Daily WHUFC News - 20th July 2013

Progress the aim for Pelly
WHUFC.com
Youngster Pelly Ruddock wants to make the most of the Club's pre-season tour
in Germany
19.07.2013

West Ham United's tour of Germany represents a golden chance for youngster
Pelly Ruddock. The midfielder has been named as part of the squad to take on
FSV Mainz, Hamburger SV and Eintracht Braunschweig in pre-season matches as
the Hammers prepare for the new Barclays Premier League campaign. Ruddock is
yet to make his senior bow in claret and blue, but will look to make the
most of an eleven-day period spent around the first team squad and manager
Sam Allardyce. He was a regular for the U21s side last season and believes
that base of experience will help him in his quest to keep on progressing.
"It's going to be good in Germany," he beamed. "Hopefully I'll play a few
games, and get minutes under my belt to show the manager what I can do.
"I'm looking forward to getting to know the players a bit more. "It helps to
play with experienced players around you. I'm developing well and being
involved around the first team can only help. "We're playing Mainz on
Saturday and I'm hoping to be involved. That's the manager's decision, but
I'll do my best in training and see what happens from there."

Ruddock has already featured twice in pre-season this summer, skippering the
team at his former side Boreham Wood, before making a substitute appearance
at Colchester United. He was delighted to feature at his old stamping ground
in the 3-0 victory and says the first few weeks of training have gone to
plan.
He continued: "Pre-season has been good, I was involved in the first team
game at Boreham Wood, training has been alright and I'm getting the fitness
back.
"I think I have pushed on a lot since I joined the Club, and I'm just hoping
that continues. I'm just going to keep on working hard, keep my fitness and
strength up and go from there. "It was good to play at Boreham Wood as they
brought me up for two years. I'm happy that they're doing well and it was
nice to captain the side there."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Jack enjoying pre-season work
WHUFC.com
Jack Collison is relishing the chance to play a full part in West Ham
United's pre-season schedule
19.07.2013

A year ago, Jack Collison cut a frustrated figure. Three months after
playing an influential role as West Ham United regained their place in the
Barclays Premier League, a long-term knee problem forced the No10 to miss
both pre-season and the opening half of the 2012/13 campaign. Fast forward
12 months and the midfielder is a smiling, happy father of a young daughter
and is clearly enjoying the opportunity to play football regularly again.
Collison has featured in all four of the Hammers' pre-season fixtures so
far, starting three and scoring in a win at AFC Bournemouth last weekend.
Now, he has his mind set on the Club's three pre-season matches in Germany
and the start of the 2013/14 campaign in August. "Pre-season has been great
for the boys so far," he confirmed. "It's been nice to get on a little run.
It's four wins out of four and now we're in Germany where we should face
some tougher tests and give us a picture of where we're at. "It's great for
me to be out there playing matches, even pre-season matches, because I love
being out there playing football. I think it's the same for everyone. There
is a really good atmosphere in the camp already and you can see it building
and everyone is enjoying their work and already gearing towards Cardiff.
It's great."

After scoring two vital goals in the Championship Play-Off semi-final first
leg win over Cardiff in May 2012, Collison showed his eye for goal again by
netting in typically composed style at Bournemouth. "It's nice to get a goal
or two in pre-season and I should have had another one at Colchester on
Tuesday night. It's something I am looking to build on. I managed to score a
few in the Championship and didn't get as many as I'd have liked last
season, so it's something I want to improve on. "I need to get my head down,
work hard and try and put myself into the manager's thoughts for Cardiff.
It's going to be a massive day. It was great to get the goals against them
in the Play-Offs and progressing past them to go up, but what is still in
the memory is the first game under the Gaffer in the Championship when they
beat us 1-0. "We know it's going to be a tough test but come matchday we'll
be raring to go and get one over on them."

Collison and his team-mates touched down in Frankfurt on Wednesday to
prepare for a three-match tour of Germany that will see them take on
Bundesliga sides FSV Mainz, Hamburger SV and Eintracht Braunschweig over a
ten-day period. The Wales international is looking forward to the challenge
of facing continental opposition from a country whose football has earned
rave reviews in recent months. "Pre-season is a lot of hard work but it
gives you your base for the rest of the season. Looking at our fitness stats
last year, we were one of the best in the Premier League which obviously
gives us an edge going into games knowing we are fit and strong. Towards the
end of games, when other teams tire, we're looking good and we want to do
that again this year and build on what was a great campaign last season. "At
the moment, the Germans are the teams to beat. The way their teams are
built, it's as if they are made of steel so it's going to be tough. It's
something we're really looking forward to. "We've been back for three weeks
now, so it'll be nice to see where we're at as a team and what we've got to
work on. We're full of confidence and looking to work hard and also enjoy it
at the same time."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Oscar snubs West Ham
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 19th July 2013
By: Staff Writer

Transfer target Oscar Trejo has completed a move to French club Toulouse.
The Sporting Gijon midfielder was one of a number of players being
considered by West Ham and, according to reports emanating from Spain, was
the subject of a bid by United earlier in the week. However it was confirmed
this afternoon that the 25-year-old Argentinian has opted to move to France
in order to join Toulouse instead. A statement on Sporting Gijon's website
read: "Sporting have reached an agreement with the French Toulouse for the
transfer of Oscar Trejo. The deal was finalised this afternoon. "Real
Sporting de Gijon's Argentinian forward thanks the professionalism and
dedication shown throughout his career as Atletico and wishes him every
success in this new journey that starts."
Elsewhere today it was claimed by one tabloid newspaper that West Ham were
"stepping up" their efforts to sign Loic Remy having failed to land Duvan
Zapata. However Remy is a player who has been on Sam Allardyce's hitlist
all summer - the obvious issue being the 22-year-old French striker's
involvement in a criminal investigation, which is set to go to court later
this year.

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

http://vyperz.blogspot.com