Sunday, July 1

Daily WHUFC News - 1st July 2012

McCartney completes Hammers switch
WHUFC.com
George McCartney has re-joined West Ham United on a permanent two-year
contract
01.07.2012

West Ham United are delighted to announce that George McCartney has
re-joined the Club on a permanent two-year contract following his departure
from Sunderland. The Belfast-born left-back returns to east London after two
successful previous spells, following a two-year stint between 2006 and 2008
with an outstanding season-long loan stay last season. McCartney becomes the
Club's fourth summer capture following the arrivals of goalkeepers Jussi
Jaaskelainen and Stephen Henderson from Bolton Wanderers and Portsmouth
respectively and Senegal international midfielder Mohamed Diame from Wigan
Athletic. "I am delighted to be coming back to West Ham and this time on a
permanent basis," said the popular No3, who won West Ham's Players' Player
of the Year award last season.
"It was great to be part of the side that won promotion for the club last
season. It was a fantastic way to end the campaign last year and I am really
looking forward to being back in the Premier League with West Ham."

After starting his career at Sunderland, where he won the Championship title
and Player of the Year award in 2004/05, McCartney moved south in 2006. The
former Northern Ireland international excelled during his first stay in east
London, scoring once in 71 appearances in all competitions. After moving
back to the Stadium of Light in 2008, McCartney spent two seasons with
Sunderland and one on loan at Leeds United. Having fallen out of favour at
the Stadium of Light, the 31-year-old returned to West Ham on loan in August
2011, scoring one goal in 43 appearances in all competitions as the Hammers
gained promotion at Wembley via the npower Championship Play-Offs.

Meanwhile, four of the Club's homegrown starlets have signed their first
professional contracts with West Ham this week. Striker Elliot Lee,
midfielders Kieran Sadlier and Jack Powell and goalkeeper Jake Larkins
visited the Boleyn Ground to put pen to paper on their first one-year deals,
having graduated from the Academy of Football at the end of last season.
While a number of players have arrived at the Boleyn Ground, with more set
to follow before the end of the transfer window on 31 August, one player to
have departed is Marek Stech. The Czech Republic Under-21 goalkeeper has
left the Club by mutual consent after six years in east London. Stech joined
from Sparta Prague at the age of 16 in 2006, graduating from the Academy two
years later. Stech made three first-team appearances in the Carling Cup
during the Hammers' run to the semi-finals of the competition in 2010/11,
while also enjoying loan spells with Wycombe Wanderers, Bournemouth, Yeovil
Town and Leyton Orient. Of the summer departees, Julien Faubert has joined
Turkish Superlig side Elazigspor on a three-year contract.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
First team set for Boreham Wood
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce's first-team squad will travel to Boreham Wood for a
pre-season match on 10 July
30.06.2012

West Ham United's first pre-season match on British soil will see Sam
Allardyce take his first-team squad to Blue Square Bet South side Boreham
Wood on Tuesday 10 July. For those not making the trip to Austria for the
Club's meeting with FK Austria Wien, the match could represent the first
opportunity for Hammers fans to see new signings Jussi Jaaskelainen and
Mohamed Diame in action. With more than a week to go until the fixture, the
Hammers could have more new faces in their ranks by the time they take to
the field at Meadow Park for the 7.45pm kick-off.

West Ham have been allocated 2,250 tickets for the match, with 250 Adult
seated tickets available at £19 each, including a souvenir matchday
programme. A further 2,000 standing tickets are available, priced at £16 for
Adults and £10 for Over-65s and Under-10s.

For full details of how to purchase your tickets for the game, click here.

Disabled tickets are also available for the same prices, including a
complimentary carer. For disabled ticket information, call Matthew Hunter at
Boreham Wood FC on 020 8953 5097.

Managed by former Arsenal winger Ian Allinson, Boreham Wood enjoyed a decent
2011/12 season, finishing eighth in the Blue Square Bet South table.
The club also operates a successful PASE (Programme for Academic and
Sporting Excellence) scheme, with young midfielder Pelly Ruddock coming
through the ranks at Boreham Wood before joining West Ham last season.

The fixture is one of ten pre-season matches arranged to help Big Sam get
his players prepared for the big Barclays Premier League kick-off against
Aston Villa on Saturday 18 August.

*Supporters travelling to FK Austria Wien should note that the match will
kick-off at 4pm local time, and not 5pm as was previously advertised.
West Ham United 2012/13 pre-season fixtures
(All fixtures are AWAY due to the London 2012 Olympic Games)
Sat 7 July - Austria Vienna (Franz Horr Stadium, 4pm local time)
Tue 10 July - Boreham Wood (Meadow Park, 7.45pm)
Sat 14 July - Southend United (Roots Hall, 3pm)
Tue 17 July - Oxford United (Kassam Stadium, 7.45pm)
Sat 21 July - Colchester United (Weston Homes Community Stadium, 3pm)
Wed 25 July - FC Rot-Weiss Erfurt (Steigerwaldstadion, 7pm local time)
Fri 27 July - SG Dynamo Dresden (Glucksgas Stadium, 8.30pm local time)
Sun 29 July - Energie Cottbus (Stadium der Freundschaft, 2.30pm local time)
Sat 4 Aug - Ipswich Town (Portman Road, 3pm)
Fri 10 Aug - SC Braga (AXA Stadium, TBC)

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Pablo on his way
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 30th June 2012
By: Staff Writer

Forgotton man Pablo Barrera is set to return to Mexico having been given
permission to speak to Cruz Azul. The 25-year-old winger, who joined West
Ham in a £4million switch from UNAM in the summer of 2010 on the back of a
good World Cup in South Africa is set to return to his home country after
making just 13 starts for the Hammers. Having failed to settle in England,
Barrera was sent on a season-long loan to Real Zaragoza for the duration of
the 2011/12 season - but only managed to make 12 starts for the Blanquillos.
And having returned to England, West Ham have now given him permission to
speak to other clubs with view to a permanent move. Speaking via Twitter on
West Ham United's account, a brief statement read: "The club can confirm
that Pablo Barrera has been given permission to talk to Mexican club Cruz
Azul with regard to a possible transfer."

Barrera joined West Ham after the Irons beat off competition from the likes
of Espanyol and Everton to clinch his signing two years ago next month.
Speaking after putting pen to paper on a four-year contract, the little
Mexican said: "I am very excited about the opportunity and the possibilities
of playing for West Ham. I will do my best. "The fans can expect that I
will give 100 per cent to succeed for the team and to play better than I
have ever played before. I like to excite the supporters.
"People have said that I am the sort of player that the fans want to have
the ball as often as possible because I can make things happen."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Mangane set for medical, say reports
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 30th June 2012
By: Staff Writer

Senegalese central defender Kader Mangane is set to undergo a medical with
West Ham this weekend ahead of a permanent transfer, according to reports
emanating from France. We told you yesterday how respected French media
outlet L'Equipe has reported West Ham were holding talks with the Rennes
captain. And fresh reports form across the Channel this morning say that an
agreement has been reached between the two parties and that the 29-year-old
will undergo tests ahead of a cut-price deal. Mangane, 29, is said to have
stated a desire to play in England and is entering the final year of his
current contract with the Ligue 1 outfit, for whom he made just 19
apperances last season due to a persistent ankle problem. However having
undertaken an operation to resolve the issue, he is expected to be able to
return to full training next month.

Born in Dakar, Mangane began his career in 2000 with local club US Rail who
partake in the Senegalese National League. However just a year later he
joined Swiss side Neuchatel Xamax, with whom he remained until 2007 when he
was picked up by French club Lens. After Les Sang et Or were relegated from
Ligue 1 following his first season at the club, Mangane remained in France
when Rennes signed him a year later for an undisclosed fee. Since moving to
Les Rouges et Noirs, Mangane has been linked with clubs such as Arsenal and
Sunderland although if reports are correct, now looks like becoming Sam
Allardyce's latest capture as he attempts to remould his squad ahead of the
beginning of the 2012/13 Premier League campaign.

Kader Managane at Rennes

2008/09: Pld 35 (2), Bkd 8, SO 1.
2009/10: Pld 39, Gls 5, Bkd 3.
2010/11: Pld 32, Gls 3, Bkd 3, SO 1.
2011/12: Pld 13 (6), Gls 3, Bkd 3.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
No Seedorf bid
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 30th June 2012
By: Staff Writer

A 'West Ham source' had denied that the club will be making a move for
former Dutch international Clarence Seedorf after being put off by his wage
demands. Harry Harris, a close confidente of United co-chairman David
Sullivan reports this morning that any hopes of signing the former AC Milan
star were dispelled after the 36-year-old demanded £70,000-a-week in order
to consider a move to east London. "No, we are not going for Seedorf despite
being linked to him," an unnamed source told Harris. "The club are concerned
about his injury problems considering that he is now 36, and despite the
injury worries he still wants between £60k and £70k a week."

West Ham were linked with a move for the 87-times capped Dutch midfielder
last week - just one of a string of elder statesman who the club have been
linked with in recent weeks as Sam Allardyce attempts to strengthen his
squad ahead of the 2012/13 Premier League campaign. Seedorf is currently a
free agent having been released at the end of last season by Italian Serie A
club Milan, with whom he had spent the last ten seasons having previously
featured for Ajax, Sampdoria and AC's great rivals, Inter.

* In other transfer news, a Bolton supporter who met Norwich striker Grant
Holt at a golfing function on Friday claimed to have been told by the
striker that he is set to sign for West Ham. United were reported earlier in
the week to have upped their bid for the 31-year-old to £4million up front
with a further £2million to follow, depending on certain conditions being
reached.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Welcome back, George
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 1st July 2012
By: Staff Writer

George McCartney has completed his return to West Ham United in what will be
his third spell at the club. The popular Irish full-back initially joined
United back in August 2006 when he was signed by Alan Pardew in exchange for
the now retired Clive Clarke plus £600,000. Two years later he was sold back
to the Black Cats in a deal thought to be worth around £4.5million. The
enforced sale of McCartney, combined with that of Anton Ferdinand, was the
catalyst for the departure of former manager Alan Curbishley who resigned
from his post citing interference from above. With West Ham relegated to the
Championship at the end of the 2010/11 campaign, new manager Sam Allardyce
moved to bring the 31-year-old back to the Boleyn in August of last year;
McCartney re-joining West Ham on loan for the season.

Having played a major part in West Ham' promotion campaign - he made 40
appearances, starting in 38 of those - the Belfast-born defender returned to
parent club Sunderland, but not before being named as the Players' Player of
the Year by his peers. Last week co-chairman David Gold confirmed that a
move to bring McCartney back to West Ham on a permanent basis was close to
being concluded - and on Saturday night he stated that a deal should be tied
up within 24 hours.
This morning news that McCartney had completed a second return to the club
on a two-year contract was confirmed on whufc.com. "I am delighted to be
coming back to West Ham - and this time, on a permanent basis," he said. "It
was great to be part of the side that won promotion last season. It was a
fantastic way to end the campaign and I am really looking forward to being
back in the Premier League with West Ham."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Seedorf snubs Irons for Brazil
Sunday 1st July 2012 8:17
TeamTalk

Former Holland midfielder Clarence Seedorf has joined Brazilian side
Botafogo on a two-year-deal after reportedly snubbing a move to West Ham.
The Surinam-born 36-year-old, who ended a 10-year stint at AC Milan this
summer and had reportedly been interesting the Premier League new boys, has
been given what Botafogo claim is the most lucrative deal ever handed out to
a foreign player in Brazil. The club announced the deal in a statement which
read: "Botafogo have formalised a contract with the Dutch midfielder
Clarence Seedorf, who is 36. "Seedorf has signed a deal for two years with
Botafogo."

It went on: "It is the biggest contract for a foreigner made by a Brazilian
football club." Rio de Janeiro-based Botafogo sit eighth in the Campeonato
Brasileiro with three wins from six matches.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Liverpool, Newcastle, Sunderland & West Ham will have to match valuation in
order to sign Crystal Palace's star man
London 24
Saturday, June 30, 2012
8:11 PM

Crystal Palace manager Dougie Freedman has insisted that in-demand forward
Wilfried Zaha will only leave if the price is right for the Eagles. The
19-year-old has been tracked by Liverpool, Newcastle, Reading, Sunderland
and West Ham in recent weeks but any prospective buyer will have to meet the
south Londoner's valuation after Zaha signed a five year contract with the
Selhurst Park outfit. "Everything has been handled in the right way with the
current owners in regard to handing the right type of contracts at the right
time," Freedman said. "Now everything is on our terms. "When, of if, Wilf
goes, it will be to the benefit of Crystal Palace instead of others.
"Hopefully though, we can fulfil his ambitions of achieving Premier League
football and it would be great if Wilf was there with us."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

http://vyperz.blogspot.com