Daily WHUFC News - 7th July 2013

On this day - 7 July
WHUFC.com
Former Hammers loanee Jan Lastuvka turns 31 today
07.07.2013

Anniversary
Name: Jan Lastuvka
Born: Havirov, Czechoslovakia, 7 July 1982
Clubs: FC Karvina, Banik Ostrava, Shakhtar Donetsk, Fulham (loan), VfL
Bochum (loan), West Ham United (loan), Dnipro
International: Czech Republic - three caps, no goals
One-time Hammers loan goalkeeper Jan Lastuvka is today celebrating his 31st
birthday. The Czech stopper spent the 2008/09 campaign on loan at the Boleyn
Ground from Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk. He did not make a Premier
League appearance for the Hammers, but did feature in a League Cup third
round defeat at Fulham. That would be his only appearance in claret and
blue, and he returned to Shakhtar at the end of the season, before moving to
fellow Ukrainian club Dnipro, where he is still plying his trade. Born in
the Czech Republic, he played for Karvina and Banik Ostrava in his homeland
in the early part of his career and earned his first international caps in
2011. Lastuvka also played in England for Fulham, during another loan from
Shakhtar, during which he played eight league games.

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Cork Hammers welcome West Ham
WHUFC.com
The Cork Hammers supporters' club are delighted to welcome West Ham United
to south west Ireland
06.07.2013

Sunday's pre-season fixture between West Ham United and Cork City will be
particularly special for one group of supporters. The Cork Hammers
supporters' club was formed in 1994, but the links between the southern
Irish city and east London go back much further. Nearly 100 years ago, in
1918, the Ford Motor Company opened a plant in Cork - the ancestral home of
the Ford family - followed five years later by a second plant in Dagenham.
As the east London plant continued to expand, many workers moved over from
Ireland to continue their employment.

The links grew during the 1940s and 1950s, when a succession of Ireland's
top players swapped the Emerald Isle for the Boleyn Ground - Cork United
midfielder Tommy Moroney and wing-half Frank O'Farrell, Cork Athletic
full-back Noel Cantwell, Shamrock Rovers centre forward Freddie Kearns and
Shelbourne inside forward Danny McGowan among them. Thanks to the support of
Cork Hammers chairman Stephen McCarthy and his fellow members, those links
remain as strong as ever. "My late uncle Jim worked with Ford in Dagenham in
the 1970s and brought me home a West Ham shirt when I was just six years
old," said McCarthy. "This is a story that many fellow Cork Hammers will
also repeat from that time. Despite having two older siblings supporting
Leeds and Liverpool respectively, I was drawn by the passion that is West
Ham and have not looked back since. "Ford had a major car manufacturing
plant in Cork dating back to the 1930s, as well, and many employees of the
company transferred between the two.For this reason, and the fact that
London was always so accessible from Ireland, there has been a long
connection with the Irons."

Since the pioneering Moroney, O'Farrell, Kearns and Cantwell, West Ham have
continued to attract some fine Irish players, including Noel Dwyer, Liam
Brady, Robbie Keane and current squad members Joey O'Brien and Stephen
Henderson. "There is a long history of Irish players going to West Ham and
passionate West Ham supporters in Ireland," McCarthy confirmed. "Our very
own Sir Trevor Brooking even played two games for Cork City before his
retirement in the 1980s. "In fact, many Irish fans will tell you that West
Ham are their second team. The history that goes with the Club and the fact
that West Ham won the World Cup in 1966 resonates with many of us."

Nowadays, West Ham's presence in Ireland's second-largest county is
personified by the Cork Hammers, who meet in the city to watch the team on
television, while also making regular trips over the Irish Sea to the Boleyn
Ground. "Cork Hammers was founded in 1994 after a notice was placed in the
local Evening Echo newspaper seeking fellow West Ham supporters in the Cork
area to come together and form an official supporters' club," said McCarthy.
"The supporters' club was formed by Denis O'Donovan, John Kelleher and
Brendan Ryan and took up residency in the aptly-named Sir Geoff Hurst room
in the Telecom Social Club on MacCurtain Street in the city. "Membership
grew over the years and several ups and downs were witnessed, either on
trips to the Boleyn, Cardiff, Wembley or indeed on TV here in Cork. "The
Cork Hammers have grown ever since and the visit of the Irons to Leeside, we
hope, will encourage further Cork Hammers to join the club."

The Cork Hammers will be out in force on Sunday evening, when West Ham take
on League of Ireland Premier Division side Cork City in a pre-season match
at Turner's Cross, with kick-off at 6pm. Chairman McCarthy confirmed that
excitement is growing ahead of the Hammers' first appearance on Irish soil
since 2000. "We have been waiting for more than 13 years to see the Hammers
play in Ireland since we played St Patrick's Athletic in Richmond Park,
Dublin in 2000. "Cork City are a decent footballing side and in the middle
of their season so the Hammers' fitness will certainly be tested on Sunday.
"The Cork Hammers will be making a presentation to the Club to mark the
occasion and are looking forward to a great game."

Looking further into the future, McCarthy is hoping for more success under
the guidance of former Limerick manager Sam Allardyce. "We feel the Hammers
are on the brink of bigger things again. There is a good vibe about the
Club.The owners are putting their hands in their pockets, we have a
world-class stadium to move to and even a quality smart-looking kit.All
these things augur well for the Hammers. "We need to strengthen the squad
now with quality in certain areas and build for the future.A quality Academy
will breed success in due course as well, but we need to bring in quality
and maintain momentum now. "A top-eight finish would be good in the 2013/14
season, while a trophy with it would be even better! We need to look above
and beyond this and take the Hammers back to the heights of the Boys of '86
and better again. "Our new kit even has a remarkable resemblance to that
worn by the likes of McAvennie, Brooking and Cottee!Let's look to secure
Champions League status by 2016 and bring Europe's best to the Olympic
Stadium. "Above all, for Cork Hammers it is fundamental that the Club
retains the openness and genuine willingness to welcome supporters like Cork
Hammers to the East End on trips to cheer on the Irons.COYI!"

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Roland is learning the West Ham Way
WHUFC.com
Talented linguist Razvan Rat is already speaking the same language as his
new West Ham United team-mates
07.07.2013

Razvan Rat is already fluent in five languages and he is now eager to learn
the West Ham Way. West Ham United's summer capture from Shakhtar Donetsk
speaks Romanian, English, Spanish, Russian and Portuguese, impressing his
new team-mates with his versatile linguistic skills. Rat has also caught the
eye with the skill and ability that saw him star for Shakhtar in the UEFA
Champions League and captain his home country of Romania. The left-back has
been nicknamed 'Roland' by his Hammers colleagues in tribute to the 1980s TV
character, but the player himself explained that the correct pronunciation
is slightly different. "In my language it is pronounced 'Rats' but you don't
have the letter in English, so you can only say the sound with 'ts'," he
explained. "For me, it doesn't matter because it is just a coincidence [that
my name is the same as an animal]. It will be a good opportunity to laugh
more! "I was trying to improve my language skills. I speak Spanish because
it is quite close to my language, I was speaking Russian because I was
living in Ukraine and also Portuguese because we had about ten Brazilians in
our squad at Shakhtar and the coach was talking a lot in Portuguese as well.
"I just learned the languages by myself - it is nothing special!"

Moving onto less important matters, Rat has quickly settled into the group
after a decade in Ukraine with Shakhtar, where he won more than a dozen
trophies and played 300 times. A strong and tenacious defender with superb
technique and great experience, the 32-year-old is now hoping to make his
mark in the Barclays Premier League. "I am starting to get used to this
team. I need to adapt here very fast so I need to understand the philosophy
of this team. I want to be one of them very, very soon." Rat has shared a
room with another international star, Joe Cole, during West Ham's pre-season
training camp in Cork, while he has also struck up instant relationships
with the likes of Matt Jarvis and Matt Taylor. "The boys are amazing. They
have welcomed me and are speaking with me and helping me. I share a room
with Joe Cole so we've had a lot of talks. "Hopefully I will integrate into
the group very fast and be one of the men of the group. "It is a bit strange
for me but I understand this is my new team and my new family. I will try to
do my best to adapt very fast and to be a good player here. I want to show
my best, that's all."

Rat has got used to vying for the Ukrainian title and playing against
Europe's finest clubs, but now he is relishing a different type of challenge
in English football.
"My personal goal is to play regularly. This is my first goal and, after
that, you never know. Maybe we can have a good season and can get a place in
the UEFA Europa League. You never know. "Hopefully we will play some good
football and everything is possible."

Rat becomes the latest in a succession of Romanian stars to try their luck
in England, many of whom arrived after the country's fourth-place finish at
the 1994 FIFA World Cup. While Dan Petrescu enjoyed great times at Chelsea,
Florin Raducioiu and Ilie Dumitrescu had indifferent spells with West Ham.
The 89-times capped defender is planning to show Hammers supporters his
ability and prove that the Eastern European nation is still producing
world-class players. "This is also my goal - first to prove to myself that I
can play here in the Premier League and after that, to prove the manager
that he was not wrong to bring me here. That is a good goal for me.

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West Ham set to launch bid for Estudiantes striker Duvan Zapata
Last Updated: July 6, 2013 9:19am
SSN

Sky Sports understands West Ham United are set to launch a bid for Duvan
Zapata, one of the most highly-rated young players in South America. The
22-year-old striker is currently with Argentine giants Estudiantes and a
host of clubs have been tracking the £10million-rated marksman. Borussia
Dortmund, Lyon, Besiktas and Benfica have all shown an interest in the
Colombian, who scored 14 goals last season in the Argentine top flight.
However, West Ham - who have strong links in South America - have been
keeping tabs on Zapata for a number of months and they have now decided to
make a move for the powerful 6ft 2in front-man. Zapata is yet to make his
full debut for Colombia, but it is believed he will be part of their squad
before next summer's World Cup finals, which they are on course to qualify
for. Zapata is being tipped to become the next Colombian to break into
European football following on from the likes of Radamel Falcao and James
Rodriguez, who began on the same career path from their homeland, to
Argentina and then Europe.

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ANDY CARROLL SUM IS NO PROBLEM
Daily Star
7th July 2013 By Matt Jarvis

Matt Jarvis reckons Andy Carroll has learned from his Anfield hell – and
won't buckle under the pressure of yet another big-money move Carroll, 24,
choked when forced to wear the record- signing label around his neck at
Liverpool – but Jarvis is convinced the giant 6ft 3ins striker will cope
with the burden at Upton Park. The England front man cost the Hammers
£19million when he signed a permanent six-year-deal last month – after an
initial year on loan in east ­London.
And Jarvis (right) the club's previous record buy at £7.5m, said: "I had the
pressure of being our most expensive player all last year. "That did have a
hold on me – but that won't be an issue for Andy. Firstly, this is an easy
club to settle into. "Secondly, Andy isn't a new player as such. He has
already had a year on loan here so he knows the place inside out. "And that
is the kind of advantage that can fill you with confidence after a move like
this. "Thirdly, 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."

So much so that Jarvis is tipping the Hammers to have their best season
since 1980 – and use Wigan's FA Cup triumph as their inspiration to end
their 33 years of hurt. He said: "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. "Our first aim
will be to go on a winning spree in the Premier League so that when the cup
­competitions come around, we will 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."

And silverware is not the only ­accolade that Middlesbrough-born Jarvis, 27,
wants to win. Having made his England debut two years ago against Ghana –
the former Wolves winger is determined to leave the one-cap-wonder club. He
said: "Like any player, as soon as you get one cap, you want to get
­another. "I have not given up on getting back in there. Last year, I worked
extremely hard to get myself back in the frame and, hopefully, I can kick on
again. "If there is one thing you are guaranteed from me, it is hard work.
"I'll give myself every chance."

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