Daily WHUFC News - 1st August 2012

Development Squad fixtures confirmed
WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon's side will take part in the new Barclays Under-21 Premier League
in 2012/13
31.07.2012

West Ham United Development Squad will take part in the new Barclays
Under-21 Premier League in 2012/13. The Hammers have been placed in Group 1
alongside Arsenal, Blackburn Rovers, Bolton Wanderers, Everton, Norwich,
Reading and West Bromwich Albion in the new competition, which will get
underway with the visit of the Royals to Rush Green on Friday 17 August. Ian
Hendon's side are scheduled to play the vast majority of their home matches
at Rush Green Stadium, which the Development Squad opened by visiting Grays
Athletic earlier this month. Rush Green will play host to West Ham's opening
fixture of the 2012/13 campaign on the evening of Friday 17 August - just
hours before the Hammers' first team open their Barclays Premier League
campaign at the Boleyn Ground. With all seven home First Group Stage
fixtures kicking-off at 7pm, supporters of all ages should have a fantastic
opportunity to see the club's promising youngsters in action. The likes of
Republic of Ireland age-group internationals Eoin Wearen and Kieran Sadlier,
England age-group internationals George Moncur, Matthias Fanimo and Blair
Turgott, United States Under-23 midfielder Sebastian Lletget and prolific
forward Elliot Lee (pictured) will all be eager to take the next step
towards making their first-team debuts this season.

Wherever West Ham finish in Group 1, they will go forward to a second group
stage after Christmas, from where they could qualify for the end-of-season
play-offs and final.

Barclays Under-21 Premier League 2012/13 Group 1 fixtures
Date Opposition H/A Comp
Kick-off Venue
17 Aug Reading H FGS 7pm
Rush Green Stadium
26 Aug Everton A FGS 1pm
Finch Farm
3 Sep Bolton Wanderers H FGS 7pm
Boleyn Ground
16 Sep West Bromwich Albion A FGS 2pm
The Hawthorns
21 Sep Arsenal H FGS 7pm
Rush Green Stadium
28 Sep Norwich City H FGS 7pm
Rush Green Stadium
8 Oct Blackburn Rovers A FGS 7pm
Leigh Sports Village
22 Oct Bolton Wanderers A FGS 7pm
Lancashire FA
26 Oct Everton H FGS 7pm
Rush Green Stadium
2 Nov Reading A FGS 1pm
Hogwood Park
9 Nov Arsenal A FGS 1pm
London Colney
16 Nov West Bromwich Albion H FGS 7pm
Rush Green Stadium
26 Nov Norwich City A FGS 2pm
Norfolk FA
30 Nov Blackburn Rovers H FGS 7pm
Rush Green Stadium

*All fixtures subject to change

The top two sides and two best third-place teams from three First Group
Stage groups will go forward to the Elite Group Stage. The other third-place
team, fourth and fifth-place teams and best sixth-place teams will go
forward to Tier One Stage. The two other sixth-place teams, seventh and
eighth-place teams will go forward to Tier Two Stage. The Tier One and Tier
Two winners will play-off to meet the winners of the Elite Group in one
semi-final, while the second and third-place Elite Group finishers will
contest the other. The winners of the two semi-finals will contest the
final. Admission prices for home fixtures have yet to be confirmed. Keep a
close eye on whufc.com for full details.

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Tombides gets Australia call
WHUFC.com
First-year scholar Taylor Tombides has been called into the Australia
Under-16 squad
31.07.2012

West Ham United first-year scholar Taylor Tombides has been named in the
Australia squad for the Saudi Arabia Under-16 International Friendly
Tournament. Midfielder Tombides - the younger brother of Hammers striker
Dylan - has jetted out to join up with his Joeys team-mates ahead of the
competition, which will be played in the city of Taif from 3-7 August. Just
16, the younger Tombides will hope to help the nation of his birth to
qualify for the FIFA Under-17 World Cup - the same tournament that his older
brother played and scored in for Australia in 2011. In Saudi Arabia, the
Joeys will face the host nation in their first match of the tournament on
Friday 3 August, then Morocco on Sunday 5 August before meeting China in
their last match on Tuesday 7 August. Later in August, the Joeys will head
to South America for an altitude training camp in the South American country
of Bolivia, where they will play five friendly matches against quality local
opposition ahead of the 2012 AFC Under-16 Championship in Iran in September.
Tombides scored nine goals in five qualifying matches, including five in a
10-0 victory over Guam, as Australia qualified for the tournament in
Thailand last November. The Joeys have been drawn in Group B at the finals
alongside Iraq, Oman and Thailand. The top two teams from each group will
progress to the knockout stages. The four winners of the quarter-finals will
then play in the semi-finals with the winners advancing to the final. The
semi-finalists will also automatically qualify for the FIFA U-17 World Cup,
which will be held in United Arab Emirates in late 2013.

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Ladies lift Shield
WHUFC.com
West Ham United Ladies have won the Essex FA Charter Standard Shield
31.07.2012

West Ham United Ladies lifted their first piece of silverware of 2012/13 by
winning the Essex FA Charter Standard Shield. The Hammers dominated the
event at the Selex Club in Basildon, winning all five of their matches at
the round-robin tournament. Julia Setford's side opened with high scoring
9-0 victory against Hutton in their opening game before a more subdued 1-0
victory over C and K Basildon Reserves. A 5-0 victory aganst Beacon Hill
Rovers and a 4-0 win over Little Thurrock Dynamos set up a final game
against old rivals Colchester United, who also arrived with a four wins out
of four record. Colchester got the better of West Ham in last season's Essex
FA County Cup competition, but this time It was the Hammers who came on out
on top. A Kelley Blanchflower goal gave Setford's team a 1-0 victory,
ensuring stand-in goalkeeper Jo Wosahlo had kept a clean sheet throughout
the tournament. West Ham complete their pre-season schedule with two more
tough tests against National Division opposition. The Ladies return to
action when they host Aston Villa at Ship Lane on Sunday 5 August. A week
later, on Sunday 12 August, the Hammers travel to Charlton Athletic before
commencing their FA Women's Premier League Southern Division campaign at
Millwall Lionesses on Sunday 19 August. All three fixtures will kick-off at
2pm.

Last weekend, the reserve team were also in action in their opening pre
season fixture and emerged 2-1 winers over C and K Basildon's first team.
Zoe Lipley-Hinton smashed home from ten yards to open the scoring, but the
Hammers were pegged back in the second half before Amber Matthews stabbed
home from close range three minutes for time to earn the win.

Finally, the Ladies' Under-16 side are still looking for players for the
forthcoming season in the Essex County Girls Football League. Players
interested in joining last season's champions should contact Lea Hodges via
westhamladiesjuniors@hotmail.co.uk giving previous playing history and
position. Players should be going into either Year 10 or Year 11 in
September to meet age requirements.

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Hammers medical for Collins
Defender poised for Upton Park return
By Pete O'Rourke - Follow me: @skysportspeteo. Last Updated: July
31, 2012 5:01pm
SSN

Sky Sports understands Aston Villa defender James Collins is having a
medical at West Ham ahead of sealing his return to Upton Park. West Ham have
agreed a fee with Villa for Collins and have been given permission to hold
talks with the centre-back. Collins' future at Villa Park has been the
subject of conjecture for some time with the Wales international entering
the final year of his contract. Villa are ready to let Collins move on as
they close in on a deal for Dutch international Ron Vlaar from Feyenoord.
West Ham have been searching for defensive reinforcements all summer as they
prepare for life back in the Premier League. Collins spent four years at
West Ham prior to his move to Villa in 2009 and he will become Sam
Allardyce's seventh signing of the summer.

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Defying Clough's Iron Law of Team Building!
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die

Legendary manager, Brian Clough said that you build a football team from the
back and that all good teams are based upon a well organised defence.Yet,
contrary to this sound advice, it almost seems as if West Ham are attempting
to build our PL team from the front, this summer, getting the forward
positions sorted prior to reinforcing the defence!

Clearly, so far, the vast majority of the transfer speculation has been
related to buying forwards. Whereas, we appear to have been more laid back
in acquiring defensive reinforcements. Is that a fair assessment? Well, we
brought in two new keepers and George McCartney, at left-back, but it was
always clear that much more than that was needed to revamp our defence for
the PL.The fact is that we still need cover at right-back and in central
defence. We have bid for Ivan Ramis, but who knows what is happening with
that deal? While rumour has it that James Collins could soon join us again
from Aston Villa. Similarly, Polish left-back come centre-half, Sebastian
Boenisch, is allegedly being pursued on a Bosman free transfer.

There is little doubt that James Tomkins will be the central pillar of our
defence. Winston Reid did fanastically well last season and dserves another
chance at PL level Together, Tomkins-Reid form a good partnership, but we
need alternative options and enhanced strength in depth. I do not think that
James Collins is a bad signing, if it happens, and at 28 years of age, he
both has crucial experience and quite a bit left in the tank. I also recall
Boenisch, playing for Poland, at the European Championships and he looked
impressive. Critically, he can also perform to an good standard at
centre-back and that type of utility defender is an invaluable asset to have
in the squad. Who can forget Ray Stewart, who not only played at right-back
but also provided excellent cover at centre-back.

However, it must be clear to Sam Allardyce that we need another right-back?
We have Guy Demel, who when he gets match fit will do a good job at PL
level. But with his injury record last season, and in the interests of
competition for places, we need to bring in cover. Who should we go for?
Nathan Clynes would have been ideal,but he has now signed for Southampton,
so we must look elsewhere. Stoke City are apparently trying to sign Scottish
inernational right-back, Alan Hutton, from Aston Villa for £2m. Surely that
is the type of deal that we should be pursuing? What about Danny Simpson at
Newcastle Utd, his future there is uncertain and the rumour is that Pardew
is prepared to sell the player for a reasonable fee. Or perhaps the thinking
at the club is that Jordan Spence and/or Callum Driver are ready to step up?
That would be the best option, providing that they are ready to deliver the
goods!

And we also have the issue of our keepers. Neither Henderson nor Jussi have
been that impressive in pre-season and (as discussed in Iain's recent post)
there is a view that we should look at that position again before the window
closes on 31 August 2012. We become resigned to losing Rob Green, at the
end, and many assumed that he would be easily replaced However,Green did
such a good job that maybe we all came to take him at bit for granted. A top
quality keeper can earn you an extra 10 points over the course of a season,
a poor keeper can do the exact opposition. Still, Green is in the past and
we need to hope that Henderson and Jussi do rise to the challenge next
season. Because I cannot see the club signing a fourth keeper this summer.
It would certainly be a very unusual and indicative development if they did!

Regardless, to become an efficient unit, a defence needs to gel and build an
understanding. The keeper with the centre-backs and all four defenders
working as a cohesive unit. In addition, with the acquisition of Mo Diame,
there is the link between the defence and the midfield anchor, who has the
role of shielding the back four. Tomkins and Diame are both currently at the
Olympics, the keepers have been rotated in pre-season and the new defenders
are just in the process of signing. So, we still have a lot of work to do to
get the new unit in place and working to optium efficiency.

Brian Clough also emphasised the importace of the 'spine' of a football
team. The West Ham 'spine' presently looks like being: Henderson/Jussi
-James Tomkins - Mo Diame - (and at the moment!) Carlton Cole. Surely that
is good enough? Hopefully, although we need to see it in action to test that
hypothesis. And that's the point, the 18th August 2012 kick-off to the new
season is not that far away and how many times have they played together?
So, that means that they will need to gel in the first few matches of the
new season. That could be fine, but if it does not instantly click. That
could have adverse consequences for the 'good start' that we need in the
first ten matches? Perhaps, my concerns are misplaced, hopefully they are?.

So, contrary to Brian Clough's iron law of football team building, West Ham
appear to be trying to construct their team from the front, with all the
speculation about strikers and attacking midfielders such as Carroll and
Kaka. But hopefully, Sam Allardyce will recruit the quality defensive
reinforcements that we need. Goals are undoubtedly crucial, but we also need
to be organised and defensively accomplished. But of course Sam Allardyce
knows that and if we can be anywhere as difficult to beat this season, as we
were last, then that will be a key factor in us re-establishing ourselves
back on the PL.

SJ Chandos.

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Home James
Last Updated: 01st August 2012
The Sun

JAMES COLLINS is set to rejoin West Ham today in a £2.5million move from
Aston Villa. Wales star Collins, 28, is likely to be followed out of Villa
by full-back Alan Hutton, with Stoke boss Tony Pulis keen on the Scot.

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West Ham offer Andy Carroll £36m contract
By ANDREW DILLON Last Updated: 01st August 2012
The Sun

WEST HAM have offered Andy Carroll a mind-boggling £36million contract in
the hope of luring him away from Liverpool. The two clubs have already
agreed a deal for the England striker. And Sam Allardyce's Hammers are now
ready to pay Carroll, 23, his current £90,000-a-week wages over EIGHT YEARS.
Former club Newcastle are also keen to rescue the £35m man from Anfield. But
an Upton Park source said: "West Ham are not giving up on this. "The manager
wants him badly and the board are backing him to the hilt." The clubs have
shaken on a £2m loan fee with another £17m on top should the Hammers stay in
the Premier League. An initial five-year deal is on the table with the
potential for three more. Boss Big Sam hopes to get an answer from the star
within 24 hours. Carroll's chances of a Toon return reduced as the deadline
on Demba Ba's £7m buyout clause ended last night.

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Wedge Hammer! West Ham out to tempt Carroll with record salary
The Mirror

Andy Carroll will be offered a pay-rise to £100,000-a-week to change his
mind and join West Ham. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is refusing to give up on
his pursuit of the Liverpool and England centre-forward, despite Carroll
making it clear he does not fancy a switch to Upton Park. And West Ham's
hierarchy are ready to back their manager by putting together the biggest
financial package in the club's proud history - one that would represent a
major hike from the £80k-a-week he's getting at Anfield. It would also be a
massive jump over what West Ham's current top earners are on, but shows the
London club mean business in their pursuit of Carroll.
West Ham have offered Liverpool a £19m deal for Carroll, made up of a £2m
loan fee to borrow him for the coming season and a guaranteed £17m to make
the move permanent next summer - provided they stay up on their return to
the Premier League. Liverpool are ready to take a huge hit on the striker,
who joined them from hometown club Newcastle for £35m just 18 months ago.
Kop boss Brendan Rodgers does not believe Carroll will fit into his playing
style and wants to generate cash to make signings. It all leaves Carroll
surplus to requirements on Merseyside, and West Ham locked in a battle with
Newcastle to land him. The Geordies, meanwhile, are trying to renegotiate
their striker Demba Ba's contract, even though the £7m buy-out clause
written into his current deal expires at midnight.

There were no takers for Ba at £7m, and once the clause is no longer in
effect Newcastle will want £15m for him. West Ham believe that is a sign
that the Magpies are planning to have Ba and Papiss Cisse as their
first-choice strike force in the new season. That is encouraging for Hammers
who, despite their public denials, are still very much in the market for
Carroll, even though it is believed he would favour a return to his native
Tyneside. Carroll is keen to stay at Anfield and fight for his place but
with West Ham and Newcastle getting encouragement from Liverpool, the
writing appears to be on the wall.

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Going Bald: West Ham to sell back-up striker Baldock to Bristol City
The Mirror
Jan Kruger

Bristol City expect to sign West Ham striker Sam Baldock for a cut-price
£500,000 - because the Hammers still owe them £1million for Nicky Maynard.
Maynard joined the Londoners for £1.65m in January, during their successful
charge towards promotion back to the Premier League. But only £650,000
changed hands at the time, with the rest intended to be paid in installments
over two years. Baldock, 23, will discuss a move to Championship side City
this week after failing to make an impression on Sam Allardyce's squad,
starting only 10 matches following a move from MK Dons last summer.

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Spanish archer: Wigan to land Ramis after West Ham give him the elbow
The Mirror

Wigan boss Roberto Martinez is signing Real Mallorca centre-half Ivan Ramis
for £4million - on the rebound after he was snubbed by West Ham. Ramis met
Latics on Tuesday to finalise the deal and have a medical, just 24 hours
after Hammers turned their attention to Aston Villa centre-back James
Collins instead. The experienced Ramis met Martinez and chairman Dave Whelan
at the start of the saga, but was leaning towards a move to east London
until that door seemingly closed. Now, Ramis will become Wigan's first big
signing of the summer - Whelan is giving Martinez cash to spend, as he
promised to do when the Spaniard turned down advances from other clubs. The
27-year-old will fill a problem position that Martinez has wanted sorting
out since the successful fight against the drop.

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