Matt and Coley meet Hammers fans
WHUFC.com
Matt Taylor and Carlton Cole were welcome visitors to the Stadium Superstore
on Tuesday
18.12.2012
Matt Taylor and Carlton Cole brought plenty of festive cheer when they met
supporters at the Stadium Superstore on Tuesday. Both West Ham United
players got straight into the Christmas spirit by wearing seasonal hats as
they signed autographs and posed for photographs. Supporters of all ages
queued to get shirts, footballs and other merchandise signed, including
gifts they are planning to hand out to family and friends on Christmas Day.
Midfielder Taylor said: "It was nice to meet our fans. Everyone said they
were looking forward to Christmas and also wished both us and the rest of
the team luck for our forthcoming matches, which was nice. We hope to carry
on from last weekend and get some good results over Christmas."
Meeting the Hammers supporters was also enjoyed by popular striker Cole. "It
was really good, as everyone was happy with what is happening on the pitch
and we hope to do more," he said. "It is good to meet our fans and give them
our time, sign autographs and everything, so it was really good."
Supporters still have time to purchase the perfect Christmas gift for
Hammers fans, with a wide range of official merchandise available, including
the 2012/13 Macron replica kit and trainingwear. You can order now here at
the Online Store, but you will have to hurry as the final delivery dates for
Christmas are fast approaching! To guarantee delivery to UK mainland
addresses for Christmas, orders must be placed on or before Thursday 20
December.
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'It was great to be back out there'
WHUFC.com
West Ham United midfielder Jack Collison was happy to return to action after
a spell on the sidelines
18.12.2012
Jack Collison was in positive mood after making his first West Ham United
appearance since last season's npower Championship Play-Off final. The
midfielder returned from a long-standing knee problem by starting the
Development Squad's 3-1 Barclays U21 Premier League Group 1 defeat at
Norwich City on Monday. Collison came through 45 minutes as planned before
being replaced at half-time. Speaking exclusively to whufc.com after the
game, the Wales international admitted he still has some way to go before he
can make a first-team return, but admitted he loved every minute of his
return. "It was great to be back out there again," said the No10, whose two
Play-Off semi-final goals at Cardiff City in May paved the way for the
Hammers' promotion. "I am obviously a little bit rusty but I have ticked a
box by completing 45 minutes and hopefully it will be onwards and upwards
from there. "I loved it. It was great to be playing football again, even
though it was not the best conditions out there. I thought the boys did well
and were unlucky to not to get a point out of it."
While a Development Squad appearance is an undoubted step in the right
direction, Collison will not pinpoint a date on a first-team return,
insteadd leaving it in the hands of Sam Allardyce and his backroom staff. "I
will leave that for the manager to decide. I have obviously been out for
quite a while so for me it is all about building up my fitness and getting
that sharpness back. "I am not sure whether the reserves will have any more
games or have arranged any friendlies [before the Elite Group Stage starts
in January] but I will be training more now so hopefully I can return as
quickly as possible."
However, with Mohamed Diame out with a hamstring injury and both Ricardo Vaz
Te and Yossi Benayoun also on the sidelines, Collison knows his first-team
chance could come sooner rather than later. "It is nice to be back and
unfortunately we have more than a few injuries at the moment so hopefully I
can help bolster the squad a little bit. Like I said, it will be whenever
the gaffer needs me and when he feels like the time is right, I will be
ready to step in."
While he would clearly have rather been on the pitch than in the stands,
Collison declared his admiration for way the Hammers have settled into life
back in the Barclays Premier League. "The boys have been brilliant and it
has been great to see them doing so well. It also helps me because, when I
am fit and ready to go back into the first team, it will be good to go into
a side that is enjoying playing football in the top flight."
Collison's absence has opened up a space in the first-team squad for a
number of his fellow Academy graduates in recent months - most notably
midfielders George Moncur and Sebastian Lletget. The young professionals
have been in and around Big Sam's matchday 18 for the last few matches and
the 24-year-old has been keeping tabs on their progress. "It is nice to see
so many youngsters coming through and developing, Sebby and Moncs have both
been on the bench for the last few games which is great to see. Hopefully it
is not too long before one of them gets their chance in the first team
because it was great to play with them and even better to see them doing so
well."
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Jack Collison delighted with return after seven months out
BBC.co.uk
Wales midfielder Jack Collison said he was delighted after playing for the
first time following seven months out with a knee injury. Collison played 45
minutes for a West Ham development squad in an under-21 match against
Norwich on Monday. The 24-year-old hadn't played since the Hammers'
Championship play-off final victory over Blackpool in May. "It was great to
be back out there again," Collison told West Ham's official website . West
Ham lost 3-1, but Collison was happy to be back. "I am obviously a little
bit rusty, but I have ticked a box by completing 45 minutes and hopefully it
will be onwards and upwards from there," he said. "It was great to be
playing football again, even though it was not the best conditions out
there."
Collison's return is a welcome boost to injury-hit West Ham, who are without
the likes of Mohamed Diame, Ricardo Vaz Te and Yossi Benayoun. The player
has a long-standing knee problem and suffers with fluid on the joint, which
manager Sam Allardyce has said has to be managed carefully. Collison would
not pinpoint a date for his first-team return, focusing instead on
continuing his rehabilitation. "I will leave that for the manager to
decide," Collison said. Wales boss Chris Coleman, however, welcomed the
player's return. "I'm delighted for Jack. He's had such a traumatic time
with the injury. "He's still a good age Jack, it's all in front of him he's
just got to try and get himself fit. "He deserves to be back."
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Hammers land Irish starlet
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 18th December 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have signed Irish teenager Sean Maguire, who impressed
during a recent trial. The 18-year-old former Waterford United striker, who
spent a fortnight at the club last month has put pen to paper on a
two-and-a-half year contract with the Hammers. Despite having been courted
by a string of clubs the 5'9", Luton-born striker opted to move to east
London where he will join the newly-promoted Nick Haycock's development
squad. A talented young forward, Maguire - whose family hail from Cois Na
hAbhann - played junior football for Deen Celtic and Ormonde Villa before
being snapped up by League of Ireland First Division side Waterford last
year. Having been almost instantly promoted to the Blues first team, he went
on to score 13 goals in the 2011/12 campaign helping his club to second
place in the First Division table. He has also represented the Republic of
Ireland under-18 Schools team. Speaking about the talented youngster, one
Irish KUMB member said: "I seen him a few times for Waterford last year and
he looks a decent prospect". Another Blues fan said: "I've been watching
Seani for the last two years at Waterford United, he's an amazing talent and
it was only a matter of time. It was inevitable that we'd lose him to a
bigger club."
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Collison aiming for speedy return
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 18th December 2012
By: Staff Writer
Jack Collison had admitted that he is desperate to return to first team
football having taken the first step to recovery at Norwich last night. The
midfielder has not played competitive football since the play-off Final win
against Blackpool at Wembley on May 19th, but played a full 45 minutes in
the development squad's 3-1 defeat to the Canaries. And now the 24-year-old
has his sights firmly set on a speedy return to first team action. "I am
obviously a little bit rusty but I have ticked a box by completing 45
minutes and hopefully it will be onwards and upwards from there," he told
whufc.com. "I have obviously been out for quite a while so for me it is all
about building up my fitness and getting that sharpness back. I will be
training more now so hopefully I can return as quickly as possible.
"Unfortunately we have more than a few injuries at the moment so hopefully I
can help bolster the squad a little bit. It will be whenever the gaffer
needs me and when he feels like the time is right, I will be ready to step
in."
The Welsh international, who made his West Ham debut at Arsenal on New Years
Day 2008 has already had his short career punctuated by injuries - mostly as
the result of a persistent knee problem from which he has been told he will
never fully recover. In the 2010/11 season, Collison made just four
appearances - all in May - having undergone surgery to repair his knee that
kept him sidelined for 15 months. His most productive season came in the
Championship last term when he made 37 appearances.
Jack Collison: West Ham United FC Career Stats
2007/08: Pld 2
2008/09: Pld 25; Gls 2; Bkd 2
2009/10: Pld 24; Gls 2; Bkd 4
2010/11: Pld 4
2011/12: Pld 37; Gls 6; Bkd 1; S/o 1
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Tube strike leaves Arsenal's Boxing Day fixture under threat for second year
in succession
Last Updated: December 18, 2012 5:10pm
SSN
Arsenal expect to make a decision soon on whether to postpone their Boxing
Day derby against West Ham. The London Underground is likely to be closed if
planned industrial action by drivers goes ahead, and there are limited
mainline train services in and out of the capital. Arsenal warned earlier
this month they would consider rearranging the derby in the event of a
strike. And a statement on the club website read: "We are currently in
discussions with the Premier League, West Ham United, police and relevant
authorities over the possible postponement of the Boxing Day fixture. "The
match is in doubt due to the difficulties of getting 60,000 supporters, plus
matchday staff and employees to the stadium safely in the advent of
disruption to public transport on a public holiday. "The club will make a
further announcement as soon as a final decision is made."
Arsenal put back for 24 hours last year's Boxing Day fixture with Wolves in
similar circumstances, but Newcastle are due to visit on 29 December so it
would almost certainly be January before the West Ham game could be played.
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Long-term injury absentee Jack Collison played 45 minutes for West Ham's
reserves
Last Updated: December 18, 2012 10:43am
SSN
Jack Collison took the first tentative steps on his comeback from a
long-term knee injury with a run-out in the West Ham development squad. The
Wales international, who has not featured since the Championship play-off
final, played 45 minutes of the U21 Premier League defeat at Norwich on
Monday. "It was great to be back out there again," the 24-year-old told the
club's official website. "I am obviously a little bit rusty, but I have
ticked a box by completing 45 minutes and hopefully it will be onwards and
upwards from there. "I loved it. It was great to be playing football again,
even though it was not the best conditions out there. I thought the boys did
well and were unlucky to not to get a point out of it."
The midfielder is still reluctant to put an exact date on his return to
first-team action, saying: "I will leave that for the manager to decide. "I
have obviously been out for quite a while so for me it is all about building
up my fitness and getting that sharpness back. "I am not sure whether the
reserves will have any more games or have arranged any friendlies (before
the Elite Group Stage starts in January) but I will be training more now so
hopefully I can return as quickly as possible."
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Jack Collison steps up recovery
Published: 11 hrs ago
The Sun
WEST HAM'S Jack Collison has moved a step closer to a return to first-team
action after a long lay-off with a knee problem. The 24-year-old Welsh
midfield ace, who last featured for the Hammers in the Championship play-off
final in May, came through 45 minutes of a reserve team fixture against
Norwich yesterday. Collison said: "It was great to be back out there again.
"I am obviously a little bit rusty, but I have ticked a box by completing 45
minutes and hopefully it will be onwards and upwards from there. "I loved
it. It was great to be playing football again, even though it was not the
best conditions out there. I thought the boys did well and were unlucky to
not to get a point out of it." His return is a boost to the injury-hit
London club who are without Mohamed Diame, Ricardo Vaz Te and Yossi
Benayoun. On giving a date for a first-team return he said: "I will leave
that for the manager to decide. "I have obviously been out for quite a while
so for me it is all about building up my fitness and getting that sharpness
back. "I am not sure whether the reserves will have any more games or have
arranged any friendlies but I will be training more now so hopefully I can
return as quickly as possible."
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Alonso to train with EPL club West Ham United
Posted by: Matt Gaschk
12/18/2012
www.soundersfc.com
The midfielder will travel across the pond to train with the English Premier
League side for a weeks time. During the MLS offseason, it's not uncommon
for players to train at top clubs around the world. Before the 2011 season,
Osvaldo Alonso and Steve Zakuani had separate, week-long stints training
with Everton in England. This year, Alonso is back across the pond with
another one-week training stint with West Ham United in England. Managed by
Sam Allardyce, West Ham features the likes of forwards Andy Carroll and
Carlton Cole and midfielders Kevin Nolan and Mark Noble.
Alonso has 151 career appearances for the Sounders in all competitions,
netting 14 goals and 15 assists. Last season, he started in all 30 MLS
matches that he played in, leading the Sounders with 2,688 minutes. In
addition to earning MLS Best XI honors, he is a two-time MLS All-Star and
was the 2012 US Open Cup Player of the Tournament after leading the Sounders
with four goals in their fourth consecutive run to the US Open Cup Final. It
was the fifth straight appearance in the Open Cup Final for Alonso, who
earned a trip to the final in 2008 while playing with the Charleston Battery
of the USL.
The three-time Sounders FC MVP, Alonso, 27, led the league in tackles and
recoveries in each of the last two seasons. In 2012, he had 166 tackles.
According to Opta, who compiles stats for Major League Soccer, no other
player in the league had more than 110 and only three others had more than
100. His 667 recoveries since the start of the 2011 season puts him 197
clear of the next highest field player.
Born in Cuba, Alonso played with the Cuban National Team until defecting to
the US in 2007 during the CONCACAF Gold Cup tournament. This year, he earned
his US citizenship, but his caps with the Cuban National Team have prevented
him from earning a spot on the US National Team.
He is scheduled for a one-week training stint with the London-based club
before returning to Seattle.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Wednesday, December 19
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