not good for me, it was so mentally frustrating. "But it's all good now and I'm ready for the new season."
Stanislas scored the opening goal of West Ham's 3-0 pre-season win against Bishops Stortford on Saturday, and admits he is pleased with how his preparations for the Hammers' Championship campaign are coming along. "Obviously it's good to get some games," he said. "I was injured last season and we had our break as well, so it has been good just to be on the pitch playing again." The London-born winger, who has been at the club since the age of 10, also revealed that the atmosphere around the club has changed since Sam Allardyce came in as the team's new boss. "The atmosphere is a lot more positive," he said. "To be honest, we weren't too bad last year mentally, but not many things were going for us. "But I'm sure this year, things will be a lot better."
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Allardyce: Hammers weren't fit enough last season
London 24
Nathaniel John
Friday, July 22, 2011
12:00 PM
West Ham boss Sam Allardyce has expressed his surprise at the poor levels of fitness among the squad he inherited from last season. The 56-year-old revealed that having looked at the stats of the Hammers squad, the players weren't in the best shape in terms of their fitness levels – a fact that shocked the former Bolton Wanderers boss. "I've looked at their stats and it doesn't reflect well physically," he said. "It wasn't great. Fitness has always been a massive part of football but never more so than now. "If you haven't got the capabilities of an athlete, you can't be a footballer."
Despite having several international players within the squad, Allardyce claims that some of the Hammers team should have been doing more in games. "I was shocked considering the size of the squad and the quality of the players, many of whom were internationals," he said. "They really should have been pulling out much more. "You look at their ability to perform at a high intensity and their sprint distances which is the level of speed needed to create the opportunities to win football matches. "Compared to the levels at Blackburn and Bolton, they weren't good."
The shocking statistics will not surprise many Hammers fans, who saw first hand the poor second-hand performances from their side, which could well have been fitness related. Recent figures show that West Ham conceded the most amount of late goals in the Premier League last season and this is something that Allardyce will want to stop. The former Newcastle boss is a man known for being fitness focused and has concentrated on getting his West Ham squad up to scratch in pre-season.
Allardyce's team have just three games left to prove their fitness before the start of their season on August 7. The Hammers face away trips to Wycombe (Saturday) and Dagenham & Redbridge (Tuesday) before a home game against Real Zaragoza on July 30.
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