Daily WHUFC News - 25th July 2012

Hammers in Germany - Tuesday
WHUFC.com
West Ham United were working hard as they prepare for Wednesday's game with
Rot Weiss Erfurt
24.07.2012

West Ham United continued their pre-season schedule with yet another
hard-working session in Dresden on Tuesday. With the hot sun beaming down,
the players cycled from their hotel to the nearby training ground after
breakfast to take part in a strenuous work-out before completing their
morning's work with a competitive and lively practice game. After lunch and
a rest, it will be more of the same this evening when manager Sam Allardyce
and assistant manager Neil McDonald put the players through a second session
ahead of the tour's opening match with Rot Weiss Erfurt on Wednesday. While
the strikers took the limelight on Monday, it was the turn of the defenders,
including Winston Reid and George McCartney, to take the praise of the
manager during the intense session. George Moncur, who spoke to West Ham TV
earlier on Tuesday, and the other younger members of the squad look likely
to get a run-out on Wednesday so were working hard to catch the eye of the
coaching staff. The training session also attracted some local fans and a
German TV crew, who got the chance to speak to Ricardo Vaz Te about the
game.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Macca's media day
WHUFC.com
Neil McDonald has sat down with a German TV company to talk about West Ham's
United's pre-season tour
24.07.2012

West Ham United's arrival in Dresden has caused quite a stir amongst the
locals as they bid to find out more about their high-profile visitors. After
a police escort from Dresden International Airport to the team hotel in the
German city, assistant manager Neil McDonald sat down with local television
company MDR TV to talk about the Hammers' hopes for their six-day trip. West
Ham will train hard in Germany before facing Rot Weiss Erfurt on Wednesday
evening, Dynamo Dresden in front of a sellout 33,000 crowd on Friday and
Energie Cottbus on Sunday afterrnoon.

Neil, why did you decide to come to Dresden?

NM - "We've tried different countries like Austria and Switzerland. We were
invited to come and play three games in Germany. I came across last month
and the
hotel and facilities are first class so it's nice to be here and we look
forward to the three games."

What do you know about Dresden?

NM - "The club has a long tradition and are an eastern German team in years
gone by and they have played Liverpool and Manchester City in recent times.
They've got a lot of history and are on the up and they have a fantastic
stadium and we're looking forward to playing in front of a big crowd."

Tell us something about West Ham United?

NM - "We've got a tradition of producing our homegrown exciting players
through the youth system and we're hoping that it may continue. We had three
players play last year and we're hoping to have a few more in the ranks this
season and it's great for the supporters to see local players playing in
their team."

Are you excited to be playing in front of such a big crowd in pre-season?

NM - "As a coach, it is exciting to prepare a game in front of 33,000 and
I'm sure a few of the young boys haven't played in front of that amount of
fans before.
We've had a good pre-season and the young lads are progressing well. We've
got a few weeks left and we're happy with how things have gone so far."

What are the main differences between English and German football?

NM - "German football comes across as a very technical game. The English
game is the same but played at a higher tempo so we'll see who comes out on
top."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Maynard making waves
WHUFC.com
Nicky Maynard is scoring goals and relishing his new role in the West Ham
United lineup
24.07.2012

Nicky Maynard has vowed to keep working hard after another impressive
performance saw him play a pivotal role in the West Ham United's 2-1 win at
Colchester United on Saturday. The forward opened the scoring with a superb
volley - his second pre-season goal after netting a header at Southend
United - before winning a penalty that Mark Noble calmly dispatched for the
eventual winner. Usually a centre forward, Maynard was deployed on the right
side of a front three, and despite it not being his natural position he
insists he's happy to play wherever he is needed. "I've been playing wider
than I usually do," he confirmed to West Ham TV. "The gaffer has said it's
more than likely we will be playing this formation so it's good for me to
get used to the role. "That doesn't mean I won't get chance to play through
the middle, but it's another position for me to learn."

And the 25-year-old, who has jetted off with his team-mates for a week-long
tour to eastern Germany, believes his hard work and willingness is already
reapingrewards as he continues to develop a better understanding of the
players around him. "It's good for me to get used to playing in that area,
it will help me get on the same wavelength as the midfield. We showed it on
Saturday. Me and Mark (Noble) linked well on a few occasions, particularly
for the penalty."

The former Bristol City forward also took a moment to reflect on his goal,
admitting he had learnt from previous situations in which he failed to find
the target.
"We played Cardiff away [in March] and I had a similar chance but I blazed
it over, so I just concentrated on keeping it low and luckily it's bounced
up and hit the back of the net. "It's nice to get another goal and hopefully
I'll be able to get a few more before the season starts."

The club completed the signing of Mali international forward Modibo Maiga
last week, but Maynard refused to believe new signings will bring anything
but positives to the team. "If we play the formation we did today throughout
the season and we've only got three strikers then it's not going to get the
best out of us. "More competition is healthy for the squad, it means it's up
to you to stake a claim and take the chance when you get it. It's great for
the team."

Maynard also paid tribute to the club's decision to begin their pre-season
schedule a week earlier than usual, giving players the opportunity to
steadily build up their fitness ahead of the start of the Barclays Premier
League season on 18 August. "It's a longer pre-season than many teams but we
haven't come in and been expected to be ready. "We've gradually been able to
build out fitness and the lads are really enjoying it and looking forward to
the opener against Aston Villa."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
White is claret and blue
WHUFC.com
Team GB striker and Hammers fan Ellen White is looking forward to London
2012
24.07.2012

She might regularly pull on the red and white of Arsenal, but Team GB
women's striker Ellen White is claret and blue through and through. The
23-year-old is one of six Arsenal Ladies players included in Hope Powell's
squad for the London 2012 Olympic Games - as well as being a lifelong West
Ham United supporter. Aylesbury-born White came through the ranks at Arsenal
before re-joining the club following spells at Chelsea and Leeds Carnegie.
Since her return, she has established herself as the Gunners' first-choice
No9, scoring seven goals in 16 appearances so far during the current FA
Women's Super League season. At international level, White represented
England at age-group level and has now earned 29 senior caps, scoring nine
goals. Team GB drew 0-0 with Sweden in their final warm-up match last Friday
evening and will start their Olympic campaign by taking on New Zealand in
Cardiff on Wednesday. The Ladies will return to the Millennium Stadium to
tackle Cameroon on Saturday 28 July before facing Brazil at Wembley on
Tuesday 31 July.

White spoke to whufc.com ahead to discuss her hopes ahead of London 2012.

Ellen, you were born in Buckinghamshire and have played for Chelsea and
Arsenal, so how did it come to pass that you are a West Ham United fan?

EW - "I know it doesn't make a lot of sense, but my Dad has supported West
Ham since he was young, so me and my brother have taken it on. We try to get
to as many games as possible during the season, which is not as hard as you
might think with the Women's Super League matches being played on Sundays."

Who were your Hammers heroes growing up?

EW - "I used to love Paolo Di Canio, he was awesome. Julian Dicks was also a
bit of a hero of mine with the way he got stuck in, while players like Frank
Lampard were also in my era when I was growing up. At the moment, Ricardo
Vaz Te played really well last season and I like watching Carlton Cole. I'm
also really glad that
James Tomkins is in the men's squad for London 2012."

With 12 nations taking part and England reaching the FIFA Women's World Cup
quarter-finals in 2011, you must have realistic hopes of winning a medal at
London 2012?

EW - "I think we have got a great chance. Our group is pretty tough but we
have got a good team. Our coach keeps saying we need to get out of our group
and try to finish top if we can to give us an easier quarter-final. To be
honest, there is no point in going to the Olympics and not wanting to win
it. It's something completely different and a Team GB will probably never
happen again so all the girls are really excited. We don't want to look too
far forward but we have got to aim for the medals."

As you say, a Team GB is something unique. How have things gone since the
squad met up?

EW - "I think we have got a fantastic squad. We got together on Sunday and
have been gelling really well. Five of the girls are my team-mates at
Arsenal, so I know them really well. It's been a once-in-a-lifetime
experience because I'm going to be playing alongside girls who normally play
for Scotland and Northern Ireland. We have got a great team spirit and
everyone is getting on really well, which can only be a good thing."

I know it's a cliche, but the Olympics and the new Super League can only
help the women's game to grow, can't it?

EW - "Definitely. Having clubs like Arsenal and West Ham supporting their
Ladies' teams can only help them by providing them with backing and
increasing their profiles. The Super League is on a summer break at the
moment and we're unbeaten and eight points clear at the top, so things have
been going well. The World Cup and the Olympics are massive sporting events
and they get great coverage these days, to the women's game is going to
continue to grow."

Finally, when West Ham play Arsenal in the Barclays Premier League this
season, who will you be cheering for?

EW - "I'm a 100 per cent a West Ham fan! I know I play for Arsenal but my
loyalties will always lie with West Ham so I want them to win every time
they play."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Ravel returns
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 24th July 2012
By: Staff Writer

Ravel Morrison has returned from West Ham United's pre-season tour of
Germany - just 48 hours after the squad left the UK. The 19-year-old
midfielder, who joined West Ham from Manchester United during the last
transfer window confirmed tonight that he had flown home without kicking a
ball in anger. Morrison, who featured in Friday night's 4-1 friendly defeat
at Grays Athletic and was an unused sub at Colchester the following day
insisted however that there was nothing sinister about his early return.
After rumours began to circulate earlier this evennig speculating about the
reasons for his return to England, Morrison insisted that he had left West
Ham's base due to ill health. Speaking via Twitter, he said: "I have not
been sent home, I'm just really Ill. Thanks for everyone that's said get
well soon."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Not Even a Good Twitter Rumour to Report
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die

* Ravel Morrison has flown home from the pre season tour of East Germany.
Apparently with Sam's permission. Hmmm.
* Former West Ham defender Kenny Brown has been appointed assistant manager
at Barnet. His teammate from the early 1990s, Mark Robson, is manager.
* Barnet's West Ham connection has been further strengthened by the signing
of former Hammers youth team member Anthony Edgar from Yeovil.
* Demba Ba is said to be the target of a bid by Russian side Rubin Kazan.
No, me neither.
* WBA's Swedish defender Jonas Olsson has said he would relish the chance to
play in London. Go figure.
* Joey Barton is on Sam Allardyce's shopping list.
* Not really. Just wanted to get you going.
* And that's what I am reduced to tonight. Nothing else happening.
* Still, we can look forward to tomorrow night's friendly at Rot Weiss
Essen. Jawohl, mein Lieber.
* Er, goodnight.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Callin' Collins
The Sun
Published: Today at 00:02

WEST HAM want James Collins back — for £2million. The defender, 28, joined
the Hammers from Cardiff in 2005 before signing for Aston Villa.
Villa boss Paul Lambert is set to let Collins go if he can find a
replacement.

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

http://vyperz.blogspot.com