Daily WHUFC News - 29th June 2012

Hendon happy to be back
WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon was pleased to return to the training pitch with his Development
Squad this week
28.06.2012

West Ham United Development Squad coach Ian Hendon has hailed his players'
physical condition on their return to pre-season training this week. Hendon
welcomed his players back from their summer break on Monday and was
delighted to meet a fully-fit group looking lean and ready to get down to
business. The Development Squad head off to Russia for the VTB Lev Yashin
Cup in Moscow between 12-15 July before returning to England for a host of
challenging pre-season matches ahead of the newly-formed 2012/13
Professional Development League campaign. "I've been delighted with the
lads," Hendon confirmed to West Ham TV. "They came back on Monday for a bit
of screening and fitness testing and to have them all back fit and well was
a bonus because this time last year we already had a couple out for the
start of the season. We're fit and raring to go, as they say. "We'll get
them a bit of conditioning and will have them ready to go to Russia in about
ten days. We've got a pre-season tournament there that we'll have them all
ready for. It's about minutes on the pitch, rather than winning, although
that would be nice. It's about getting ready for August. "It's a big
tournament out there, I'm told. We have been invited over and the first team
doing so well and getting promoted obviously helped. "The training ground is
fantastic, but it's nice to get away for a week or so because it can get
monotonous being in the same place for six or seven weeks on the trot. It'll
be nice to play some foreign opposition as well so we're all looking forward
to it."

Hendon enjoyed a long playing career himself with Tottenham Hotspur, Leyton
Orient, Sheffield Wednesday and Barnet - among others - but admitted the
game has changed since his playing days. Back then, some players would let
themselves go over the summer before having to get back into shape in
pre-season, but the modern-day West Ham youngsters evidently take their
fitness more seriously. "The days are long-gone when they finish in May and
don't do a thing until pre-season, coming back having put on weight and body
fat as they used to in my day! "They're professional and have off-season
plans and they have come back fit and healthy and it looks like they have
stuck to the plan. To start with, that is a bonus."

While his players will be training for the next fortnight, Hendon already
has an eye on a packed schedule of pre-season matches that will see his team
travel far and wide as they prepare for the new campaign. At the same time,
Hendon said the opposition clubs are looking forward to welcoming West Ham
to town. "A lot of non-league clubs want to play us because it gives them a
bit of revenue and helps them out, as well as helping us out. We've got four
games this year at Thurrock, Grays, Welling and Dartford. "I know a couple
of the managers at those clubs so we can help them out then we will do that,
while they will also be competitive games. "We then finish off against AFC
wimbledon, Northampton and Dagenham and Redbridge with West Ham United XI
matches so we could have senior professionals involved in any of those
games. Even if they are Development Squad matches, they will be competitive
and the other side will know they have been in a game."

Development Squad/West Ham United XI pre-season fixtures
(All matches AWAY)
12-15 July - VTB Lev Yashin Cup (Moscow, Russia)
20 July - Grays Athletic (Rush Green Stadium, 7.45pm)
21 July - Thurrock (Ship Lane, 3pm)
24 July - Dartford (Princes Park, 7.45pm)
28 July - Welling (Park View Road, 3pm)
4 Aug - AFC Wimbledon (Kingsmeadow, 3pm)
7 Aug - Northampton Town (Sixfields, 7.45pm)
11 Aug - Dagenham and Redbridge (Victoria Road, 3pm)

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Stech joins the exodus
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 28th June 2012
By: Staff Writer

Reserve goalkeeper Marek Stech has left West Ham 'by mutual consent',
according to David Gold. The West Ham United co-chairman, speaking via
Twitter this lunchtime confirmed that the 22-year-old goalkeeper, who had
been with West Ham since joining from Sparta Prague in 2006 had left the
club. Once hailed as 'the next Petr Cech', the 6'3" shot-stopper made just
three appearances for the first team during his time at the club - all of
which came in the League Cup. In March 2009, having slipped behind Peter
Kurucz in the goalkeeping pecking-order, he was shipped off to Wycombe on
loan for the remainder fo the 2008/09 campaign, but made just two
appearances - a draw against Brentford and a 1-0 defeat at home to Rochdale
- before returning to London. The former Czech under 19 international's next
taste of first team action came at Bournemouth who he joined on an emergency
weeks' loan in December 2009. However it was a week to forget as the
Cherries went down 5-0 at Morecambe in a League Two encounter.

The following season - 2010/11 - Stech finally made his first team debut for
West Ham in the Second Round 1-0 defeat of Oxford, a game won courtesy of
Scott Parker's 90th-minute strike. He was to retain his place in the side
for both the third and fourth round ties against Sunderland and Stoke, which
the Hammers won 2-1 and 3-1 respectively, although Rob Green took over
goalkeeping duties for the quarter final meeting with Manchester United
(4-0) and the two-legged semi final against Birmingham City (2-1, 1-3).

Only last summer Stech still harboured high hopes of eventually becoming
West Ham's number one. Speaking in an interview with Czech website Pravo,
recorded following West Ham's relegation from the Premier League, he said:"I
am full of optimism. For me it's advantageous that we're not among the elite
as I have a better chance. "In the reserve games I've played well and pushed
[Rob] Green in training. He had an operation and problems plagued him after
the treatment of pain. It was almost my time, but I just didn't get a
chance."

However his chances were to be limited even further during the campaign as
the result of a contractual issue that is thought to have prevented him from
being made available for selection. It was rumoured that after five first
team outings, Stech's former club Sparta would be due an additional payment
of £750,000 - something that West Ham were not prepared to pay.

As a result he once again spent much of the season kicking his heels in
frustration, making the occasional appearance for Ian Hendon's Development
Squad before joining both Yeovil - for whom he made five appearances - and
League One side Leyton Orient - just two - on short-terms loans.

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Braga rights
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 27th June 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United will end their pre-season program in the Portuguese sunshine
after agreeing to face SC Braga on Friday, 10th August. For the first time
since 2002, the club will face their final friendly of pre-season away from
the Boleyn Ground as a result of the Olympic Games which take place in
Stratford between Friday, July 27th and Sunday, August 12th. And Sam
Allardyce's face face a stiff test when they face a team who finished third
in last season's Primeira Liga behind Champions FC Porto and runners-up
Benfica - but ahead of the third of Portugal's 'big three', Sporting Lisbon.
West Ham assistant manager Neil McDonald told whufc.com: "It's a nice game
to finish to our pre-season. It will give us a good idea of where we are at,
a week before the start of the season. "It will be the most important match
of our pre-season and the perfect preparation for welcoming Aston Villa on
18 August."

Braga, who qualified for the Champions League as a result of their
third-placed finish - and who play at the iconic Estádio Municipal stadium -
are now managed by former Real Madrid assistant manager José Peseiro, who
superceded Leonardo Jardim last month. Jardim, who at just 37 years of age
led Braga to the Champions League in his first season at the club left Os
Arsenalistas one year into a three-year contract after a disagreement with
club president António Salvador.

Final pre-season friendlies: the last ten years

2011: West Ham Utd 2-0 Real Zaragoza: report
2010: West Ham Utd 0-0 (5-3 pens) Deportivo: report
2009: West Ham Utd 0-1 Napoli: report
2008: West Ham Utd 1-1 Villareal: report
2007: West Ham Utd 2-1 Roma: report
2006: West Ham Utd 1-1 Olympiakos: report
2005: West Ham Utd 1-1 (7-8 pens) Osasuna: report
2004: West Ham Utd 4-4 (4-5 pens) Anderlecht: report
2003: West Ham Utd 1-2 PSV Eindhoven: report
2002: West Ham Utd 1-0 Vitesse Arnhem (played at Roots Hall): report

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New homes for stray Hammers
KUMb.com
Filed: Thursday, 28th June 2012
By: Staff Writer

Ex-Hammers Julien Faubert and Jordan Brown have been handed new contracts
having left West Ham this summer. The French winger has moved to Turkey in
order to join newly-promoted Elazigspor, with whom he has signed a
three-year contract - as confirmed by the French winger last night.
Meanwhile youngster Brown, who was heavily tipped to break through to West
Ham's first team squad this time last summer has dropped down the football
pyramid in order to join League Two Barnet. Faubert, who spent five years at
West Ham having joined the club from French outfit Bordeaux in the summer of
2007 in a £6.1million switch left West Ham on a free transfer at the end of
last season, having made 121 appearances in claret and blue. Speaking via
his Twitter account yesterday, he said: "Thanks to all the West Ham fans -
true fans - for the support and messages I've received, and come on West Ham
in Premier League!"

20-year-old Brown, a left back who failed to make a single first team
appearance for West Ham was told to find a new club at the beginning of
2012. He previously spent time on loan at Crewe and Aldershot, and trialled
at Gillingham, before landing a permanent contract with the Bees. Barnet Had
Coach Mark Robson - a fellow former Hammer - told his club's website:
"Jordan is a player I've known about for a while now. He's had a good
upbringing at West Ham - both on and off the pitch.
"He is a very promising player and he was unfortunate not to feature more in
the West Ham First Team as he played a few times in their pre-season last
year. With all the players they brought in he never really got an
opportunity. But that can only be a good thing for us as I really want to
help him develop and prosper as a Bee and I believe he will do that here.
I'm very excited to finally get him here as I know there were a few clubs
chasing him."

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Duo poised for Hammers exit
Brown joins Barnet, Barrera set for return to homeland
Last Updated: June 28, 2012 1:37pm
SSN

West Ham youngster Jordan Brown has left the club to join Barnet while
defender Pablo Barrera is closing in on a move back to Mexico. Brown signed
for the Hammers as a 15-year-old in 2007 but failed to make a single
first-team appearance for the club, enjoying loan spells at Aldershot and
Crewe last season. The club decided against offering him a new contract
after his original deal expired at the end of last season, meaning he was
available on a free transfer. League Two side Barnet have moved quickly to
snap up the youngster, with Bees head coach Mark Robson delighted to have
him on board. "Jordan is a player I've known about for a while now. He's had
a good upbringing at West Ham," he said.

Develop and prosper

"I really want to help him develop and prosper as a Bee and I believe he
will do that here." Meanwhile, Mexcian flop Barrera is poised to end his
nightmare spell in east London with a move back to his homeland. The Hammers
paid Club Universidad Nacional £3million for the 25-year-old in the summer
of 2010 but he made just six appearances in his first season before spending
the last campaign on loan at Real Zaragoza. Barrera is now set for a
permanent move away from Upton Park with Cruz Azul poised to wrap up a deal
for the forward. "We only need to fix some details with West Ham about
incentives," Cruz Azul president Guillermo Alvarez Macias said.

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New Bid for Holt? Is He Really Worth £6 Million?
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die

Calll me old fashioned, but I just cannot fathom the logic (if indeed it is
true) why we would have made a £4 million bid for Grant Holt, together with
£2 million worth of add-ons. If he were 25, fine. But he's not. He's 31,
with at best two seasons ahead of him. Yes, he had a good season last
season, but apart from that he doesn't have a top level track record. He's
not a player I particularly want to see in a West Ham shirt, but I will
happily eat my words if by the middle of May 2013 he has scored 15 goals for
us.

The Zaha trail seems to have gone very cold. Crystal Palace are reportedly
playing silly buggers and Freddie Sears is being difficult about moving the
other way. I'm afraid Mr Sears needs to wake up and smell the coffee. He has
no future at Upton Park and if he wants first team football, he's going to
have to drop down to the Championship and modify his earnings expectation.
We are also on the sniff for Nathan Clynes, a nippy full back at Palace, as
well as Chris Solly from Charlton.

Two departures have been announced. Julien Faubert, whose contract was not
renewed, has joined Turkish outfit Elazigspor. And Jordan Brown, of whom
great things were hoped, has joined Barnet. We wish them both well.

There are all sorts of rumours about foreign wingers and strikers. The one
with most substance, as mentioned before on the site, is for Burak Yilmaz.
He is said to have been offered a mouthwatering contract. To my mind we need
to be thinking about centre backs too. We only have Tomkins and Reid at the
moment and surely need a couple more. Jonas Olsson seems to be top of the
wish list, but WBA apparently want to keep him, even though he has only got
a year left.

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Big Sam eyes Will.I.Ham
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today at 00:03

WILLIAM GALLAS could be on his way to West Ham. Hammers chiefs are trying to
sign Tottenham's experienced French centre-half. And Spurs would be only too
happy to offload Gallas, 34, on a free transfer despite their intense local
rivalry with West Ham. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce needs more defenders with
proven track records following the club's promotion to the Premier League
via the Championship play-offs. He has also released former Stoke
centre-back Abdoulaye Faye, 34, while 31-year-old Danny Collins has gone
back to the Potters after a loan spell at Upton Park. Managerless Spurs are
still hoping to sign Belgium defender Jan Vertonghen from Dutch champions
Ajax to play alongside Michael Dawson or Younes Kaboul, so Gallas is surplus
to requirements. Dutch legend Clarence Seedorf is also wanted by Hammers
chief Allardyce, who is a long-term admirer of the veteran midfielder.
Former Real Madrid, Inter Milan and AC Milan star Seedorf, 36, has made it
clear he would like to play in the Premier League.

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Allardyce keen to strengthen Hammers attack with £5m move for Maiga
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 22:43, 28 June 2012 | UPDATED: 22:43, 28 June 2012
Daily Mail

West Ham have made a £5million bid for Sochaux striker Modibo Maiga. Manager
Sam Allardyce is battling to land his targets with a striker and centre-back
his priorities. He has bid for Norwich's Grant Holt and is also keen on
Evian's Yannick Sagbo. Reading have also bid for Maiga while Stoke maintain
an interest too. Reading expect to have Pavel Pogrebnyak's work permit
processed today and are closing on a deal for free agent midfielder Danny
Guthrie.

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Is Grant Holt worth £6 million of West Ham's money?
by Dan Coombs
Here Is The City

West Ham United are reported to be preparing an improved offer. Is he worth
it? Grant Holt was one of the Premier League's surprise packages last
season, scoring 15 goals in the division plus 1 in the FA Cup. So it is no
wonder he is attracting interest from clubs, especially after stating his
desire to leave Norwich City and hand in a transfer request. Yet at 31, his
age presents a dilemma when coupled with a big price tag. If Holt's
breakthrough season had come five or six years earlier, there surely would
be no qualms about a £6 million fee, but if West Ham supporters are
sceptical we can hardly blame them.

Here are two opposing views:

Yes he is worth £6 million

The Hammers have been linked with a number of strikers over the summer, many
of who ply their trade abroad in Serie A or La Liga. It is though important
to remember that Holt has proven he has done it in the Premier League - 15
goals is an excellent return, even in his heyday for Liverpool Michael Owen
never topped 18. Holt may be getting on in his career, but it should be
remembered he is a late developer. He can still have two or three years at
the top level. For West Ham next season is about consolidation, retaining
their Premier League status and leaving a stable platform on which to build.
Holt, a proven performer, can help West Ham show they belong at the level,
and provide experience for the club's talented youngsters to feed off. It
should not be forgotten that he is the ideal target man for Sam Allardyce's
preferred 'route one' style of football. Similar to Kevin Davies at Bolton,
Holt could thrive, and if the Hammers can get two good years out of him with
10 plus goal returns, the investment will be worth it.

No he is not worth £6 million

Signing Holt for £6 million could be a gamble Allardyce lives to regret. He
has been primarily a football league player his whole career, judged not to
be good enough for the top flight. There is a danger his season with Norwich
last year will prove to be a flash in the pan, similar to players like
Michael Ricketts at Bolton, once capped by England. If that is the case,
West Ham will have paid an over-inflated price for a player who simply isn't
that good, and could be stuck with his wages too. Surely that's the reason
for handing in a transfer request? He wants to capitalise on his year of
success and take on one big pay day. Signing Holt would be a short-term fix
only, and would indicate Allardyce is going back to his old ways. The
manager was keen to stress he wanted to play a more attractive brand of
football, and the signings of Ricardo Vaz Te and Ravel Morrison - yet to be
seen - indicate that. Signing Holt would deviate from that plan and be a
backwards step. It would show that West Ham are putting the development of
youngsters on the back-burner, if they are going to sign a striker, they
should look for a younger model, 25-year-old PSV striker Ola Toivonen scored
28 goals last season and is reported to be available for around £7 million -
surely that is better value?

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