Daily WHUFC News - 6th August 2013

Young Hammers enjoy successful Eurofoot
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's Under-18s made the final of the Yale Eurofoot Tournament in Belgium
05.08.2013

West Ham United enjoyed a successful Eurofoot Tournament in Belgium over the weekend, reaching the final of the 12-team tournament but coming up just short against Danish club Nordsjaelland to claim second place. The annual pre-season tournament for under-19 teams brought together sides from Belgium, England, the Netherlands, France and Denmark for three days of competition. West Ham's youngsters faced five 50-minute games in the group stage, and won four of them - seeing off Club Brugge, AA Gent, Anderlecht and KV Oostende, before suffering their only first phase defeat to FC Utrecht. They topped the group with 12 points, Anderlecht finishing two points further back to book the second semi-final place. Sunday morning brought a semi-final meeting with Tottenham Hotspur, and after a 1-1 draw secured thanks to Nathan Mavila's second goal of the tournament, the Hammers prevailed 5-4 on penalties. The other semi-final also went down to a shootout, as Nordsjaelland got the better of Anderlecht 4-3 following a 0-0 stalemate. However, the Hammers could not carry their form into the final game and were edged out 1-0 by the Danes. The tournament also brought individual honours for the Hammers' Moses Makasi, who picked up the Player of the Tournament prize

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The Big Interview: Modibo Maiga
WHUFC.com
Modibo Maiga is determined to score goals for West Ham United and plenty of them
05.08.2013

West Ham United marksman Modibo Maiga has had as good a pre-season as just about anyone in claret and blue, with minutes under his belt and two goals to boot. It certainly bodes well for the Mali-born forward, who has his sights firmly set on a prolific second season for the Hammers. In his pursuit of those goals, the 25-year-old is prepared to put in the hard yards, vowing to work, work, and work some more to establish himself in the Barclays Premier League.

There are only two weeks until the start of the season, how do you assess your pre-season?

MM: "It [pre-season] has been pretty good. It's all preparation, so you have to prepare well in order to start well. That's why we build on core fitness until now. We've had a very good pre-season so far and we plan to continue to get ready right until the end."

Two goals, plenty of minutes, you must be full of confidence…

MM: "Of course, [goals and minutes] bring back the confidence. It brings back sharpness as well. Particularly, if you're a forward, you've got to score, however they come. So the goals really please me. They're a small bonus, even if they are just pre-season games. "We're always going to continue to prepare well, but the most important preparation is not just goals. We have to get back our rhythm, work hard and improve physically. That's the main objective."

Two slightly strange goals, wouldn't you say?

MM: "Yes, but I see it as a small reward [for the hard work]. It does me good as well."

A few days in Portugal now and the hard work continues…

MM: "That's for sure, the hard work continues. We're ready to work hard and that offsets the attacking work. Everyone knows that's the way it has to be, you've got to put a lot in. We've got this final stint in Portugal. We've got good professionals. We work, we're attentive and it's really going to help for the start of the season."

You're up against two top teams in Sporting Lisbon and Braga…

MM: "I think it's good, because until now, even in Germany, we've played against good teams. It's really good, it's good for the team. Because it enables us to measure our progress against good teams like that. It's a lot better [this way]. It's another great opportunity for us to get back into the swing of things.

You played against Braga last season, so you know them a bit…

MM: Well of course, we know them. Anyhow, it's not a pressured game. Last year, it was our first experience [of them], so we know, a little bit, what to expect. Even if the main aim is to improve physically.

What are your ambitions for this season?

MM: My ambition this year is to simply score a lot of goals. Play well and score a lot of goals. I want to be useful for the team. That's my ambition, but particularly to work, work and work some more.

Do you set yourself targets?

MM: "For me my target is to do more than last season. That's my aim and that has always been my aim. Always look to the future, rather than questioning yourself. Score lots of goals!"

We all remember your spectacular goal against Southampton, one of your best, perhaps?

MM: "Yes, but there aren't many to choose from at West Ham! But it's not one of the best in my career, I have scored better. For sure, it was pretty good. I always have that in my locker, it's part of my quality. And I hope to score even better goals for the Club."

The goal against Chelsea might have been simpler but it was obviously hugely important…

MM: "Very, very important, that's clear. Particularly to win against Chelsea. That gives it an extra edge, it was against Chelsea, that's normal. It was like a little present, a present from the sky. Everyone was so relieved. But I hope I'll have the chance to score a lot against Chelsea and others."

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Big Sam up for Portuguese tests
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce is looking forward to seeing his West Ham United team in action at the Guadiana Tournament
05.08.2013

West Ham United have arrived in Portugal and manager Sam Allardyce is looking forward to see how his players shape up in the pre-season Guadiana Tournament. Big Sam's side take on Portuguese Primeira Division sides Sporting Clube de Portugal and SC Braga in Portimao on Monday and Tuesday evening respectively, with the manager expecting two stern examinations of his team's credentials. The Hammers landed in Faro on Sunday afternoon before boarding a coach for a 90-minute transfer to the team hotel. After a team meeting and a good night's sleep, the squad headed the short distance to the Municipal de Lagos stadium for a training session ahead of the 9.15pm kick-off. Tickets for the East Stand at the Estádio Municipal de Portimão will be on sale tonight, priced €12.50. West Ham were only confirmed as participants in the Guadiana Tournament last week, but the manager said he was delighted to take up the opportunity of facing two top-class sides in testing conditions. "The quality of the two games are what drew us to this late venue," the manager told West Ham TV. "They are two Champions League-quality teams in Sporting Lisbon and Braga. We played Braga last year at their own ground and we're playing them again in a mini tournament here in Portimao. "It's going to be a big test for the players, because not only is the quality of the opposition top-class, but also the heat and some of the lads having to cope with two games in two days. Some of them will play 90 minutes and some will play more over the next two days, so that will test their fitness. "We then have the game on 10 August at the Boleyn Ground and an unfortunate week of international friendly matches again, which takes a number of players away from us in a very important week. Every team has to suffer the same and it's not ideal preparation, but that's ahead. We're focusing at this moment on facing two outstanding teams and seeing what level we're at at this stage of the pre-season."

West Ham have been back in pre-season training for five weeks now and Big Sam said the emphasis of his preparations had now moved from the physical to the mental side of the game. The manager said the three remaining pre-season fixtures - the third at home to UEFA Champions League qualifiers Pacos de Ferreira on Saturday 10 August - would tell him whether or not his players are fully prepared for the 2013/14 Barclays Premier League season. "The physical side has been more than accomplished by now. I'm looking at the mental toughness and agility of the players. The fact of the matter is that when players go away for six weeks at the end of the season, their sub-conscious switches off and they relax. "Then, when they come back they have forgotten what the basics are and what is needed to be successful in a professional football team that plays in the Barclays Premier League. I've been talking about the mental side of these pre-season games since the start of our trip to Germany. "The trip to Germany was about fitness, training every day and feeling fatigue in your bodies and still playing. Now it's about switching on mentally and making the right decisions, playing your position as you should play it and making fewer mistakes than the opposition, because mistakes get punished at this level. It's often the opposition's outstanding talent, but their ability to punish your mistakes. "We want to see all their mental agility come into play over the next two days. Last year, when we were focused and drilled and we understood what our strengths and weaknesses were as a team, that's why we finished tenth. Hopefully we'll get back to that level by the time we've finished against Pacos de Ferreira on the 10 August."

While his focus is on tonight's Guadiana Tournament opener against Sporting Clube de Portugal, Big Sam has been on his mobile phone regularly discussing potential signings with the Board and head of player recruitment Martyn Glover. The manager revealed that the Hammers' attempts to supplement the squad had so far been unsuccessful due to a variety of reasons. "We've been hugely frustrated in our quest over the last three weeks or so, that any of the particular targets who we'd approached [haven't signed]. Whether it's been the player, the club or interference from another club 75 or 80 per cent through the deal attracting him to them rather than us, it has unfortunately left us with a blank space. "All we can keep doing is trying to find another player who wants to come to West Ham United who is better than what we have already got. That is the key point - better than we already have. We can't settle for a player to make the squad up or for a player who may play a bit-part. "This player has to be a top player, as far as I'm concerned, to make an impact. We have the same team as last season apart from the introduction of Adrian in goal and Razvan Rat at left-back, and we've lost more players than we've brought in, which is a slight concern to me. "We do have these funds available and we particularly felt last week that it was going to be two players coming in, but unfortunately both fell by the wayside. The deals are not totally dead, but they've not been clinched either, which has left me, the Chairmen and Martyn [Glover, head of player recruitment] extremely frustrated."

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Allardyce unfazed as kick off draws closer
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 5th August 2013
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce has admitted that he is frustrated at West Ham's lack of movement in the transfer market. Since making his most recent capture - that of Romania full back Razvan Rat on a free transfer a month ago - Allardyce has been thwarted in his attempts to sign the likes of Salomon Kalou, Loic Remy, Duvan Zapata and Zdravko Kuzmanovic. However the 58-year-old Hammers boss confirmed that funds are available for the right player - and insists that he is not panicking, despite West Ham's season opener against Cardiff being less than a fortnight away. "We've been hugely frustrated in our quest over the last three weeks or so," Allardyce told whufc.com. "Whether it's been the player, the club or interference from another club attracting him to them rather than us, it has unfortunately left us with a blank space. "All we can keep doing is try to find another player who wants to come to West Ham United and who is better than what we have already got. That is the key point - better than we already have."

Allardyce has signed three first team squad players already this summer, with Andy Carroll, Adrian and Rat arriving since the end of the 21012/13 campaign. However he has also lost players such as Gary O'Neil and Carlton Cole, who are yet to be adequately replaced. That failure to introduce replacements of sufficient quality has however given fringe first team players such as Modibo Maiga and Ravel Morrison the opportunity to shine in pre-season, with both used heavily so far.

And whilst Allardyce believes that he is short of at least one top quality player who could slip straight into the first team - almost certainly on the right side of the forward line - he insists that he won't be making any compromises. "We can't settle for a player to make the squad up or for a player who may play a bit-part. This player has to be a top player, as far as I'm concerned, to make an impact," he added. "We've lost more players than we've brought in, which is a slight concern to me. "We do have funds available and we felt last week that two players were coming in, but unfortunately both fell by the wayside. The deals are not totally dead, but they've not been clinched either which has left me, the Chairmen and Martyn [Glover] extremely frustrated."

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West Ham's Andy Carroll desperate to make Premier League season opener
Last Updated: August 5, 2013 10:17am
SSN

Andy Carroll is working hard to be available for the start of West Ham United's Premier League campaign against Cardiff City. Carroll suffered a heel injury at the end of last season and manager Sam Allardyce has previously admitted he is unlikely to be fit for the clash with Cardiff on 17 August. However, Carroll is doing everything he can to return ahead of schedule and is desperate to take his place in the squad at the earliest possible opportunity. "I've been working hard," he said in the Daily Star. "I've been away to Germany with the lads and keeping myself as fit as I can with the work I can still do with my heel still being sore. "It's been tough but I've been working hard to be back for the start of the season."

Carroll made his move to Upton Park permanent this summer after spending last season on loan at the club from Liverpool, and he is itching to get back in action. He said: "I'm dying to get back kicking a ball again. I can't wait because the last time I kicked a ball was in the final game of last season. "Everyone is buzzing about and have come back in great form and great spirits, looking forward to the start of the season. "They have been working hard over the summer and can't wait for the beginning. "It is always important to get a win in the first game of the season. "Cardiff have just come up so will want to show what they are all about. We need to understand that and get a win under our belts."

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West Ham shelve bid for convicted rapist Mboyo after fans' backlash on Twitter
By LAURIE WHITWELL
PUBLISHED: 10:53, 5 August 2013 | UPDATED: 13:10, 5 August 2013
Daily Mail

West Ham appear set to pull the plug on a potential bid for controversial striker Ilombe Mboyo. The club have been considering an approach to sign the Belgium centre forward, who scored 20 goals for Gent last season, but his past as a convicted rapist has received criticism from fans. Mboyo served three years of an eight-year sentence for his part in the gang rape of a 14-year-old when he was 16. No deal: West Ham have stepped back from a bid for Gent striker Ilombe Mboyo, who was spent three years in prison for the gang rape of a 14-year-old girl when he was 16 . Now 26, the £5million-rated forward was being seen at West Ham as an alternative to Andy Carroll up front. But club officials were said to be split over the moral dilemma of purchasing a player with such a dark history and initial supporter backlash will be taken on board. Mboyo began his career at Anderlecht's academy alongside Vincent Kompany, who described the player at a 'rare pearl'. He moved to Club Brugge and in 2004 was convicted of participating in the rape of the under-age girl while a member of a Brussels street gang. Once inside he engaged in a rehabilitation programme called Football in Prison and on his release joined Charleroi, before going on to Gent in 2011. Last October, Mboyo came on for Christian Benteke in Belgium's 2-0 World Cup qualifying win over Scotland but the country had to defend his selection.

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West Ham fans' anger over Sullivan jr 'rape' Tweet
West Ham United's co-owner David Sullivan is under intense pressure to intervene in the Twitter activities of his 13-year-old son Jack
by Hugh Southon
5th August 2013 10:02am BST
Exclusive
SportsDirect.com

West Ham United's co-owner David Sullivan is under intense pressure to intervene in the Twitter activities of his 13-year-old son Jack. The teenager has been at the centre of various storms in the past but his latest outburst has brought a horrified response from many of the club's fans. The teenager tweeted that the club were allegedly interested in Ilombe Mboyo of Gent who went to prison as a 16-year-old for his part in a gang rape of a 14-year-old child. Many fans were disturbed that 13-year-old Sullivan should pose the question: "How would you feel if we signed Mboyo of Gent? Terrible crime when he was 16, can he ever be forgiven? What do you think?"

Sullivan jr has regularly leaked club dealings on his account - on one occasion making it clear he was unhappy with Arsenal's Maroune Chamakh on loan from Arsenal and on another claiming the club would get better as a result of former midfielder Gary O'Neill deciding to leave. Many fans feel the club is showing itself as unprofessional by allowing this to continue although others have defended him in the past. However, his latest outburst met with almost universal twitter condemnation from the fans becoming increasingly indignant. Said one in a tweet to co-owner David Gold: "Wow!! Jack's tweet asking for fans opinion on a new signing. Disgrace!! DG this lad needs to be stopped, we are becoming a joke. And another - again directed at Gold said: "Have a bloody word - this kid is embarrassing us now! Bloody had enough!"

The increasingly angry barrage included such comments as: "If DS has knowledge it's irresponsible and let's face it who else would allow their 13-year-old to influence a multi-million business. "That account is now an open sore and has to be controlled if not shut down. Is anyone really surprised? This is David Sullivan. Highly controversial character! He won't change. "It could only be one account. Enough is enough. The club need to shut the account down." Many claimed Sullivan sr was behind the tweet and said: "If he wants to give us news he should make his own account not send a 13 year old to ask about rape!"
Another alleged: "It's DS using his own son as a front the club can disown when it hits the fan."

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West Ham transfer news: Club has Diame plan
Everton boss Roberto Martinez is believed to still be weighing up a bid for West Ham midfielder Mohamad Diame
SportsDirect.com
by Hugh Southon5th August 2013 1:25pm BST
Exclusive

Everton boss Roberto Martinez is believed to still be weighing up a bid for West Ham United midfielder Mohamed Diame. The Londoners insist there have been no enquiries for any of their players but after the intense speculation in January are bracing themselves for an approach. But the Hammers insist that should there be a hint of interest they are ready to sit down and renegotiate terms with the player. Sources on Merseyside have told SportsDirect News that Martinez is weighing up a £3.5 million move for the player - sufficient to trigger the release clause. However, West Ham are understood to have made it clear to the player and his agent Willie McKay in January they are ready to discuss new terms should they receive a firm inquiry. The player is currently on £40,000 a week and the Hammers would go close to £50,000 to retain the player so long as the release clause is removed. An Upton Park source said: "We are aware of the speculation but there has been no inquiry for him. Should there be we have our plans in place."

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West Ham 'Pull Out' Of Signing Rapist
Fan reaction to potential bid for Gent's Ilombe Mboyo overwhelmingly bad
Written by Jermaine Haughton
05/08/2013 05:02 PM
VoiceOnline.com

WEST HAM United have reportedly pulled out of a potential bid to sign a convicted rapist, following outrage from the club's fans. Gent striker Ilombe Mboyo was a passive member of a gang rape of a 14-year-old girl when he was 16 and subsequently spent three years of an eight-year sentence in prison. It is believed that West Ham were considering approaching Gent over a possible bid for the Belgian forward, who scored 20 goals last season, but a fans backlash put an end to the Hammers interest in Mboyo. Co-owner David Sullivan's son, Jack, took to Twitter to gauge followers' opinions about the 26-year-old and his past crime.
Sullivan tweeted: "How would you feel if we signed Mboyo of Gent? Terrible crime when he was 16, can he ever be forgiven? What do you think?" After an overwhelmingly negative response, Sullivan junior tweeted: "I'm sure we won't sign him. We respect your views." After his 2004 conviction, Mboyo was involved in the Football In Prison rehabilitation programme. Following a spell at Charleroi in 2008, Mboyo joined Gent in 2011 and has won two caps for Belgium.

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