Daily WHUFC News - 8thJune 2012

Hammers heading for Russia
WHUFC.com
The Development Squad will take part in the 2012 VTB Lev Yashin Cup in Moscow
07.06.2012

West Ham United's Development Squad are to visit Russia for a prestigious pre-season tournament. Ian Hendon and his players have been invited to take part in the 2012 VTB Lev Yashin Cup, which will be hosted by Russian Premier League club Dynamo Moscow. The Hammers are one of six teams taking part in the competition, which will take place between 12-15 July in the Russian capital - the other five being hosts Dynamo, Spanish club Malaga, German side Freiburg, Turkish outfit Besiktas and the Mexico Under-19 national team. Named in honour of the legendary Dynamo and Soviet Union goalkeeper Lev Yashin, the tournament was launched in 2008 and is now in its fifth year. James Saban from West Ham's famed Academy visited Moscow earlier this week to represent the Club at a press conference ahead of the 2012 competition, which will see group-stage matches held at the Luzhniki Olympic Complex and the final take place at the Yantar Stadium in Strogino.

"It is a huge honour for the Club to be involved in such a prestigious tournament and I know everybody is looking forward to coming to Moscow next month," said Saban. "Coming to Russia will be a fantastic new experience for West Ham United." West Ham and the other participating clubs were all welcomed to Moscow by Dynamo's Vice-President and Executive Director Yuri Lyubimov. "We hope that all participants will show us an interesting and informative game, gain new friends and will return to Russia [for the FIFA World Cup finals] in 2018 as members of their national teams," said Lyubimov. "I wish on behalf of Dynamo to thank all the teams that have agreed to participate in this tournament. Good luck to you all and may the best team win!"

The draw for the tournament will take place on 3 July, with the group-stage kicking-off at the Luzhniki Olympic Complex on Thursday 12 July at 7pm local time.
West Ham have never played a competitive fixture in Russia, but the Hammers did visit the old Soviet Union twice for UEFA Cup Winners' Cup fixtures, transferring in Moscow en route to Ararat Yerevan in Armenia and Dinamo Tbilisi in Georgia in 1975/76 and 1980/81 respectively.
For more information about the 2012 VTB Lev Yashin Cup, click here.

2012 VTB Lev Yashin Cup schedule

Thursday 12 July
6pm-6.45pm - Opening ceremony at Luzhniki Olympic Complex
7pm - First group-stage matches at Luzhniki Olympic Complex

Friday 13 July
6pm - Second group-stage matches at Luzhniki Olympic Complex

Saturday 14 July
6pm - Third group-stage matches at Luzhniki Olympic Complex

Sunday 15 July
3pm - Fifth/sixth-place match at Luzhniki Olympic Complex
3pm -Third/fourth-place match at Yantar Stadium
6pm - Final at Yantar Stadium
8pm - Closing ceremony

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Dresden ticket details confirmed
WHUFc.com
West Ham United fans can purchase tickets for the 27 July trip to SG Dynamo Dresden now
07.06.2012

West Ham United fans can purchase tickets for the pre-season match at German club SG Dynamo Dresden now. The Hammers will travel to the Glucksgas Stadium for what promises to be a mouth-watering fixture against the 2.Bundesliga side on Friday 27 July, with kick-off at 8.30pm local time. West Ham supporters have been allocated the S-Gast terrace at the Glucksgas Stadium, with all standing tickets priced at €10 with a €1 convenience fee. Tickets must be bought using a credit card, which may incur an extra charge. Once purchased, fans can choose to receive an email to print out their tickets or a different delivery method. Demand for the fixture has already been huge in Germany, with Dresden club members having already snapped up more than 8,500 tickets. The club had an average home gate of 26,215 during the 2011/12 season. The match is one of three taking place during West Ham's pre-season trip to Germany. Sam Allardyce and his squad head to mainland Europe on 23 July before taking on 3.Liga club FC Rot-Weiss Erfurt (25 July), Dresden and FC Energie Cottbus (29 July). The Hammers have a number of links with Germany, having beaten TSV 1860 Munich 2-0 in the 1965 European Cup Winners' Cup final at Wembley and been represented by German international Thomas Hitzlsperger. While they have never met Rot-Weiss Erfurt or Energie Cottbus previously, the Hammers met Dresden in August 1986, when John Lyall's side defeated the then-East German giants 2-1 at the FC Groningen Tournament in the Netherlands through goals from Tony Cottee and Frank McAvennie. Twenty-six years later and the two sides will meet again. The match is part of Dresden's 'Summer of Champions' series, which will also see Spanish giants FC Barcelona travel to Hamburger SV as part of the German club's 125th anniversary celebrations.

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Hammer Hearts United in support
WHUFC.com
A Germany-based supporters' club cannot wait to welcome West Ham United in July
07.06.2012

The Hammer Hearts Deutschland cannot wait to welcome West Ham United to Germany in July. The supporters' club is one of three in Germany and hundreds formed to cheer on the Hammers from all over the world. West Ham are set to travel to the east of the country for three pre-season matches against 3.Liga club FC Rot-Weiss Erfurt (25 July) and 2.Bundesliga sides Dynamo Dresden (27 July) and FC Energie Cottbus (29 July). The Hammers have many links with Germany, having beaten TSV 1860 Munich 2-0 in the 1965 European Cup Winners' Cup final at Wembley and been represented by German international Thomas Hitzlsperger. While they have never met Rot-Weiss Erfurt or Energie Cottbus previously, the Hammers met Dynamo Dresden in August 1986, when John Lyall's side defeated the then-East German giants 2-1 at the FC Groningen Tournament in the Netherlands through goals from Tony Cottee and Frank McAvennie. whufc.com spoke to Hammer Hearts spokesman Dennis Muller about the Hammers' visit to his homeland and the club's hopes for the 2012/13 Barclays Premier League campaign.

Why West Ham United?

DM - Because we love it. It is a passion and you cannot learn it. You have to feel it. Come on Claret and Blue Army!

What is your reaction to the news that West Ham United will be coming to Germany in July?

DM - It is a nice opportunity for us to see our team playing in our country. Every one of us is looking forward to this games with a heart full of joy. But, in fact, nothing can beat the Upton Park feeling or following West Ham over land and sea.

How many Germany-based West Ham United supporters do you expect to attend the matches at Dynamo Dresden, Energie Cottbus and Rot-Weiss Erfurt?

DM - We have really no clue how many will attend to the matches, but it is sure that a lot of members of our supporters' club will be there to support the team we love from London. We have many people in Germany who like the English football and especially West Ham.

When did the Hammer Hearts Deutschland last visit the Boleyn Ground to watch a match?

DM - The last match we watched at the Boleyn Ground was the Cardiff City Play-Off semi-final. Last season some of us had visited Upton Park to support the team in nearly every home game. We also support our team in away matches. This season we took part at Brighton and Hove Albion, Millwall, Ipswich Town, Peterborough United, Cardiff City, Burnley and our last away game at Wembley against Blackpool!-

Did many fans get together to watch the Championship Play-Off final at Wembley?

DM - Yeah, four of us, Pascal, Dieter, Michael and me flew to London to watch it live with our friends from Essex at Wembley, while many others had watched it together in pubs in Germany. It was a wonderful day out at Wembley and it has delivered so much fun, a fantastic atmosphere and an unbelievable feeling which you can't buy with all the money in the world. In one word, it was wonderful.

What are your expectations for the 2012/13 season in the Premier League?

DM - We expect nothing special. We hope that we hold our place in the league and can beat the Spurs twice. It is for sure that the 2012/13 season will be a tough one. We want to see a team which is fighting and will play aggressive and offensive football. We are back where we belong to. So, keep on fighting West Ham.

Which West Ham United players are the most popular in Germany and why?

DM - Mark Noble, Carlton Cole, Robert Green, James Tomkins... In fact we like everyone from the squad. We are one team on the pitch and in the stands. Don't forget the old ones like Sir Trevor Brooking, Sir Geoff Hurst, Martin Peters, Bobby Moore, Billy Bonds and all the other legends. Bobby Moore is the most popular West Ham United player in Germany.

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Holmes back home
WHUFC.com
Former Hammers winger Matty Holmes is bringing through promising youngsters at AFC Bournemouth
07.06.2012

Matty Holmes may have been forced to hang up his boots early through injury, but he is now attempting to unearth the next big thing at AFC Bournemouth. Holmes, who was welcomed back at the Boleyn Ground by the same West Ham United fans who cheered him down the wing back in the early 1990s during a recent visit to east London, is coaching the schoolboy teams at the npower League One club. Now a youthful-looking 42, Holmes is working alongside former Hammers senior coach Paul Groves, who is now in charge at Dean Court. "It was great to be back five years after my last visit," said Holmes, who was back at the Boleyn for the visit of Reading in March. "Coming in and seeing some of the old fans and having a couple recognise me was wonderful. I'm down in sleepy Bournemouth at the moment and it's miles different than up here."

Holmes was forced to retire from the professional game at the age of 30 in 2000, having suffered a serious leg injury in a tackle two years earlier. After four years playing non-league football with Dorchester Town, the wideman embarked on a coaching career and launched his own soccer school in Dorset. Now, he is working full-time coaching youngsters at AFC Bournemouth - the same club where he started his own career in 1986 and made more than 100 league appearances. "I'm full-time at AFC Bournemouth where I look after the Under-7s up to Under-11s," Holmes told West Ham TV. "It's quite a responsibility developing players for the first team and to push up into the youth team. "It's a wonderful role and it's nice to be full-time in football. I tried to do other things when I retired but didn't quite find the happy medium. "I got offered to go in at Bournemouth and look after the little ones and it's been great passing on my experiences and trying to get the boys to play the way I tried to play at West Ham - the passing game. "They are coming along really well and I'm really enjoying it. I'm quite lucky that I have a role where I can dictate how we play and put a philosophy in place. "You can get them to play out from the back and into midfield and if they lose the ball and a goal that way, we don't care. Obviously we tell them why they have made that mistake, but we want them to play with freedom going forward. "That's the way I like to play because I was quite small and technical and I'll always have that influence if I have this role."

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Prem eyes on Wolves starlet
Fulham, QPR & West Ham eye Ismail
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo. Last Updated: June 7, 2012 2:56pm
SSN

Sky Sports understands several Premier League clubs are keeping tabs on highly-rated Wolves starlet Zeli Ismail. Ismail, who has come through the ranks at Molineux, is regarded as one of the most exciting talents in England after catching the eye for Wolves and England's youth sides. The talented winger has been talked about since the age of 14 when he burst onto the scene with England's Under 16s at the Milk Cup tournament in Northern Ireland. he likes of Chelsea and Manchester City have been credited with an interest in Ismail in the past and a number of other clubs are also tracking his progress. Ismail is entering the final year of his contract at Wolves and as yet no new deal has been discussed alerting his suitors to his possible availability. The likes of Fulham, Queens Park Rangers and West Ham are all thought to be weighing up moves for the skilful midfielder as they look to lure him from Molineux. Wolves would be loath to lose their prize asset, but they could face a fight to keep hold of him if they fail to tie him down to a new deal with Premier League clubs waiting in the wings to snap him up.

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SOUTHAMPTON READY TO SIGN ROBERT GREEN
The Daily Star
8th June 2012 By Daily Star Reporter

SOUTHAMPTON are ready to sign Robert Green, 32, instead of his England Euro 2012 team-mate Jack Butland, 19, to strengthen their keeper options

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West Ham United chase Manchester United and Arsenal target Yacob
by Pat McGatt. Published Thu 07 Jun 2012 18:30, Last updated: 2012-06-07

According to reports West Ham United are interested in Manchester United target Claudio Yacob. The Argentine is a free agent and was linked with Manchester United and Arsenal last season. The Daily Mail claims The Hammers are now interested in 24-year-old who recently played for Racing Club in his homeland.

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West Ham United interested in signing Chelsea and former Arsenal midfielder
Guardian Series
5:17pm Thursday 7th June 2012 in News

West Ham United are reportedly interested in signing Chelsea midfielder Yossi Benayoun. The Israeli is out of favour at Stamford Bridge after spending last season on loan at Arsenal. The 32-year-old could be interested in a move back to Israel but a switch to Upton Park may also appeal.

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YOSSI BENAYOUN SET FOR WEST HAM RETURN AFTER CHELSEA EXIT?
Express.co.uk
Thursday June 7,2012
By Charlie Dubuck for express.co.uk

YOSSI Benayoun could be set for a return to West Ham as he is expected to announce his departure from Chelsea. The midfielder who is currently on loan at Arsenal has had interest from his previous club West Ham and Dutch Ajax. It has grown increasingly unlikely that the midfielder will be signed by the Gunners and West Ham are hoping that they will be able to convince him to make a move back to the club now they have returned to the Premier League. Benayoun took to Twitter last night and wrote: "I hope I will have some news about my future soon." New West Ham manager Sam Allardyce is keen to bring new talent to the team after their promotion.

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West Ham wait to pounce on Chelsea outcast Benayoun and free agent Yacob
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 22:51, 6 June 2012 | UPDATED: 22:51, 6 June 2012
Daily Mail

Yossi Benayoun is expected to announce his departure from Chelsea this week, with West Ham, Ajax and Maccabi Haifa all keen. The Israel midfielder, who spent almost all of last season on loan at Arsenal, posted on Twitter: 'I hope I will have some news about my future soon.' West Ham are interested in Argentina midfielder Claudio Yacob, 24, a free agent after leaving Racing.

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