Daily WHUFC News - 3rd July 2012

Tonks gets Team GB call
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins has been named in the Team GB squad for the London 2012 Olympic Games
02.07.2012

James Tomkins has been named in the Team GB football squad for the London 2012 Olympic Games. The West Ham United defender has been rewarded for his outstanding performances throughout the 2011/12 season by being picked in the final 18-man squad by head coach and former Hammer Stuart Pearce. Tomkins, who has been capped by England at every age-group level and has appeared at two UEFA European Under-21 Championship finals, will be West Ham's sole representative at the Olympics. The 23-year-old spoke of his pride and excitement at being named in the Team GB squad for London 2012. "I am just delighted to have been included and obviously it is a great honour to be selected for such an occasion as the Olympic Games," said the No5, who scored four goals in 47 npower Championship and Play-Off appearances as West Ham gained promotion to the Barclays Premier League at the first attempt. "A lot of the boys I have played with before with England so it will be good to spend some time with them again. "It will also be great to play alongside Craig Bellamy again. He's a great player and a proper character. Ryan Giggs is a legend of the game so it would be fantastic to play alongside him too. "Obviously I will miss some of the pre-season but I will be training every day and hopefully playing regularly. With an 18-man squad there should be chances for everyone to play. "It's the first time in more than 50 years that Team GB has taken part in the Olympics so it is something I and all the other players I am sure are looking forward to. "I am grateful to West Ham for giving me the opportunity to represent Great Britain at the Olympics and I'll do my very best to represent the Club."

Team GB have twice won the Gold medal, at the first-ever Olympic football tournament in London in 1908 and again in Stockholm in 1912. However, Team GB have not competed in the competition since 1960. This summer, Pearce's side will kick-off their bid for Gold when they face Senegal in Group A at Old Trafford on 26 July. Team GB will travel to Wembley to take on United Arab Emirates on 29 July before completing the group stage with a fixture with Uruguay at the Millennium Stadium on 1 August. Sixteen teams will compete in the Olympic football tournament, with the Gold medal match taking place at Wembley on 11 August. Assistant manager Neil McDonald said Tomkins had the Club's blessing to join up with Team GB following this week's training camp in Austria and will return to Chadwell Heath after their tournament is over. "James travelled to Austria with us and will join up with Team GB next week," confirmed McDonald. "It's fantastic news that he has been selected for Team GB and great for him being a local lad that he'll be taking part in an Olympics in his own back yard.

"It will be a great experience for him and training with them will mean he should be fully fit when he returns to us in August. He will be training and playing games so he'll return to us match-fit and ready to start the season with us. "He was great all last season and as long as he doesn't get himself injured, we'll be delighted to see him out there representing Team GB in the Olympic Games."

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Jussi happy to be a Hammer
WHUFC.com
Jussi Jaaskelainen has told West Ham TV of his delight at being reunited with Sam Allardyce
02.07.2012

Flying Finn Jussi Jaaskelainen jetted off to West Ham United's pre-season training camp in Austria on Monday morning as he began life as a Hammer. The experienced former Finland goalkeeper joined West Ham following his departure from Bolton Wanderers, where he enjoyed an outstanding 15-year career between the sticks. The 37-year-old, who worked under Sam Allardyce and Neil McDonald and played alongside Kevin Nolan, Matt Taylor and Joey O'Brien while with the Trotters, told West Ham TV he cannot wait to get his Hammers career underway. "I'm absolutely delighted to be here under Big Sam again, having worked with him before for a few seasons," said Jaaskelainen. "It happened very quickly because when my agent said that West Ham were interested I told him to sort it straight away because I know how Big Sam works, how well he looks after the players and how good his backroom staff are. They were the factors behind why I wanted to come here. "He brings certain routines and that makes it a lot easier."

Having battled for a starting place at Bolton with Adam Bogdan last season, Jaaskelainen is determined to win the No1 shirt here at West Ham and re-establish himself as one of the Barclays Premier League's best goalkeepers. "At the start of pre-season, all the goalkeepers are in the same place, but obviously I want to go and get that No1 place and keep that consistent level I have done over the years," he added. After spending a decade and a half in the north west, Jaaskelainen is also looking forward to starting a new phase of his life living in London. However, the Finn was quick to point out that his job will come before any sightseeing! "The main focus is playing for West Ham and to work hard for this football club and if I get to see London then that's good, but it's not my main focus. "Pre-season is a little bit different this time because I didn't play any games this year [for Bolton], so all off-season I've been looking forward to coming back and training again. "Normally in the off-season you're tired from playing all season, but this year is a little different so I'm pleased that we've started a week earlier than the other teams. "We have seven or eight weeks before the season starts so we should be well ready when it does."

Having helped Bolton to gain promotion and establish themselves as a Barclays Premier League force during the previous decade, Jaaskelainen is hoping to repeat that trick with West Ham. "Obviously the aim is to stay up in our first season," he said. "It's all about staying in the Premier League and bringing in more money and improve the facilities at the football club. "Hopefully I can play here for the next two or three years."

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West Ham United in Austria - Monday
WHUFC.com
The Hammers have arrived in Austria for a six-day pre-season training camp
02.07.2012

West Ham United have touched down in the Austrian capital Vienna ahead of a six-day training camp. Having returned to pre-season training at Chadwell Heath on Sunday, the Hammers will get down to serious work under warm and sunny skies. With manager Sam Allardyce remaining in London to take care of transfer business, assistant manager Neil McDonald will lead the squad in Austria, working alongside first-team coach Wally Downes and goalkeeper coach Martyn Margetson.
A 21-man squad made the two-and-a-half hour flight on Monday, including new signings Jussi Jaaskelainen, Stephen Henderson, George McCartney and Mohamed Diame and youngsters Ravel Morrison, Dan Potts and Sebastian Lletget. After arriving at Vienna Airport at just before 1pm local time, the squad collected their luggage before boarding a coach for the 90-minute drive to the team hotel. There, having driven over to Austria on Sunday, kit manager Peter Williams and strength and conditioning coach Mathew Monte-Colombo, had already set-up the kit and physio rooms ahead of the players' arrival.

With less than seven weeks until West Ham's opening Barclays Premier League fixture against Aston Villa on 18 August, McDonald and his backroom staff will now begin the task of preparing the squad for the Club's return to the top flight in earnest. After a late lunch at the team hotel, which has previously been used by the likes of Spanish champions Real Madrid, Italian giants Internazionale and Russian side Anzhi Makhachkala, the squad enjoyed a short rest before heading to the training pitch for their first session of the week. Throughout the week, the players will take part in a variety of water-based and pitch-based conditioning sessions devised by fitness coach Eamon Swift in conjunction with McDonald and his coaching staff. The squad will also participate in other activities during their time in Austria, such as cycling, maximising the use of the beautiful surroundings and favourable weather conditions. The trip will climax on Saturday evening when West Ham take on 23-times Austrian Bundesliga champions FK Austria Wien at the Franz Horr Stadium. Tickets for the fixture, which kicks-off at 4pm, will go on sale at the stadium from Kassa 6, West Tribune, from 2pm on matchday. All tickets are priced at 10 Euro.

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Jaaskelainen - Sam a key factor
Hammers new boy ready to fight for No.1 spot
Last Updated: July 2, 2012 9:07am
SSN

Jussi Jaaskelainen has revealed that the chance to work under Sam Allardyce was one of the main reasons behind his switch to West Ham. The Hammers agreed a deal for the goalkeeper last month after he decided to bring a 15-year spell with Bolton to an end. Jaaskelainen was managed by Allardyce for much of his time at the Reebok Stadium and had no hesitation in accepting the opportunity to work with him again. "I'm absolutely delighted to be here under Big Sam again, having worked with him before for a few seasons," Jaaskelainen told West Ham's official website before jetting off with the rest of the squad on Monday morning for a pre-season training camp in Austria. "It happened very quickly because when my agent said that West Ham were interested I told him to sort it straight away because I know how Big Sam works, how well he looks after the players and how good his backroom staff are. They were the factors behind why I wanted to come here. "He brings certain routines and that makes it a lot easier."

Determined

Jaaskelainen was dislodged as Bolton's first-choice keeper by Adam Bogdan last season and he is ready to compete for a place at Upton Park. "At the start of pre-season, all the goalkeepers are in the same place, but obviously I want to go and get that No.1 place and keep that consistent level I have done over the years," he added. "Pre-season is a little bit different this time because I didn't play any games this year [for Bolton], so all off-season I've been looking forward to coming back and training again. "Normally in the off-season you're tired from playing all season, but this year is a little different so I'm pleased that we've started a week earlier than the other teams. "We have seven or eight weeks before the season starts so we should be well ready when it does."

Jaaskelainen hopes to play at West Ham for at least a couple of years and is determined to cement their Premier League status after winning promotion last season.
"Obviously the aim is to stay up in our first season," he said. "It's all about staying in the Premier League and bringing in more money and improve the facilities at the football club. "Hopefully I can play here for the next two or three years."

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A Few Morsels To Chew On...
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die

A few developments today...

* James Tomkins has been selected for the GB Olympic football squad
* Serbian midfielder Dejan Stankovic is said to be subject of a £2.5 million bid from West Ham
* A renewed joint bid to Crystal Palace is apparently being made for Zaha and Clyne
* Yakubu has signed for a Chinese outfit.
* Former Newcastle & Juventus defender Jean Alain Boumsong is said to be West Ham free transfer target from Panathanaikos
* Sporting Gijon's Alberto Botia and Spurs' William Gallas are among the alternatives, according to the Daily Mail
* Abdou Kader Mangane, the Senegalese international is said to be taking a medical at Upton Park this week. Rennes are keen to offload the midfield hitman.
* Scott Duxbury, Gianfranco Zola and Gianluca Nani are reunited at, er, Watford.
* West Ham are now at their training camp in Austria.

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Naismith likes Toffees
The Sun
Last Updated: 03rd July 2012

STEVEN NAISMITH is ready to snub West Ham and Blackburn by signing for Everton. Striker Naismith, 25, is negotiating his way out of crisis club Rangers in order to make himself a free agent. The Hammers and Rovers are both keen but the Scot prefers a move to Goodison.

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West Ham want Stankovic
By Football Italia staff

Despite pledging his future to the club at the end of last season, Dejan Stankovic is the latest Inter man linked with an exit this summer. The Nerazzurri are undergoing a period of transition this summer as they look to freshen up the playing staff as well as reduce a still sizeable wage bill. Brazilian defender Lucio rescinded his contract on Friday, whilst goalkeeper Julio Cesar and forward Diego Forlan have also been linked with departures. Stankovic is the latest who is said to be heading for the door, as West Ham reportedly consider a move for the 33-year-old. Sky Sport Italia reporter Gianluca Di Marzio is suggesting that the newly-returned Premier League outfit, who were paired with Clarence Seedorf last week, are interested in the Serbian international. Inter are believed to be open to handing the midfielder over to the London side, but a stumbling block may come in the €2.5m salary that Stankovic is currently on. West Ham have also been linked to young forward Luc Castaignos, who is another assured of leaving San Siro this summer.

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FORMER WEST HAM BOSS ZOLA TO BE NAMED NEW WATFORD MANAGER
Jul 02, 2012 0

Watford owner Giampaolo Pozzo has confirmed former West Ham boss Gianfranco Zola will be appointed the new manager at Vicarage Road. Pozzo, who also owns Serie A club Udinese and Spanish side Granada, acquired Watford last month and the Italian is looking to make his mark on the Championship outfit. And that will start with the appointment of Zola as Pozzo revealed to the Italian press earlier today. "Zola is the man for Watford," he told Sky Italia. "Before Gianfranco arrives, we've had to finish off some details to avoid legal problems. "It's taken a little time, but with Zola we had a verbal agreement. He will be back in London tomorrow. There should be no problem and he should be our coach." Speaking with regards to Zola's contract Pozzo added: "Two years? I can't say. We've always been convinced about Zola, we've known him for a long time." Watford also announced that their offices will be closed as of 2.45pm (BST) this afternoon for a staff meeting, which will be the first time Pozzo addresses the club's staff since completing his take-over. Zola's only club managerial experience came with West Ham, between 2008 and 2010. Despite getting sacked by the club's owners for a 17th place league finish, the Italian endeared himself to West Ham fans for encouraging an attractive style of football.

Zola also had a stint as the coach of Italy's under-21 side alongside former Chelsea teammate Pierluigi Casiraghi.

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