Daily WHUFC News - 8th July 2013

Macca pleased with Cork victory
WHUFC.com
Neil McDonald hailed a successful end to a hugely productive week in the
Republic of Ireland
07.07.2013

West Ham United signed-off a hugely successful week in the Republic of
Ireland with a 6-2 pre-season victory at Cork City. The Hammers kicked-off
their preparations for the 2013/14 Barclays Premier League campaign by going
goal-crazy at Turner's Cross, with six different players getting on the
scoresheet.
Alou Diarra headed in the opener before Joe Cole doubled the advantage with
a low first-time finish. Adam Rundle pulled one back before half-time before
Mark Noble uncharacteristically saw his penalty saved just after the
interval. Matt Taylor's long-range effort made it 3-1 before the youngsters
took centre-stage. Paul McCallum headed in Danny Whitehead's inch-perfect
cross before Noble made no mistake with a second spot-kick. McCallum then
turned provider for Ravel Morrison before Cork substitute Danny Morrissey
tapped in a late consolation. All in all, the match provided fine
entertainment for the 4,213 fans at the home of the Rebel Army, with
hundreds of those present wearing West Ham shirts. Assistant manager Neil
McDonald was understandably happy with what was a good 90 minutes at the
climax of a superb week of training at the Fota Island Resort. "It was a
fantastic workout. We've had a really, really good week and some superb
training sessions and everybody has got through everything, so the base is
there which is fantastic. We look forward to next week at Borehamwood and
Bournemouth. "I have to say we scored a few goals which gives everybody lots
of confidence. We conceded a couple but that's what happens in pre-season
and we've made a really good start. "Everybody got 45 minutes and has had a
really good week's training as well, so we're well pleased."

McDonald said every player and staff member had enjoyed their week in south
west Ireland, from the facilities and food laid on at the hotel to the
welcome they received from everyone at Cork City. "I would like to think
everyone was a winner. The facilities have been great and we've been well
looked after and I don't think we could have come to a better place. All in
all, it's a satisfying week, that's for sure."

The assistant manager was naturally pleased with the performances of
youngsters McCallum, Whitehead and Morrison, while also delighted to see all
the players blend together so well after just a few days on the training
pitch. "It was great. We've got a few young ones knocking on the door and
we've got to do that on a regular basis. We're looking for consistency, not
just from the young kids but from the seniors as well. "We had a good mix in
both games and everyone complemented each other and worked hard for each
other. When the chances came along, we put them in the back of the net, so
it was a great start but nothing to get too excited about. "We've still got
a lot of work to do and we need to make sure that this first week's training
is under our belt. We move on and get stronger and fitter and better with
and without the ball leading up to the Cardiff game [on 17 August], which is
the most important game of the season."
West Ham return to England on Monday before contesting their second
pre-season fixture at Conference South side Boreham Wood on Wednesday
evening.
A year ago, the Hammers were held to a 1-1 draw at Meadow Park and McDonald
is expecting a similarly testing evening this time around. "Everybody who
was in Ireland will probably be involved again. Everybody is fit so they'll
play another 45 minutes and we'll switch the team around again, which will
be a great experience for the young ones and a great workout for everybody.
"The pitch will be good and the atmosphere will be good as well. We're
looking forward to it."

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Big Sam happy to be back
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce says West Ham United are looking forward to a productive
2013/14 season
07.07.2013

Sam Allardyce has been through more than 40 pre-seasons during his career as
a player, coach and manager, but the anticipation remains as big as ever for
the West Ham United boss. Big Sam starts his third campaign in charge at the
Boleyn Ground with the Barclays Premier League visit of Cardiff City on
Saturday 17 August. Before then, however, the manager hopes to further
strengthen his squad, while also ensuring his players are fit and ready for
the season ahead.
Speaking exclusively to West Ham TV at the Club's pre-season training camp
in Cork, Republic of Ireland, Big Sam also praised their opening pre-season
opponents Cork City for their hospitality on the Emerald Isle. "Our norm is
to go Switzerland or Austria at this time of year in pre-season for a little
bit of altitude training in the forests, but this year we have come to
Ireland and the overall care and hospitality that Cork City have shown us
has been absolutely excellent," said Big Sam. "Along with the facilities -
two fabulous pitches, a great hotel and superb areas in the forest for the
lads to do their early-morning bike rides - it is also a lot shorter journey
than going to Austria so everybody has enjoyed it that little bit more. "The
training has been as intense as ever at this time of year and everybody is
feeling a little fatigued now, but they'll get 45 minutes in and, as long as
we don't get any injuries it will have been a very worthwhile trip. Both us
and Cork City have also enjoyed it very much and hopefully we can stay in
contact in the future because of the facilities here and the way they have
looked after us."

While Big Sam enjoyed his summer break, the constant nature of the transfer
market and planning for the upcoming campaign meant he was never far from
his mobile phone or laptop. While he anticipates a quieter time than in the
previous two years, the manager still has plenty of work to do between now
and the big kick-off. "For me, it's two years in and fewer players will have
to leave or come into the Club, which is great for me. The last two seasons
have been traumatic in change-around terms, particularly the first one when
I look back on it. It was horrendous, with something like 28 players going
out and 20 coming in during one season. We had to cope with that and
re-build the football team. "At this moment in time, I'm a lot more
comfortable because the players and staff know what I am looking for and how
I work. They know what I want and it is their responsibility to drive the
players forward in every department to extract even more out of them this
year than they did last season."

Big Sam and his staff have already been busy in the market, bringing in
England forwar Andy Carroll, Romania captain Razvan Rat, Spanish goalkeeper
Adrian and youngster Danny Whitehead on permanent deals. While he does not
expect to be signing too many more new players, the manager confirmed that
his business is not yet complete. "I think they will add real quality to the
squad. You always want a little bit more and you are never satisfied as a
manager. I am not saying that is the end of what we are going to bring in
and we will look to add one more player at least. If we can secure that one
more player, that would probably be it. "What I want in that one player is
top quality. I want that player coming in to challenge the players already
here for their place immediately and keep it. That would help improve the
team. I want somebody to come in and make a real difference, as we did last
year when the players we brought in made a massive difference. That took us
to the next level and led to us having a fantastic season and finish tenth."

More follows shortly...

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Cork City 2-6 West Ham Utd
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 7th July 2013
By: Staff Writer

West Ham's pre-season got off to a flying start here in Cork tonight as Big
Sam's boys thrashed their hosts by six goals to two. Goals from Alou Diarra
and Joe Cole gave the Hammers an early two-goal advantage before the hosts
reduced the deficit through Rundle to keep within reach of United at the
break. The visitors had a chance to extend their lead just 90 seconds after
the restart but Mark Noble saw his spot kick saved by City 'keeper Kevin
Burns. However West Ham finally restored their two-goal lead on the hour
mark when a low Matt Taylor drive whistled into the back of the next. It was
4-1 ten minutes later when Paul McCallum combined with Danny Whitehead to
finish with a fine header - and Mark Noble redeemed himself for his earlier
miss with a converted spot kick with 15 minutes of normal time remaining.
Still not done, United added a sixth goal when the lively Ravel Morrison
scored his first goal for the first team squad with a fierce drive after
being set up by goalscorer McCallum. But the final cheer of the night was
reserved for the home side who grabbed their second goal of the game through
Morrissey, who converted a Kilduff cross from close range.

West Ham Utd: Jaaskelainen (Adrian 46), Demel (Rat 46), Collins (Reid 46),
Bramble (Tomkins 46), Potts, Diarra (Noble 46), Collison (McCallum 46),
Nolan (Morrison 46), Cole (Vaz Te 46), Jarvis (Taylor 46), Maiga (Whitehead
46).

Cork City: Burns, D.Murphy (J.Kavanagh 46), Duggan (E.Murphy 46), Behan,
Rundle (Forde 46), Furlong (Turner 46), Dunleavy, Spillane (Morrissey 46),
Kenny (O'Connell 46), Buckley (Horgan 46), Browne (D.Kavanagh 46).

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'Noble misses penalty' shocker
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 7th July 2013
By: Staff Writer

Well it had to happen eventually; Mark Noble's run of successful spot kicks
is over after his second half penalty was saved in tonight's pre-season
friendly in Cork. Noble stepped up confidently - as usual - to take the
penalty just 90 seconds after the restart in tonight's match. However the
entire 4,213 crowd were stunned when Kevin Burns tipped the midfielder's
spot kick wide of his post. Fortunately for Noble, he was able to redeem
himself with quarter-of-an-hour remaining in tonight's friendly when he sent
Burns the wrong way, scoring the fifth of West Ham's goals in a 6-2 win. The
last time Noble missed from 12 yards was in a 1-0 home defeat to Chelsea in
April 2009.

Mark Noble's Penalty Record

8 Aug 2007 v Birmingham (a)
30 Jan 2008 v Liverpool (h)
03 Jan 2009 v Barnsley (h)
18 Jan 2009 v Fulham (h)
24 Jan 2009 v Hartlepool (a)
28 Jan 2009 v Hull City (h, miss)
04 Nov 2009 v Aston Villa (h)
25 April 2009 v Chelsea (h, miss)
21 Aug 2010 v Bolton (h)
16 Oct 2010 v Wolves (a)
02 April 2011 v Manchester United (h, 2)
10 Sept 2011 v Portsmouth (h)
24 Sept 2011 v Peterborough (h)
26 Nov 2011 v Derby (h)
14 Jan 2012 v Portsmouth (a)
21 Jan 2012 v Nottingham Forest (h, 2)
14 Feb 2012 v Southampton (h)
20 Oct 2012 v Southampton (h)
9 Dec 2012 v Liverpool (h)
1 Jan 2013 v Norwich (h)

Mark has scored from 20 of his 22 penalty attempts.

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West Ham beat Cork City 6-2 in first pre-season friendly
Last Updated: July 7, 2013 9:27pm
SSN

West Ham United kicked off their pre-season friendly programme with a
convincing 6-2 victory over Cork City. Sam Allardyce's side have spent the
past few days training in Ireland and used 21 players against Cork,
including former Sunderland defender Titus Bramble. The Premier League club
made a flying start to the game as Alou Diarra headed home Joe Cole's corner
after just five minutes and the same two players were involved in the second
goal on 18 minutes.
Diarra picked up possession and fed Kevin Nolan, who played in Cole to
finish, and it was almost 3-0 on the half-hour when Modibo Maiga clipped the
crossbar.
Cork pulled a goal back on 38 minutes through former Rochdale winger Adam
Rundle and the hosts were given a reprieve two minutes into the second half
when Mark Noble saw a penalty saved after Ravel Morrison had been fouled.
Matt Taylor drilled home a low shot from 25 yards on 62 minutes and West Ham
made it 4-1 on 72 minutes when new signing Danny Whitehead's cross was
headed home by Paul McCallum. Noble was successful from the penalty spot a
minute later and Morrison got in on the act with five minutes to go before
Cork notched a second through Rob Lehane.

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Matt Jarvis dreaming of silverware at West Ham
Last Updated: July 7, 2013 2:33pm
SSN

Matt Jarvis hopes Wigan's shock FA Cup triumph last season will inspire
clubs like West Ham to grab silverware. The Hammers came tantalisingly close
to lifting the cup in Cardiff in 2006, only to lose on penalties to
Liverpool after a thrilling 3-3 draw. It was the Latics who bundled Jarvis
and his team-mates out of the Capital One Cup last season, while the FA Cup
dreams of Sam Allardyce's side were ended by Manchester United in a
third-round replay. However, seeing Wigan celebrate at Wembley has whetted
Jarvis' appetite for the cup campaigns ahead. "What Wigan did in beating
Manchester City to lift the FA Cup has made clubs like us realise it can be
done now - that trophies are not the preserve of the so-called big boys,"
said Jarvis. "Our first aim will be to go on a winning spree in the Premier
League so that when the cup competitions come around, we'll be able to hit
the ground running. "We have ambitious players here. There isn't one of us
who does not want to win a trophy."

Jarvis believes the arrival of striker Andy Carroll on a permanent
£19million deal from Liverpool will be a major boost to West Ham's hopes of
success in 2013/14. "Andy isn't a new player as such. He has already had a
year on loan here so he knows the place inside out," added Jarvis to the
Daily Star Sunday.
"That is the kind of advantage that can fill you with confidence after a
move like this. "He is an experienced man. He had the same burden at
Liverpool that he has to deal with now. That was a huge learning experience.
"For us, he has already proved to be a massive player - and I've no doubt he
will have a major impact this year."

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Bram stoker
Published: 07th July 2013
The Sun

TITUS BRAMBLE helped West Ham to a 6-2 friendly victory over Cork City. The
centre-back, 31, has been training with the Hammers after being released by
Sunderland. Bramble, who is not wanted by the fans, played 45 minutes in
Ireland. Alou Diarra, Joe Cole, Matt Taylor, Paul McCallum, Mark Noble and
Ravel Morrison netted for the Irons.

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Cork City 2 West Ham 6: Bramble starts as Hammers kick off pre-season in
style with SIX different players getting on scoresheet
By ELLIOTT BRETLAND
PUBLISHED: 22:39, 7 July 2013 | UPDATED: 00:52, 8 July 2013
Daily Mail

West Ham United kicked off their pre-season preparations in style with a 6-2
victory against League of Ireland Premier Division side Cork City as six
different Hammers' players got themselves on the scoresheet. New boys Razvan
Rat, Adrian and Danny Whitehead all began the game on the bench for West Ham
while boss Sam Allardyce handed a start to defender Titus Bramble as he
continues to work on his fitness with the club. West Ham have spent the last
few days in Ireland but new record signing Andy Carroll didn't travel,
instead he stayed in England to receive treatment for a heel injury.

TEAMS
Cork City: Burns, D.Murphy, Duggan, Behan, Rundle, Furlong, Dunleavy,
Spillane, Kenny, Buckley, Browne.

Second-half XI: Burns, J Kavanagh, Dunleavy, O'Connell, D Murphy, E Murphy,
Morrissey, Turner, Horgan, D Kavanagh, Kilduff.

Goals: Rundle 38, Lehane 86.

West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Collins, Bramble, Potts, Diarra,
Collison, Nolan, Cole, Jarvis, Maiga.

Second-half XI: Adrian, Potts, Tomkins, Reid, Rat, Noble, Morrison,
Whitehead, Vaz Te, Taylor, McCallum.

Goals: Diarra 5, Cole 18, Taylor 63, McCallum 73, Mark Noble 75, Morrison
85.

Attendance: 4,213.

The Hammers started brightly at Turners Cross and took an early lead through
Alou Diarra as the Frenchman headed home a Joe Cole corner after just five
minutes. Dominating the opening stages, the Premier League side doubled
their advantage on 18 minutes as Cole switched from provider to goalscorer,
finishing past the onrushing Kevin Burns in the Cork net. Mali international
Modibo Maiga nearly made it three on the half-hour mark as his left-footed
shot shaved the crossbar. Having beaten reigning Champions Sligo Rovers 3-1
in a league match on Friday evening, Cork pulled a goal back on 38 minutes
through former Rochdale frontman Adam Rundle. Both sides made a host of
changes at half-time and West Ham were awarded a penalty just a minute into
the second-half after Ravel Morrison was fouled in the area. However Mark
Noble failed to find the net as he saw his spot-kick saved. Former
Portsmouth and Bolton winger Matt Taylor scored the Hammers' third on 62
minutes as he drilled home a low shot from distance. Young striker Paul
McCallum extended West Ham's lead ten minutes later, rising highest to
convert new signing Danny Whitehead's cross. Sam Allardyce's men added a
fifth just a minute later as Mark Noble was given a reprieve, making no
mistake with his second penalty after the referee had deemed Cork defender
John Kavanagh to have handled the ball in the box.

Morrison scored a sixth for West Ham on 85 minutes before Cork scored a
consolation shortly after through Rob Lehane. Hammers assistant Neil
McDonald was pleased with the side's performance and told the Official West
Ham United website: 'It was a fantastic workout. 'We've had a really,
really good week and some superb training sessions and everybody has got
through everything, so the base is there which is fantastic.' On their
return to England, West Ham will face Borehamwood and Bournemouth next week.
The club kick off their 2013/14 Premier League campaign against Cardiff City
at Upton Park on August 17.

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