Daily WHUFC News - 6th July 2012

Fixture changes confirmed
Nine of West Ham United's opening fixtures have been moved to a different
kick-off time or date
05.07.2012

Nine of West Ham United's opening Barclays Premier League fixtures have had
their kick-off time or date moved. The Hammers' first away game of the
season at Swansea City on 25 August has been moved to a 12.45pm kick off, as
have the home games with Fulham and Norwich City on 1 September and 15
September respectively.

The away match at Queens Park Rangers has been moved to Monday 1 October,
while the home game with Stoke City is also moved to a Monday on 19
November. Both games kick off at 8pm.

The two huge home games against Arsenal on Saturday 6 October and Manchester
City on Saturday 3 November will both now kick off at 5.30pm. The away games
with Tottenham Hotspur and Manchester United will now be played on Sunday 25
November at 4pm and Wednesday 28 November at 8pm respectively due to their
European fixtures.

Fans should also be aware that the away fixture with Newcastle United on
Saturday 10 November and the home game with Liverpool on Saturday 8 December
may be subject to change due to those two sides also being involved in
European competition that week. whufc.com will bring you further updates
once they are available.

Remember, a Season Ticket is the cheapest way to guarantee your seat for
every single home game at the Boleyn Ground this season. With prices
starting at just £600 for adults and £190 for Under-16s, can you afford to
miss out? Click here to get yours today.
Summary of amended fixtures covering the period to 30 November:

Date Fixture Time
Saturday 25 August Swansea City v West Ham United 12:45pm
Saturday 1 September West Ham United v Fulham 12:45pm
Saturday 15 September Norwich City v West Ham United 12:45pm
Monday 1 October QPR v West Ham United 8:00pm
Saturday 6 October West Ham United v Arsenal 5:30pm
Saturday 3 November West Ham United v Manchester City 5:30pm
Monday 19 November West Ham United v Stoke City 8:00pm
Sunday 25 November Tottenham Hotspur v West Ham United 4:00pm
Wednesday 28 November Manchester United v West Ham United 8:

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West Ham United in Austria - Thursday
WHUFC.com
The Hammers were back in the swimming pool as the sun came up on Thursday
morning
05.07.2012

West Ham United began the fourth day of their pre-season training camp in
Austria with another early-morning trip to the pool. After Wednesday's water
polo tournament, it was time for some old-fashioned swimming, with each
player required to complete a number of lengths of the pool - which had
opened specially at 6.45am to receive the Hammers. As you might have
expected, some players were more natural in the water than others, with Mark
Noble catching the eye with his range of strokes and strong style. Others,
who shall remain nameless, were slightly slower completing their quota!

With the coaching staff encouraging them on, the group completed their
lengths before drying off and riding their mountain bikes back to the team
hotel for breakfast. There, the omelette chef was put to work again as he
has been every morning of the team's stay so far! The day continued with a
morning training session on the pitch, where the players worked exceedingly
hard during a 90-minute session in hot sunshine. An activation session and
warm-up was followed by some three-quarter pace running and recovery and
some more individual drills. In between, the players ensured they stayed
hydrated and maintained good circulation by drinking plenty of water,
covering their heads in wet towels and dipping their arms and heads in bowls
of iced water.

Assistant manager Neil McDonald and first-team coach Wally Downes then took
groups of players for keep-ball sessions before the squad came together for
a 20-minute game between the two penalty areas, with Jussi Jaaskelainen and
Stephen Henderson lining up in goal. Earlier, the two goalkeepers worked
with coach Martyn Margetson on a host of innovative handling and agility
drills. After a well-deserved afternoon break, the players will return for a
second football session in the evening. The final session is set to be
attended by a group of local schoolchildren. *Keep a close eye on whufc.com
and the Club's social media outlets for updates throughout the day and the
rest of the week.

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Exclusive: Montano rejects new deal
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 5th July 2012
By: Staff Writer

Cristian Montano looks set to leave West Ham imminently after rejecting a
new contract offer. The 20-year-old forward is yet to feature for West Ham's
first team despite having been on the fringes for at least two seasons - and
he is now almost certainly unlikely to do so having rejected a new deal.
KUMB understands that Montano has rejected the offer in order to seek a move
abroad, having become disillusioned with life at West Ham with whom he
signed a new one-year deal last summer.

Speaking this time last year, the Columbian-born attacker's main ambition
was to break into Sam Allardyce's first team plans. "I'm very proud of this
contract and I'm happy with myself as well," he said at the time. "I have
got my second contract which is the most important thing. Hopefully I can
keep going from here and make the next step, which is to make my first-team
debut and hopefully become established. I want to prove myself. "I'm going
to keep working hard and hopefully show the new manager that I can play and
do well. We're all in the same boat - a new manager and new staff - so we've
all got to prove ourselves again."

However having failed to do so during the 2011/12 campaign, Montano's dream
of making that breakthrough appears to be over following this latest news.

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Montano: don't call me greedy
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 5th July 2012
By: Staff Writer

Cristian Montano has explained his decision to leave West Ham, whilst
insisting that money is not an issue. After KUMB.com exclusively revealed
earlier this afternoon that the 20-year-old striker had rejected United's
offer of a new one-year contract extention, he denied that his decision was
motivated by finacial terms. Speaking via his Twitter account this evening,
Montano - who failed to make a single first team appearance for the Hammers
- rejected suggestions that his main motivation for rejecting the club's
offer was financially related. "Why does everyone always think that money is
always the case in football?", he said. "I love the game [and it's] nothing
to do with me being greedy. "For all who want to know what is happening, I
was unable to agree a new contract with my boyhood club, West Ham. Totally
gutted."

Montano - who compared himself to Arsenal's Robin Van Persie after receiving
some abusive comments from Twitter users following KUMB's earlier revelation
- is hoping to move abroad having spent the last nine years with West Ham.

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Ravel raring to go
KUMb.com
Filed: Thursday, 5th July 2012
By: Staff Writer

Teenage midfielder Ravel Morrison says that he is finally ready to fulfil
his untapped potential. The 19-year-old England youth international had made
just one appearance for West Ham since signing in a cut-price deal from
Manchester United last January, when he replaced Jack Collison as an 81st
minute substitute in the 1-1 draw at Leeds back in March. Since moving to
London from the North West, Morrison - whose signing was sanctioned by
co-chairman David Sullivan - has been dogged by rumours of no-shows at
training and bust-ups with fellow players, whilst he was also fined by the
FA for comments made on a social network. Those issues followed a string of
problems at his former club which led to his eventual sale and one former
Reds player stating privately that, "we did a good job at Manchester United
just keeping him out of prison".

However it looks as if those problems might finally be a thing of the past
with Morrison appraently having realised that it is time to knuckle down if
he is to repay the faith shown in him by West Ham and enjoy a career as a
professional footballer. Having flown out to Austria with the rest of the
West Ham squad last weekend, Morrison is understood to have shown a marked
improvement in his attitude during the past few days. Speaking this morning,
he told followers of his Twitter account that he is both "focused and ready"
to force his way into Sam Allardyce's first team plans. "I am working very
hard this pre-season," he said, adding "I need to play this season."

Cited as being as talented as Paul Gascoigne by none other than Sir Trevor
Brooking, Morrison has played at international level for England's under
16s, under 17s and under 18s. Upon his arrival at the Boleyn Ground, Sam
Allardyce vowed to do his best to help the youngster turn his fortunes
around. "It's not unusual for me, taking the odd difficult one on but I like
high-class talent at a football club if you can find it," he said. "If it
comes with a little bit of trouble, then I think you can cope.
"If the lad's doing it on the field then you help him as best you can off
the field to make sure he becomes a well-rounded, decent human being and,
hopefully, a decent footballer. "By Alex Ferguson's own words, Ravel is one
of the best he's ever had at that age. When Sir Alex tells you something
like that then you know [he's a great prospect]."

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Seven live games for Irons
KUMb.com
Filed: Thursday, 5th July 2012
By: Staff Writer

West Ham will be featuring live on TV seven times in the first half of the
new 2012/13 Premier League season. United's matches against Swansea, Fulham,
Norwich, QPR and Stoke will all be broadcast live by Sky Sports between
August and November as Sam Allarcyde's side look forward to their first
season back in the top flight.
Additionally, ESPN will be broadcasting the matches against Arsenal and
reigning Champions Manchester City live.

Full details as follows:

Swansea (a): August 25th, 12.45pm.
Fulham (h): September 1st, 12.45pm
Norwich (a): September 15th, 12.45pm
QPR (a): October 1st, 8pm
Arsenal (h): October 6th, 5.30pm
Man City (h): November 3rd, 5.30pm
Stoke (h): November 19th, 8pm

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Somer-Stech
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 5th July 2012
By: Staff Writer

Former West Ham goalkeeper Marek Stech has signed a two-year contract with
Yeovil Town. The 22-year-old shot stopper was released by West Ham last week
but like fellow youngster Freddie Sears, who signed a three-year contract at
Colchester this week, Stech has wasted little time in finding himself a new
club. The 6'3" former youth international, who joined West Ham as a
16-year-old having been signed on the advice of Ludo Miklosko spent a month
on loan at Huish Park between October and November of last year, making five
appearances for the League One club. 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.

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Are We Signing Jamie Mackie?
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die

The Evening Standard has today run a story that West Ham are considering a
£1m bid for QPR's 26 year old, Scottish forward, Jamie Mackie. According to
the report, Mackie scored a creditable 16 goals in the last campaign, but
has fell further down the Rangers pecking order with recent arrival of Andy
Johnson from Fulham. Southampton are also allegedly monitoring the player's
availability.

I am sure that Jamie Mackie is a good professional, and can do a decent job
for the club, but is he the type of high profile player that the fans are
expecting us to sign ahead of this new PL season? Of course, it could just
be a rehash of an old story from last summer, when it was reported that we
enquired about his availability ahead of last season's Championship
campaign. But some will see this as a further indication that the board have
not learnt the lessons of 2010-11 and are attempting to survive in the PL on
the cheap. We shall just have wait and see what transpires on this one.

Anyway, what do you think of the possible signing of Jamie Mackie? Is it the
media engaging in wild speculation, reheating stone cold stories, or does it
have a all too real sense of probability? As the philosopher Vico said 'the
basis of all truth is probability.' I wonder if he was a Hammers supporter.

SJ. Chandos.

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Christian Montano to Leave West Ham!
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die

It has been announced that Christian Montano has rejected the offer of a
further one year contract with the club. The pacy and skillful Columbian
forward signed a one year contract extension last summer and his subsequent
public statements were full of confidence that he would make his debut in
the forthcoming season. Indeed, things looked very promising in the
pre-season, as Montano featured in a number of West Ham's matches, looking
sharp, skillful and effective on the ball.

Yet, that was as far as Montano's season went. He fell out of Sam
Allardyce's plans on the cusp of the new season and was then farmed out in a
perpetual succession of loans deals to lower league clubs. Even when Matt
Taylor was injured or suspended and West Ham were crying out for some extra
width, particularly on the left flank, Montano never got an opportunity to
show what he could do. And that was pretty tough on the youngster and
obviously led to him concluding that his chance was never going to come.

Some will argue that Sam Allardyce, and the coaches, had run the rule over
Montano, in pre-season, and judged that he was not ready for the first team.
Perhaps, but when you are in a situation when options are limited, why not
give youth a chance. Montano does not lack confidence (apparently he has
recently compared himself to Van Persie on his Twitter account) and it is
possible that he would have risen to the occasion and made a positive impact
against some decidedly average Championship outfits. Any teenager with the
nerve to take the ball off the great Di Canio's boot to score a goal has to
have something about him, surely?

Unfortunately, this is what happens when youth is not given its chance.
Frustration and negativity sets in and youngsters start looking around at
other options. Why did we not play him against Aldershot in the League Cup
or Sheffield Wednesday in the FA Cup? At least that would have given him a
chance, a platform to perform. If the youngster had done badly then it would
have reinforced the point that he was not ready and needed to keep working
at his game. Now it looks like we are to lose a promising forward and none
of us are any the wiser if he could have made a positive impact. Of course,
it could be that Allardyce and his coaches were right, but it is galling
that the issue was not tested in some pretty meaningless cup matches last
season.

Montano has said that the decision not to sign again was not about money, in
that case it must be about a lack of first team opportunity. So, we lose
Montano and at the same time we are trialing a 35 year old, who will
potentially take up a place in the squad and block the path of youngsters in
to the first team. The worry is that this not just a one-off, but a new Mode
of operation at the club. We may well survive the loss of Montano, but what
about if it is Hall, Voce, Turgott or Elliott Lee next time.

The famed 'West Ham Way' is not just about attractive, passing football, it
is also about developing and blooding our own young players. Or is that
deluded or something to be sacrificed on the alter of pragmatism and
results? I want to see the likes of Hall get more playing time this coming
season, and the use of the 7 man substitutes bench and cup matches to help
achieve it. Yes, I know youngsters need to prove themselves and there needs
to be a balance between youth and experience, but the truth is that
outstanding prospects like Robert Hall have the ability and are ready, all
they need is the opportunity. What did Napoleon say, 'talent is nothing
without opportunity.' Hall needs to be tested and challenged and that can
only come via first team football.

I have been largely supportive of Sam Allardyce, even during the disastrous
month of March, when far too many draws killed off our automatic promotion
aspirations. I am prepared to accept a tactical 'horses for courses'
approach, to grind out results against the top six teams, as long as we turn
on the style whenever we can. I like his keep it tight and counter-attack
approach away from home, it delivered both results and entertainment last
season. And I think that it will make us hard to beat on our travels this
season. But I draw a line in the sand at the club blocking the pathways to
the first team and letting the fruit of the Academy whither and die on the
vine. And I know that a lot of other Hammers fans feel exactly the same.

Sam Allardyce's job is to establish West Ham back in the PL and he is the
man to do it. He has my support, for whatever that is worth. But youth
progression needs to remain a key factor in his strategy, especially from
the bench and in the cup matches. Is that unreasonable? Personally I do not
think so, but no doubt others will disagree.

Hall, Potts, Moncur and Elliott Lee are some of the names that need to
figure next season. Will they? Hopefully, and especially if we get off to a
good start and at the very least manage to stay clear of the relegation
danger zone. While the two cup competitions offer obvious opportunities to
give them more valuable first team experience.

SJ.Chandos.

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