Daily WHUFC News - 21st July 2012

Health checks for Hammers
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's players have undergone a series of tests to make sure they
are in tip-top condition
19.07.2012

West Ham United's players and staff have undergone a series of tests to make
sure they are in the best possible condition ahead of the 2012/13 Barclays
Premier League season. The Hammers' Chadwell Heath training ground was
visited by a range of healthcare professionals on Thursday, including staff
from the Cardiac Risk in the Young (CRY) heart screening charity, an
optician and a podiatrist. Manager Sam Allardyce, who underwent heart
surgery after being diagnosed with a blocked artery in 2009, was among those
to undergo a electrocardiogram (ECG) to assess the electrical activity of
his heart. "To be honest, I am an expert on this and have had more tests
than most of the lads due to the blockage I had in my artery a few years
ago," said Big Sam. "I think that, as always in life, prevention is much
better than cure and having the lads go through this screening is a good
thing. "While it can't cover everything and never will, it helps us to see
if everybody is as fit as they think they are. It is a fantastic operation
run by experts carrying out ECGs and echocardiograms (ECHO), while we have
the optician and podiatrist working next door. "It gives us a good look at
the lads' condition and if we find anything we can quickly deal with it, but
I'm sure everybody will be clear."

Big Sam, who is well-known for his meticulous approach to every fact of
football management, said heart screening was a vital part of ensuring
players are fit and healthy before they take to the pitch. "The amount of
punishment the players go through in terms of physical activity means they
max their heart-rate on quite a few occasions so it's very important to
check there are no defects there if you are taking it to that extreme on a
regular basis. "This screening is obviously very, very important in finding
any deficiencies in any of the players."

The CRY team was headed by Professor Sanjay Sharma, a Professor of Inherited
Cardiovascular Conditions and Sports Cardiology at St George's Hospital in
London.
Professor Sharma explained the process and reason for screening players and
revealed that his team had visited many of the country's other leading
clubs, including Manchester City and Tottenham Hotspur. "We test several
football clubs and it's a pleasure to be involved at West Ham," he said. "We
are screening the players for conditions that may predispose to sudden death
during sport. "I'm pleased to report that these events happen very rarely,
but having seen the very public cardiac arrest of Fabrice Muamba, there is a
heightened awareness of this problem. "Most of the conditions that cause
problems in young athletes usually affect the electricity and muscle of the
heart. Unfortunately, about about 80 per cent have no warning symptoms of
the condition. "The process has seen the players fill out health
questionnaires asking specifically about cardiac symptoms and about any
family history of cardiac disease, because most of the conditions that cause
death are hereditary. "We then did an ECG to look for electrical faults and
a cardiac ultrasound to look for any structural abnormalities. Together,
these tests will excluse an abnormality in 80 per cent of cases."

Club doctor Richard Weiler said the tests carried out this week were all of
great importance. "There are lots of different forms of screening that we do
to make sure that the players are fit and healthy for the season and that
everything is working properly," said Dr Weiler. "Primarily its around
reducing risk and treating anything that needs treating so that they are in
peak physical condition when the season starts. "There have been a lot of
tests this week. We were visited by an anti-doping expert who warned the
players on what they can and cannot take because the rules are very strict.
"We also did blood screening as well as functional, fitness and
musculo-skeletal screening and got them all to see the dentist, optician and
podiatrist to make sure their tools of the trade are in perfect working
condition. "There are not too many parts of them that escape a thorough
check!"

Striker Carlton Cole was among those to have his heart screened at Chadwell
Heath on Friday. "It is really important that this screening is carried
out," said the No9. "As footballers, the fitness of our bodies is something
we know has to be right to be able to do what we do, but I think everyone,
not just athletes, should have this sort of screening and for it to be
available to all. "When the screening is being done, you are a bit nervous!
You look at the reaction of the person doing the test, so if they nod and
smile then you know you are OK for now! But in all seriousness, it is very
important and I think the case of Fabrice Muamba highlighted how important
it is to have checks as often as you can as you just never know." "The
people who came here today were very good with us and they are a charitable
organisation and they are doing important work, so hopefully we can help
them by raising awareness."

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Tomkins starts for Team GB
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins started for Team GB as they went down 2-0 to Brazil on Friday
night
20.07.2012

James Tomkins started for Team GB as they lost 2-0 to Brazil in their first
warm-up game before the 2012 Olympic Games. Tomkins was selected in central
defence in a team that also featured Ryan Giggs and former Hammer Craig
Bellamy as they came up against some of the best players on the planet. The
class of the visitors told in the opening half as goals from Sandro and
Neymar saw them go in two goals to the good at Middlesbrough's Riverside
Stadium. Tomkins was one of four players to make way at the break as Stuart
Pearce sought to give his squad players a run out. The home side continued
to push but the tournament favourites stood firm. Team GB have twice won the
Gold medal, at the first-ever Olympic football tournament in London in 1908
and again in Stockholm in 1912. However, Team GB have not competed in the
competition since 1960. This summer, Stuart Pearce's side will kick-off
their bid for Gold when they face Mohamed Diame's Senegal in Group A at Old
Trafford on 26 July. Team GB will travel to Wembley to take on United Arab
Emirates on 29 July before completing the group stage with a fixture with
Uruguay at the Millennium Stadium on 1 August. Sixteen teams will compete in
the Olympic football tournament, with the Gold medal match taking place at
Wembley on 11 August.

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Grays 4-1 Development Squad FT
WHUFC.com
All the action as it happened as Ian Hendon's Development Squad lost out to
Grays Athletic at Rush Green
20.07.2012

Grays Athletic v West Ham United
Pre-season match
Rush Green Stadium
Friday 20 July 2012
Kick-off: 7.45pm

Full time
89 mins - Surely this will be the final change for the Hammers as Pope makes
way Ryan Palmer.
88 mins - Larkins, who has hardly touched the ball this half, just manages
to get his hand to the feet of Sweeney to claw the ball away. Good work from
the Hammers No1.
87 mins - Another change as Ryan Kirby leaves the field for Dave East.
85 mins - Alex Cruickshank comes on for Carlos as we enter the final five
minutes. Will the Hammers grab the second they have threatened
82 mins - The Hammers are still trying here but it is not their night.
Wearen is pulled up for his second strong tackle in as many minutes and the
referee asks him to calm it down a bit.
78 mins - Although they are well down on the score front, West Ham have kept
on working hard. Wearen has just missed a great chance to grab the Hammers'
second as he puts a good chance wide from six yards.
75 mins - The Hammers have the ball in the net but are denied a second goal
by the assistant's flag on the far side. Hedon makes another change as
Piquionne is replaced by Kieran Sadlier.
72 mins - Another change for the hosts as Jake Hall makes way for Brian
Moses.
68 mins - You get the feeling this is not going to be Rob Hall's night as he
once again fires in a decent effort that Johnson gets down well to palm
away. Johnson used to be on the Hammers' books before arriving at the Blues
this season.
65 mins - GOAL! The Hammers hit back as Bilal Moshni scrambles in a corner
after Johnson cannot collect the ball cleanly. Can the Hammers come back?
64 mins - Double change for Grays as Marshall and Lalit make way for Ryan
Maxwell and Tyrone Scarlett.
63 mins - Hall comes close with a curling effort from 25 yards that just
flies past the far post. That is pr
61 mins - GOAL! Grays make it 4-0 as Craig Pope pops up to glance in Carlos'
corner. I think that could be it for the Hammers now.
57 mins - Johnson has been superb for Grays tonight and he comes out quickly
to smother the ball at the fee of Moncur, who looked certain to score.
Moments later, Hall comes within a lick of paint of grabbing one back as his
powerful drive from the angle bounces back off Johnson's near post.
56 mins - In better new, James Tomkins has started for Team GB against
Brazil, although the latest score is 2-0 to the visitors.
52 mins - Ruddock makes way for Amos Nasha as Hendon makes his second
change.
51 mins - If West Ham do go down here tonight as it looks like they might
they will not have to wait long with three games tomorrow. The first team
will be playing away at Colchester, the Development Squad will be facing
Thurrock and the U18s will start their pre-season with a trip to Ipswich
Town.
52 mins - Grays make the first change of the second half as lee Flynn makes
way for Joe Sweeney.
48 mins - Piquionne heads the flag-kick over as the Hammers look to get back
into the game.
47 mins - Well the floodlights at the new stadium are working well as the
pitch seems to be a lot darker than the first half. Morrison tries to light
it up with a strong burst forward but is stopped only by a last-ditch
tackle.
46 mins - West Ham get us underway in the second half.

Half-time

43 mins - It's a long way back for the Development Squad now and I imagine
Hendon is looking forward to getting his players back in the dressing room
to prepare them for a second-half fightback.
40 mins - GOAL! But maybe I spoke too soon as Grays make it 3-0. Larkins
comes for a cross from the left but does not make a clean connection and
Carlos is left with the simple task of heading into an empty net, despite
Wearen's best efforts to get to the ball on the line.
40 mins - Good spell this for the Hammers as Moncur's shot forces Johnson
into another save.
39 mins - Anyway, back to the football and West Ham have won another corner
as they look to get back into the game. Ruddock's shot deflects over the bar
but Rob Hall's corner is gathered by Johnson.
38 mins - And apologies to you for the slight break in updates there as we
were suffering slight technical problems.
33 mins - I owe an apology to Fanimo as I'm hearing that Grays' first goal
actually came off Moshni before it went in the net. The Hammers make an
early change as Driver makes way for Leo Chambers
32 mins - Moshni wins another header by the halfway line. The central
defender, currently on trial from Southend, has shown he has a lot of power
in the air.
28 mins - GOAL! Lee Flynn takes it and smashes the ball into the bottom
corner. It was a great free-kick and the Hammers have a big job on their
hands now.
27 mins - Free-kick to Grays just outside the Hammers' area after George
Moncur was pulled up for a handball.
26 mins - Ravel Morrison and Piquionne combine well down the right and the
latter forces a corner off a Grays defender. Hall takes it from the right
and Moshni's header is palmed away by Johnson.
24 mins - Well played Ruddock. Grays were on the attack again but the former
Boreham Wood midfielder took control of the situation and carried the ball
calmly out of the area.
22 mins - Grays come forward once more and Luke Marshall is able to control
the ball in the area. Wearern and Moshni both manage to get enough of a
challenge in to put the midfielder off and his shot goes harmlessly wide.
19 mins - Free-kick to Grays just inside the West Ham half. From it, they
build up an attack down the right but a well-timed sliding challenge from
Hammers captain Wearen stops the attack dead.
17 mins - Seb Lletget fires in a shot from 20 yards but it is an easy one
for Johnson to gather down low.
15 mins - It's a bit stop start here at Rush Green with a few niggly little
fouls creeping in. Joao Carlos has looked like a threat down the left for
Grays but Ruddock does well to ensure the winger does not get his cross in
by seeing the ball out. Good defending.
9 mins - The Hammers nearly hit back straight away as a long ball from the
back finds Piquionne, he beats the 'keeper to the ball but his touch isn't
strong enough and Grays are able to clear off the line
7 mins - GOAL! Grays take the lead as Jake West runs down the right before
crossing at the near post. It's a bit of a scramble and the ball ends up in
the back of the net. It looks like the final touch may have been from a West
Ham player, possibly Matthias Fanimo
4 mins - So close! Hall's free-kick is right in the corner but Lamar Johnson
in the Grays' goal is equal to it and pushes it round the post. From the
resulting corner Eoin Wearen heads just wide.
3 mins - Free-kick to West Ham right on the edge of the Grays' area after
Piquionne is felled. It looks like it will be Hall to take it.
2 mins - It's a smashing night here in Essex and the sun has finally
appeared. Grays have enjoyed the better of the opening exchanges but the
ball is behind for a goal-kick to West Ham.
1 min - Grays get us underway and will be attacking Jake Larkins' goal away
to my left in the first half.

7.45pm - Joint-Chairman David Sullivan have just cut the ribbon to open the
new ground and we're about to get going.

7.40pm - Good evening and welcome to Rush Green for the opening of the new
stadium that will be home to tonight's two teams this season. West Ham
United Development Squad manager Ian Hendon has picked a young side with
just three players included boasting competitive first-team experience -
Ravel Morrison, Rob Hall and Freddie Piquionne.

The two teams line up as follows:
West Ham United: Larkins, Driver, Fanimo, Moncur, Moshni, Wearen, Ruddock,
Lletget, Piquionne, Morrison, Hall
Subs: Guzman, Nasha, Turgott, Vose, Sadlier, Shaw, Hunt, Powell, Chambers

Grays Athletic: Johnson, Pope, Baker, Kirby, Flynn, Marshall, Lalite,
Marshall, Lalite, Bunce, Hall, Carlos, West
Subs: Kamarusi, Stanley, Palmer, Maxwell, Bunn, Sweeney, East, Moses,
Scarlett, Cruickshank

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U18s to start pre-season schedule
WHUFc.com
West Ham United's youth team head to Ipswich Town for their first match of
2012/13 on Saturday
20.07.2012

West Ham United Under-18s begin their 2012/13 pre-season schedule with a
trip to Ipswich Town on Saturday. The Hammers, who have taken on no fewer
than 13 new first-year scholars, enjoyed a decent 2011/12 campaign that saw
them reach the FA Youth Cup fifth round and finish fifth in FA Premier
Academy League Group A. Among the intake are summer arrivals Nathan Mavila
and Gines Guzman Rosique, who have joined the club from Wycombe Wanderers
and Murcia respectively. The pair will join the likes of Amos Nasha and
Kieran Bywater, who have both featured for the first team in recent weeks,
in the squad. Academy Director Tony Carr said he was looking forward to the
start of a new campaign, beginning with this weekend's journey up the A12.
"The first two weeks of pre-season have been about conditioning and building
up fitness and we go to into our first game away to Ipswich on Saturday. "We
have a squad of about 18 players and hopefully all of them will get on to
the pitch and get some minutes under their belts. "It's about preparing and
getting some match practice at this stage and we have matches at Norwich
next Wednesday and Everton the following Saturday. We also go to Manchester
City in a few weeks' time to break things up a bit, because we always play
the south east-based clubs on a regular basis every season so we thought
we'd go further north to give them a different experience. "We are also
taking a squad to a tournament in Belgium in early August, which will be
another good experience for them."

Carr revealed that the club had taken on a larger than normal number of
first-year scholars for a variety of reasons, most notably the high level of
talent within the year-group and the fact that the Development Squad will
compete in the new Professional Development League in 2012/13. "It is quite
a large number but we felt it was a good year group and we need a squad.
With the Development Squad playing in their own league, we didn't want to be
too stretched for numbers and didn't want to play too young a team too early
in what is quite a physically demanding Under-18 league. "We do feel that
there is some good talent there as two or three of them showed in the
first-team game at Southend last weekend. Although it was only a little
taster, they showed they weren't overawed by that and showed good
potential."

The Academy Director is also excited about the two new arrivals. "Nathan has
come in from Wycombe. We've been looking at him for quite a while and I was
pleased we could come to an agreement with Wycombe to bring him to West Ham.
"We've also brought a boy in from Spain who is a young goalkeeper who our
goalkeeper coach Jerome John has been following for a number of months and
felt was definitely worth taking. "Hopefully both of them can continue to
improve and mature for the future."

Ultimately, while league and cup success would be welcome, Carr insists that
producing players for the first team is the Academy's overriding aim and
role.
Having seen four graduates make their debuts last season, he is hoping to
see more make the step up to Sam Allardyce's squad this term.
"It's our goal to produce players who can thrive at that level and it is a
massive challenge for them to step up to the plate and show that they are
capable of playing in the first team in the Premier League."

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Hull City sign former West Ham defender Abdoulaye Faye
BBC.co.uk

Hull City have signed veteran Senegalese defender Abdoulaye Faye on a
one-year deal. The 34-year-old played 29 times in the Championship for West
Ham last term but was released by the Hammers at the end of the season. He
has Premier League experience with Bolton, Newcastle and Stoke. Tigers boss
Steve Bruce said: "He brings experience and if you look at our squad we
don't have a lot of that at the moment."

Faye added: "I am very happy to be here and to have signed for Hull City. It
is a fresh challenge for me and one that I am greatly looking forward to. "I
spent time watching Hull last season and they played very well. We have
plenty of talented young players in the squad and I think I can complement
them with my experience.
"Experience can count for a lot in football. I have played for several years
in the Premiership, with last year being my first in the Championship. "I
think that in some ways the Championship is even tougher as it is played at
such a frantic pace, and is very physical. "Steve Bruce is a great manager
with a fantastic record and, when he spoke to me about his ambitions for the
club, it was easy for me to make up my mind."

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Grays Ath 4 West Ham Utd XI 1
KUMb.com
Filed: Friday, 20th July 2012
By: Staff Writer

Triallist Bilal Mohsni scored a goal at each of the pitch tonight as Ian
Hendon's young West Ham side suffered a 4-1 defeat at the hands of Ryman
League side Grays Athletic. The French defender, who is currently contracted
to Southend United played a full 90 minutes as the Hammers were well beaten
- despite controlling the majority of the game. The home side took the lead
after just seven minutes when the unfortunate Mohsni got the final touch in
a goalmouth scramble. It was a lead that they doubled on 28 minutes when Lee
Flynn's 20-yard free kick somehow found its way through a five-man wall.
Despite having enjoyed the lions' share of possession in the first half,
West Ham - for whom an extremely disappointing Freddie Piquionne started -
found themselves 3-0 behind shortly before the break when Jake Larkins made
a hash of a cross allowing Athletic's Carlos to bundle the ball into an
empty net. And it was 4-0 to the home side, playing their first game at
their new temporary home which they will share with West Ham's reserve team
next season, on the hour mark when Craig Pope scored with a close-range
header.
Mohsni made amends for his earlier error when he grabbed a consolation goal
for Ian Hendon's team with 25 minutes to go when he was first to react to a
loose ball in the six-uard box following a corner, stabbing the ball over
the line. And although West Ham had another effort ruled out for offside
adding to an earlier reffort from Rob Hall that shook the woodwork, they
were unable to reduce the deficit further. Also in action for a full 90
minutes was Ravel Morrison, who showed glimpses of his undoubted talent -
but also his temperamental side when he was warned by the referee having
raised his hands to an opponent.

* You may see a selection of pictures from tonight's game on the KUMB forum.

West Ham United: Larkins, Driver, Fanimo, Moncur, Moshni, Wearen, Ruddock,
Lletget, Piquionne, Morrison, Hall.

Subs: Guzman, Nasha, Turgott, Vose, Sadlier, Shaw, Hunt, Powell, Chambers.

Grays Athletic: Johnson, Pope, Baker, Kirby, Flynn, Marshall, Lalite,
Marshall, Lalite, Bunce, Hall, Carlos, West.

Subs: Kamarusi, Stanley, Palmer, Maxwell, Bunn, Sweeney, East, Moses,
Scarlett, Cruickshank.

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We dig Doug
The Sun
Published: 20th July 2012

FULHAM and West Ham have joined Newcastle in the £3.5m fight for FC Twente's
Douglas. All three clubs have tabled bids for the 24-year-old Brazilian
defender.

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Southend United's Bilel Mohsni scores at both ends for West Ham United in
trial game against Grays Athletic
Echo News
11:18pm Friday 20th July 2012 in Sport By Chris Phillips

BILEL Mohsni scored at both ends during an eventful trial game for West Ham
United at Grays Athletic tonight. Mohsni, who was granted permission from
Southend United to play for the Hammers, inadvertently put the home-side
ahead with an own goal inside the opening five minutes. And, despite netting
for his own team in the closing stages, the Frenchman was a frustrated
figure at the final whistle following a 4-1 defeat. "I'm disappointed
because I scored the own goal and that set Grays on their way to win the
game," said Mohsni, 24. "I was caught between their two strikers and had to
make a tackle but, in doing so, the ball hit my shin and went in to the
goal. "That frustrated me and by the time I scored at the other end it was
too late."

Following Mohsni's own goal, Lee Flynn, Joao Carlos and Craig Pope were all
on target for Grays. And the defender is now not sure if he will figure
again for West Ham at Colchester United tomorrow afternoon. "I don't know if
I will play there or not," said Mohsni, who played the whole match against
Grays at centre-back.
"I will definitely travel to the game and the manager has said I might be
involved. "However, he wants to give his first team players a good run out
and, if I do play, it might only be for 15 minutes." Mohsni's trial with
West Ham will end after the clash at the Community Stadium but he has yet to
discover if he will be kept on.

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