Daily WHUFC News - 5th July 2012

Jack back in the groove
WHUFC.com
Jack Collison is looking to start the new season in the same way he finished the previous one
05.07.2012

While Carlton Cole and Ricardo Vaz Te dominated the headlines following the npower Championship Play-Off final win over Blackpool in May, Jack Collison was just as important to West Ham United's successful promotion quest. The midfielder forced his way into the starting XI on a regular basis as the 2011/12 season approached its conclusion, scoring a screamer at Leicester City before bagging both goals in the vital 2-0 Play-Off semi-final first leg win at Cardiff City. The No10 told whufc.com how happy he was to contribute to the Club's success and cannot wait to get back to playing in the Barclays Premier League next month. "It's raining at home, so it is nice to be able to come to Austria to train, although it has been boiling hot so far!" he said. "The good thing is that you really feel the heat when you're training, get a sweat on and you feel you are working hard. "The boys have been having two or three sessions a day and we're doing some good exercise. "The setting is perfect. It's nice and quiet so we can really get away from everything and concentrate on our football. The hotel is superb and we had a nice swimming pool to work in just down the road, too. "It was a bit of an up and down season for me last year. I was in and out of the team for a while trying to find my fitness and form after being out for such a long time [with a serious knee injury]. "It was great to finally get some games under my belt and I'll look to hit the ground running this season and hit the net even more often."

Collison was part of the winning team in the annual pre-season water polo competition on Wednesday - the second year in succession that he has won the tournament - and was many people's pick for Most Valuable Player. "That's two gold medals in two years and two MVPs, so it's great for me to win the competition and be the outstanding player two years on the bounce. "It's also good to do exercises like that and build team spirit. You can really feel the lads coming together."

While he and his team-mates enjoy training on the pitch and in the pool, the Wales international admitted they all cannot wait for the first Barclays Premier League fixture at home to Aston Villa on 18 AUgust. "When the fixtures came out everyone was buzzing to see who we would be playing. Our first game is Villa at home and a home game is just what we wanted. "We've now got six weeks to get everyone fit and fighting for places. We've got lots of quality in the squad and everyone wants to be in that starting XI. "We've got a close-knit group and it's great that everyone is smiling and pushing each other in training, Off the pitch, everyone is getting on too."

Finally, Collison had words of praise and encouragement for close pal James Tomkins, who has been included in the Team GB squad for the London 2012 Olympic Games. "It's obviously brilliant for Tonks and I think he deserves it for the way he played last season. He was outstanding and it's great that he's got this recognition.
"Hopefully he'll got to the tournament and do really well and come back ready to play well for us."

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West Ham United in Austria - Wednesday
WHUFC.com
The Hammers began the third day of their training camp with a water polo tournament
04.07.2012

There were no lie-ins for West Ham United's players and staff on Wednesday as the Hammers kicked-off the day with a water polo tournament. Alarm calls woke the squad at 6.30am before they grabbed their towels and rode the short distance to the local swimming pool for a 7am start. There, fitness coach Eamon Swift split the players and staff players into four teams for what quickly turned into a typically competitive competition. Among the staff members who joined the players in the pool was strength and conditioning coach Mathew Monte-Colombo, who is celebrating his birthday. With that, first-team coach and referee Wally Downes got the games underway.

Head of medicine Andy Rolls explained that exercising in the swimming pool had many benefits for the players. "Training in water reduces the stress on the muscles and the joints, while the resistance of the water helps to build up muscle strength," said Rolls. "So, the players are conditioning their bodies and having fun at the same time."

The activity in the pool quickly attracted the attention of youngsters from a school across the road, who evidently begin their day earlier than their English counterparts. While all the matches were competitive, it quickly became clear that having a good goalkeeper was vital to a team's success. With that in mind, Team Two put Stephen Henderson in goal and the 6'4 stopper kept a succession of tournament-clinching clean sheets. While Henderson was unbeatable, Jack Collison again proved his prowess as a water polo star by prompting play in an influential midfield role. Ahead of him, Kevin Nolan was on hand to convert chances from close-range, just as he does on the football pitch. Nolan's winning team was completed by Nicky Maynard, who scored one searing long-range goal, Ricardo Vaz Te and head of rehabilitation Stijn Vandenbroucke.

Team One proved to be second best on the day, winning through to the final courtesy of scoring seven goals in their opening three games. However, James Tomkins, Guy Demel, George McCartney, Sam Baldock, Gary O'Neil and Mark Noble came up just short in the final. Teams Three and Four played-off for third place, but the two sides could not find a winner in normal time and were forced to share the wooden spoon. After the water polo, Noble made his way to the top of a nearby water slide, only to find the water flow turned off and have to make his way down on foot! The short ride back to the hotel was followed by breakfast before the players began to prepare for their morning training session at 10am, where Noble did his best Henri Lansbury impression by donning the goalkeeper's gloves before the action began.

That session saw the players go through an activation session in the indoor gym and enjoy a warm-up jog before joining assistant manager Neil McDonald for a series of drills on the pitch. After that, it was time for more keep-ball sessions while goalkeeper Martyn Margetson worked with Jussi Jaaskelainen and Stephen Henderson. Having ridden back to the hotel for lunch, the players and staff posed for a photograph outside the team hotel before being given the afternoon for free time. The squad's golfers headed over the road to the local course, while some chose to walk into the nearby town or simply relax by the hotel pool. The day will finish with a team-building barbecue on the hotel verandah to complete another productive 24 hours in Austria.

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Skipper relishing top-flight challenge
WHUFC.com
Kevin Nolan cannot wait to start the new Barclays Premier League season with the Hammers
04.07.2012

It is just seven-and-a-half short weeks since Kevin Nolan was lifting the npower Championship Play-Off trophy at Wembley. However, while the euphoria and feelgood factor from that amazing day lives on within the Club, the captain knows West Ham United have to use that positive energy to consolidate their hard-earned position in the Barclays Premier League. In the first section of an exclusive two-part West Ham TV interview conducted at the team's Austrian training camp, 'Nobby' also revealed his pre-season loves and hates and explained just how the Hammers will compete on their return to the top-flight.

Welcome back Kevin! It's only a few weeks since you lifted that trophy at Wembley, but it's good to be back, isn't it?

KN - I wouldn't say it's good to be back! No, seriously, looking back over the summer and reminiscing about what happened was great. We got back to where we belong after a long, hard season with a lot of changes. The lads did fantastically well and I think it was what we deserved in the end.

What do you love and hate about pre-season training? It is 90 degrees here in Austria, but you've had to run around in it for hours and hours!

KN - I think the love of it is getting back to seeing all the lads, all the banter and being a kid again after being a Dad and a husband for five weeks. Footballers are like that. You have that camaraderie and you do miss your team-mates after a bit. I would have liked another week off in the sunshine sitting around the pool, I must admit, but it's a fantastic location and we can solely focus on what is going to be an intensive six or seven-week period to make sure we're ready for Aston Villa. This is what it's all about - nothing else but preparing ourselves right for that first game.

How do you keep that energy and positive feeling from gaining promotion and take it into the new Barclays Premier League season?

KN - The euphoria does mean something because we're back in the Premier League. It was nice getting those Nike balls back out today and being able to kick them about everywhere - and me shank them everywhere! It just shows that the hard work we put in during the last pre-season and last season got us our just reward. We just need to focus on consolidating ourselves in the Premier League and, bit by bit, making sure that we stay back where we feel that we and West Ham United belong. We don't think that is in the Championship or in the lower reaches of the Premier League, but we've got to prove that. I'm not saying it's going to happen overnight because it's going to be hard work. This year is going to be about consolidating and making sure we're there for the season after. I'm not getting ahead of myself - this is what it's all about and what we've got to look at. It's just so nice that we got our reward last year and I'm really looking forward to that first day back in the Premier League. Hopefully it'll be a good first day.

What does that word 'consolidation' mean in practice? Targeting the games you can win and those you feel you can gain an unexpected point or three?

KN - I think it's about sticking together. We can't get too upset about defeats and can't celebrate the victories too dramatically. It's all about staying on an even keel and staying focused all season and making sure you don't get too disappointed and become low, because that can transmit into three or four games. What we want is that, if we lose a game, we bounce right back and if we win a game we keep that run going and get undefeated. It doesn't matter who you are playing next, but about who you are playing now. Aston Villa are up first at home and we've got to make sure we win the game because they will be coming thinking 'West Ham have just been promoted' and wanting to win the game too. We've got to be ready and I'm sure we will be and will get off to the start we want.

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Lletget loving life
WHUFC.com
Sebastian Lletget is in positive mood after being called-up to the first-team squad for pre-season
04.07.2012

At times, it has been tough for West Ham United teenager Sebastian Lletget. Living thousands of miles from his hometown of San Jose, California, and suffering from a severe bout of glandular fever during his Academy scholarship threatened to derail his promising career. But the United States Under-23 international has stuck at it and, as he begins his third season as a professional, has been rewarded with a call-up to the first-team squad for their pre-season training camp in Austria. The 19-year-old attacking midfielder - considered by many to be among the most skilful players at the Club, told West Ham TV of his delight at being included and his high hopes for the season ahead. "I'm really pleased to have got the call-up and I think the boys have received me well," said the American. "Basically, I have nothing but good things to say and am really relishing it. "Training on Monday was good but it was so hot! The weather means it is going to be a tough week. It's very hot and humid and coming back from summer, we're not all going to be 100 per cent fit. It's going to be tough but it's going to be a lot of fun too."

Having been called upon regularly by his country in recent summers, Lletget was afford the luxury of a free close-season after the USA failed to qualify for the London 2012 Olympic Games. The player himself believes the rest will be of huge benefit as he seeks to establish himself in Sam Allardyce's squad on a regular basis. "Big time, I think the rest was important. I think this summer I have enjoyed being home but I've also worked hard on the things I need to work on from last season "I think I have improved and hopefully I can show the manager what I can do."

When Lletget - signed from West Ham United International Academy partner club Sporting Santa Clara - looks around at the Hammers squad, he will see that he has a real chance to make the next step and save the Club from having to sign another midfield player ahead of the Barclays Premier League campaign. "I am sure there are more signings to come but I just hope I can do my thing and realise the potential the manager sees in me."

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Striker Freddie Sears joins Colchester from West Ham
BBC.co.uk

Colchester have signed striker Freddie Sears from West Ham on a free transfer. The 22-year-old has agreed a three-year contract after an 11-match loan spell at the club last season, during which he scored twice. "It feels like I've been around longer than I have. I look back, and I've not had a full season under my belt," he told BBC Essex. "In a way, it's like taking a step back to go forward again. I'm looking forward to the challenge."
Manager John Ward told the club's website: "He is young enough to push on in his career, and we can get the benefit. We are delighted to have Freddie on board and I think that three years is a commitment from him to us and what we are trying to achieve here." Ward added: "It is perhaps down to me that he didn't get as many games as he would have liked in his initial spell, but it is a changed situation for him this time. "As soon as he was released from West Ham, Freddie wanted to come here and I was wanting him to come."

Sears is Colchester's second signing of the summer, following the arrival of former Brentford midfielder Marcus Bean. A former England youth and Under-21 international, Sears was a prolific scorer for West Ham's reserves and made his Premier League debut in 2008 at the age of 18. However, he was unable to establish a regular place in the side and prior to joining Colchester last season, he had already been out on loan at Crystal Palace, Coventry and Scunthorpe.

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Guti joins camp
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 4th July 2012
By: Staff Writer

Former Real Madrid star Guti has joined the West Ham contingent at their training camp in Austria. The 35-year-old midfielder, who played more than 500 times for the Spanish giants during 15 years at the club landed in Austria earlier today before joining up with the rest of the camp at their training base close to Vienna.

KUMB revealed three weeks ago that Sam Allardyce was keen for his staff to run the rule over the former Spanish international midfielder, who is available on a free transfer having been a free agent since last November. West Ham flew out to the Austrian capital last weekend, where they will remain until Saturday. On the same day Sam Allardyce's team are scheduled to play Austria Wien in their first pre-season friendly, although it remains unknown at this stage whether Guti will feature.

Tickets for the match, which kicks-off at 4pm, go on sale at the stadium from 2pm on matchday. All tickets are priced at €10.

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Mack race is on
The Sun
Last Updated: 05th July 2012

QPR striker Jamie Mackie is at the centre of a tug of war between top-flight new-boys West Ham and Southampton. Both clubs are considering £1million bids for the Scot, 26, who has hit 16 goals in 56 league games for Rangers.

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