Daily WHUFC News - 9th July 2012

Strong squad promised for Tuesday
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 8th July 2012
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce will be taking a near full-strength squad to Meadow Park on
Tuesday evening for the pre-season friendly against Boreham Wood. As part of
the deal that saw former midfielder Pelly Ruddock join West Ham on a
two-and-a-half year contract last December, Allardyce will be taking his
squad to face the Conference South side for their first pre-season fixture
on home soil. Players confirmed in West Ham's squad for the game, which
kicks off at Meadow Park at 7.30pm are as follows (subject to injury
status):

Stephen Henderson, Jussi Jaaskalainen; Jordan Spence, Joey O'Brien, Guy
Demel, Winston Reid, George McCartney, James Tomkins; Mark Noble, Ravel
Morrison, Gary O'Neil, Momo Diame, Kevin Nolan, Jack Collison, Matthew
Taylor; Ricardo Vaz Te, Sam Baldock, Nicky Maynard, Carlton Cole.

Tickets for the game can be purchased either from the BWFC ticket office on
020 8953 5097 or at the gate on the night. West Ham kicked off their
pre-season programme in Austria on Saturday afternoon against Austria Wien;
Sam Baldock scored the opening goal after just four minutes before the
Hammers eventually lost 3-1 in the Franz Horr Stadium.

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McDonald's happy still
KUMb.com
Filed: Sunday, 8th July 2012
By: Staff Writer

Assistant manager Neil McDonald believes that the first week of pre-season
has been a positive one - despite it ending in defeat against Austria Wien
yesterday.
Having spent the week at the Bad Waltersdorf training camp, McDonald - who
took charge of the squad in the absence of Sam Allardyce - oversaw West
Ham's 3-1 defeat against Austria Wien at the Franz Horr Stadium yesterday
afternoon. But despite the reversal, he felt that the week had been
productive with the squad already beginning to look sharper and fitter than
they did when returning from their post-season break. "The positives are
that we've had a good week's training and a stern test," he told whufc.tv.
"The lads have done what they were asked to do. We said before the game
[yesterday] that it was all about improving our fitness and getting our
endurance up. A lot of them played 45 minutes-plus so it finished off a good
week, even though we got beaten 3-1. "The majority of the senior staff are
here so, even though they were never going to play or be involved in the
first game, it was important for them to come with the lads and do all the
training sessions. They've got through all that so they'll be ready to move
on to the next stage when we go back home."

"It's been lovely in Austria - the weather has been perfect from when we
arrived to when we flew back home and that's the weather you want for
pre-season. It's hot to run about in, of course, but I think the lads have
acquitted themselves really well considering we have only had one week of
training."

Next up for the Hammers is a trip to Boreham Wood this Tuesday, where the
Hammers will be fielding a strong side against the non-leaguers. It is a
game that will also see the return of Sam Allardyce, who remained in the UK
last week in order to continue his hunt for new players. "That was the
reason Sam didn't come," added McDonald. "He's been very busy over the
summer. He's been on the phone trying to get deals done and I'm sure he'll
be trying even harder in the next few weeks to try and freshen the squad up
because we need competition for every place in the lineup."

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McDonald sees positives
Trio progressing well; Allardyce working on transfers
Last Updated: July 8, 2012 3:01pm
SSN

Neil McDonald believes there have been plenty of encouraging signs from the
first week of West Ham training in Austria, while Sam Allardyce stayed
behind to work on transfers. The Hammers lost 3-1 to Austria Vienna on
Saturday as they failed to build on the lead given to them by Sam Baldock's
header after four minutes.
Jack Collison and Joey O'Brien missed the game as they have been on special
individual training programmes due to the long-term knee injuries they
suffered earlier in their careers. Carlton Cole was also taken off after 25
minutes as the medical staff continue to manage his own well-documented knee
issue. While the trio could not play a full part in the game, assistant
manager McDonald believes it was still useful for them to be present for the
whole week in Austria. "The majority of the senior staff are here so, even
though they were never going to play or be involved in the first game, it
was important for them to come with the lads and do all the training
sessions," he told the club's official website. "They've got through all
that so they'll be ready to move on to the next stage when we go back home."

Stern test

McDonald added: "We said before the game that it was all about improving our
fitness and getting our endurance up and a lot of them played 45
minutes-plus so it finished off a good week, even though we got beaten 3-1.
"The positives are that we've had a good week's training and a stern test
because they are three weeks ahead of us - they start in two weeks' time so
they were always going to be a lot brighter and a lot fitter and fresher.
"The lads have done what they were asked to do, considering that was their
first week. "There are plenty of positives from a very, very good week in
Austria."

The Hammers return home to face Boreham Wood on Tuesday as they step up
their preparations for the new season, and Allardyce has been working hard
to try and strengthen his squad. McDonald explained: "That was the reason
Sam didn't come. He's been very busy over the summer. "He's been on the
phone trying to get deals done and I'm sure he'll be trying even harder in
the next few weeks to try and freshen the squad up because we need
competition for every place in the line-up."

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Celtic boss insists Liverpool, Newcastle, QPR, West Ham & Stoke target is
not for sale
London24
Sunday, July 8, 2012
10:43 PM

Celtic boss Neil Lennon has insisted that Liverpool, Stoke, Newcastle, QPR
and West Ham target Victor Wanyama will not be going anywhere. The
21-year-old midfielder revealed he was open to a move to the Premier League,
much to Lennon's disgust, "The rules are made clear before the lads go away.
At any time of the year players should not be talking about club business
when they are away with their international teams," he told the Sunday Mail.
"That goes for a few of the others and I am not just singling out Victor on
this but he knows the club policy. "It is difficult sometimes when they get
asked questions but they should just bat them off really. "Victor is due
back on July 11 and will meet us on tour in Germany. "It does not surprise
me that there is interest in Victor as he had an incredible season.
"We think he is a great player but I'm just not happy about the way things
have been dealt with. "As far as we are concerned Victor is not going
anywhere as he signed a long-term contract."

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