Daily WHUFC News - 13th July 2013

AFC Bournemouth match preview
WHUFC.com
All the key pre-match info ahead of Saturday's Stephen Purches testimonial match at Bournemouth
12.07.2013

AFC BOURNEMOUTH v WEST HAM UNITED
STEPHEN PURCHES TESTIMONIAL
GOLDSANDS STADIUM
SATURDAY 13 JULY
KICK-OFF: 3PM
iPHONE APP I TWITTER I FACEBOOK I PODCAST

Introduction
• West Ham United's pre-season schedule continues on Saturday with a trip to newly-promoted Football League Championship side AFC Bournemouth.
• The match is a testimonial for Hammers Academy graduate Stephen Purches, who has served Bournemouth for ten years across two spells. Purches, 33, spent two years as a professional at the Boleyn Ground before moving on to Bournemouth, and has also turned out for Leyton Orient in a career that has spanned across all three Football League divisions.
• The Hammers have enjoyed a free-scoring start to pre-season, defeating Cork City 6-2 in their first match last Sunday, before goals from Ravel Morrison, Ricardo Vaz Te and Kevin Nolan handed them a 3-0 win at Conference South side Boreham Wood on Wednesday.
• Bournemouth have already played three pre-season matches, losing 2-0 at FC Zurich in their opener, before defeating local non-league sides Wimborne Town 2-1 and Christchurch 7-1.

Team News
West Ham United
• The Hammers will once again be without Andy Carroll (heel) and George McCartney (knee) as the pair continue to receive treatment on their injuries at the start of pre-season..
• Sam Allardyce will name a similar squad to that which has appeared at Cork City and Boreham Wood, with his players continuing to build their fitness ahead of the new campaign. A 24-man squad will head for the Goldsands Stadium, with the vast majority expected to appear on Saturday.

AFC Bournemouth
• Former Bournemouth favourites Darren Anderton and Steve Fletcher will play a part in Saturday's testimonial, as will Stephen Purches' brother John, who helped Bournemouth to gain promotion to League One in 2003.

Background
• West Ham United and Bournemouth have met on five occasions in competitive football, with the Hammers enjoying an undefeated record. West Ham have won three of those games, with the other two ending all-square.
• The last game came back in October 1999 when Harry Redknapp's Hammers were paired with Bournemouth, who he had managed earlier in his career, in the third round of the League Cup. West Ham prevailed by a 2-0 margin, with Frank Lampard and Marc Keller notching in front of a 22,067 Boleyn Ground crowd.
• AFC Bournemouth were founded in 1890 as Boscombe FC and joined the Football League in 1923. They entered the second tier for the first time in 1987 under Harry Redknapp, and returned there last season after finishing second in League One.

Last Time Out
Wednesday 10 July 2013
Pre-Season Match
Boreham Wood 0-3 Boreham Wood
West Ham United: (First half XI) Adrian, Demel, Ruddock, Reid, Rat, Noble, Collison, Taylor, Vaz Te, McCallum, Morrison
(Second half XI): Jaaskelainen, Spence, Collins, Tomkins, Potts, Diarra, Whitehead, Nolan, Cole, Maiga, Jarvis
Goals: Morrison 20, Vaz Te 21, Nolan 83

Friday 9 July 2013
Pre-Season Match
Christchurch 1-7 AFC Bournemouth
AFC Bournemouth: (First half XI) Flahavan, Fogden, Addison, Ward, Daniels, Cornick, Matthews, Arter, Fraser, Pitman, Stockley
(Second half XI) Flahavan, Francis, Elphick, Cook, Harte, McDermott, MacDonald, Wakefield, Cargill, Grabban, Thomas
Goals: Pitman 8, Arter 34, 36, Stockley 44, Grabban 57, Cargill 76, McDermott 79.

Previous meeting
13 October 1999
League Cup Third Round
West Ham United 2-0 AFC Bournemouth
West Ham United: Hislop, Ferdinand, Ruddock, Cole, Stimac, Foe, Sinclair, Wanchope (Kitson 85), Di Canio, Lampard, Keller
Goals: Keller 62, Lampard 77
AFC Bournemouth: Ovendale, Howe, Young, Cox, Broadhurst, Jorgensen (O'Neil 89), Mean, Robinson, Warren (Huck 81), Stein, Fletcher

All-time meetings

13 October 1999 West Ham United 2-0 AFC Bournemouth (League Cup Third Round)
11 April 1990 West Ham United 4-1 AFC Bournemouth (Division Two)
1 November 1989 AFC Bournemouth 1-1 West Ham United (Division Two)
20 February 1929 West Ham United 3-1 AFC Bournemouth (FA Cup Fifth Round Replay)
16 February 1929 AFC Bournemouth 1-1 West Ham United (FA Cup Fifth Round)

Ten-year records
West Ham United
2012/13 Premier League 10th
2011/12 Championship 3rd (86 points - promoted via Play-Offs)
2010/11 Premier League 20th (relegated to Championship)

2009/10 Premier League 17th

2008/09 Premier League 9th

2007/08 Premier League 10th

2006/07 Premier League 15th

2005/06 Premier League 9th

2004/05 Championship 6th (promoted to Premier League via Play-Offs)

2003/04 Division One 4th


AFC Bournemouth
2012/13 League One 2nd (promoted to Championship)
2011/12 League One 11th
2010/11 League One 6th
2009/10 League Two 2nd (promoted to League One)
2008/09 League Two 21st
2007/08 League One 21st (relegated to League Two)
2006/07 League One 19th
2005/06 League One 17th
2004/05 League One 8th
2003/04 League One 9th

General Information
• West Ham's ticket allocation for this match has completely sold out. For details click here.
• Saturday is set to be a glorious day on the south coast, with sunny skies and temperatures set to hit 28C (82F)

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Big Interview - Joe Cole
WHUFC.com
Joe Cole shared his thoughts on all things pre-season after the Hammers' trip to Meadow Park
12.07.2013

While the hard yards of pre-season training are far from universally popular, Joe Cole for one is more than happy to be back with a football at his feet. With two 45-minute outings already under his belt, the 31-year-old is slowly getting into his stride, intent on putting last season's injury troubles behind him. Though fitness is clearly king at this stage of proceedings, convincing wins at Cork City and Boreham Wood have got preparations off to a flier, and Cole plans to keep it that way come Saturday's trip to Bournemouth.

Joe, how useful an exercise was the win at Boreham Wood?

JC: "It was good. It's another run-out. We are only eight or nine days in and we have already played two lots of 45 minutes. It was good for the people of Boreham Wood as well, everyone seemed to have a good night and we enjoyed the weather!"

Did you miss the football over the summer?

JC: "I think you miss it, you are ticking the days away. It was good to have a break and get away with the family but it is always nice to get back and, believe it or not, but pre-season is not as hard as it used to be. "You keep yourself ticking over in the summer and it is more football-specific than the runs we used to do in Hainault with Frank Lampard Snr! Those days are long gone and it's quite enjoyable now."

How key was Andy Carroll's signing?

JC: "It is a boost for the club and shows where we are going. Andy Carroll is a young, England centre-forward and clubs do not usually sell them. He's a big talent. He did a good job and we just want him to get fit and come back because he is a big part of our team."

How big a year is this for you personally?

JC: "Every year is a big year in football, you always have your goals but I'm just enjoying myself. I'm enjoying being back, I'm enjoying playing football and I just want to get out there and get going again now. "I always keep my goals to myself and take it day-by-day but first and foremost, I want to keep myself fit. When I was playing last season my performances were good so the key for me is just staying fit and if I do that, the football for me has never been a problem.

It's obviously a World Cup year as well. Does that figure in your thoughts much?

JC: "The ambition will always burn every time you go out on the football pitch and you want to do well, if you're an Englishman and you're playing well you are inevitably going to be talked about. "I have played over 50 times for my country so if I can get playing you never know but at the moment I'm just concentrating on West Ham."

What are your ambitions for the club this season?

JC: "I think the ambition of the club at the moment is improvement. But for me personally, I would love to finish better than 10th, but equally I'd love to take this club to Wembley. Because at the end of the day, they are the days you remember in your career - it would be a massive achievement. "West Ham are a big club but have been starved of success. You look at where we are in London and people want to come here and play in London and play for West Ham. It is great that players like Razvan [Rat] and Andy are coming in and hopefully there will be a few more as well. "I roomed with Rat for eight days and he is a great lad. We have nicknamed him Roland, he likes it and I've shown him Roland - he is enjoying himself. He is Romanian captain and has 90-odd caps. He's a fantastic player."

Joe, it's Bournemouth up next, are you looking forward to a trip to the seaside?

JC: "Bournemouth's a lovely place to go. They play good football now under a young manager and it's going to be a tough test for us. "The lads were saying it was 1-1 at Boreham Wood last year and we were lucky to come away with a draw. It's only early days, but we'd like to put a marker down and show that we've improved. So we'll going there to try and get the result. "All these pre-season games are for fitness but you've got to try and win the games as well. That's what you're practicing for, to try and win football matches."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Purches looks forward to Hammers test
WHUFC.com
Bournemouth's Stephen Purches celebrates his testimonial against West Ham United on Saturday
12.07.2013

West Ham United Academy graduate Stephen Purches cannot wait to take on his former side in his testimonial match at AFC Bournemouth on Saturday. Purches, 33, joined West Ham as a ten-year-old schoolboy and had two seasons as a professional at the Boleyn Ground before leaving for Bournemouth at the age of 20 in 2000. Aside from a three-year spell at Leyton Orient in the middle, he has spent the intervening period on the south coast and is relishing the prospect of celebrating ten years with the Cherries by welcoming the Hammers to town. He told whufc.com: "The planning has gone on for a long time and I can't wait for Saturday, it's going to be a special day. I have to say thank you to both clubs, and it's extra-special because it is West Ham. I spent ten years there, and now I've been here for ten years, so it's great that it's all come together. "There are still people at the Club from my time there - Pete Williams the kit man, [Academy Director] Tony Carr, Joe Cole was in the youth team with me, and it'll be nice to catch up with some of the old faces. "With Bournemouth being promoted to the Championship last season, there's a real feelgood factor here, the sun will be out, so hopefully there'll be a good turnout too."

Eddie Howe's Bournemouth side are sure to provide a stern test for the Hammers, having played a brand of attractive football en route to winning promotion to the second tier last term. Right-back Purches missed all of the 2012/13 campaign after suffering a nasty leg break in February 2012, but has now returned to training and will be fit enough to play his part on Saturday. He continued: "Ever since the testimonial started to be arranged around Christmas time, my aim has been to come back in time to play in it, so I'm really pleased to be back in training now. "The match sharpness isn't there, but the main thing is that I'll be able to get out there on the pitch with the lads again. It's a good feeling, and it'll also give me closure after spending so much time out with the injury. "It's going to be a good game for both sides, the teams will be strong and will give each other a test, so it'll be useful for both at this stage of pre-season."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Academy announce pre-season schedule
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's U21 and U18 sides have a busy month of pre-season fixtures ahead
12.07.2013

West Ham United have announced a host of pre-season fixtures ahead of the 2013/14 Barclays U21 and U18 Premier League campaigns. A West Ham United XI expected to contain a number of players with first-team experience will travel to League Two club Southend United on Monday 29 July, with kick-off at Roots Hall at 7.45pm. The Shrimpers are managed by Phil Brown, who spent six years as Sam Allardyce's assistant manager at Bolton Wanderers between 1999 and 2005. Brown's squad contains former West Ham Academy striker Freddy Eastwood. For ticket details, click here. Brown said: "I'm delighted that Big Sam, a good friend of mine, has agreed to send a West Ham XI side to Roots Hall for a friendly. It will be a really good test for us and will be the perfect final preparations ahead of the start of the new season."

Meanwhile, Nick Haycock's Development Squad and Steve Potts' youth team will be busy over the coming weeks, with matches organised against a wide range of opponents. The Development Squad will take on top-flight opposition in Swansea City, Manchester City and Southampton, as well as Football League opposition in Wolverhampton Wanderers and non-league sides Braintree Town and Hornchurch. The U18s, meanwhile, will face Europe's best at the prestigious Eurofoot tournament in Belgium, while also taking on four sides representing Football League clubs in Leyton Orient, Colchester United, Charlton Athletic and Crystal Palace.

At the Eurofoot tournament in Oostduinkerke, the Hammers have been drawn in League A alongside Belgian clubs RSC Anderlecht, Club Brugge and AA Gent, German club TSG Hoffenheim and Dutch outfit FC Utrecht. For full fixture details, click here.

West Ham United XI pre-season fixture
Mon 29 July v Southend United XI (A, Roots Hall) 7.45pm
Development Squad pre-season fixtures
Tue 16 July v Swansea. (H, Little Heath), 3pm
Sat 20 July v Wolverhampton Wanderers (A). 2pm
Wed 24 July v Braintree Town (A). 7.45pm
Sat 27 July v Manchester City (A) 3pm
Sat 3 Aug v Hornchurch (A) 3pm
Tue 6 Aug v Southampton (A) 2.30pm
Under-18s pre-season fixtures
Sat 13 July v Leyton Orient (A, Old Chigwellians), 10am
Sat 20 July v Colchester United (A), 11am
Tue 30 July v Charlton Athletic (A), 2pm
Thu 1-Sun 4 Aug Eurofoot tournament, Oostduinkerke, Belgium
Sat 10 Aug v Crystal Palace (A), 11am

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Southend to host Hammers XI
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 12th July 2013
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United's youngsters will face League Two Southend United in a friendly at Roots Hall later this month. A Hammers XI - expected to contain a mix of youngsters and fringe first team players - will make the short trip down the A13 to Southend on Monday, 29th July to face Phil Brown's side. It will be the first time the two Uniteds have met since Sam Allardyce's first team squad secured a 3-0 win a year ago this week, through goals from Jordan Spence and the now departed duo of Nicky Maynard and Sam Baldock. "I'm delighted that Big Sam has agreed to send a West Ham XI side here for a friendly. It will be a really good test for us and will be the perfect final preparations ahead of the new season," said Brown. Southend, who count former West Ham youngster Freddy Eastwood amongst their ranks finished 11th in League Two last season but managed just one win from the ten league games overseen by Brown at the tail end of the 2012/13 campaign. 54-year-old Brown, who worked alongside Sam Allardyce at Bolton Wanderers for six years replaced the popular Paul Sturrock at Roots Hall in March of this year.

* Former Hammers triallist Bilel Mohsni, who travelled to Germany for pre-season with Sam Allardyce's first team squad last summer could join Scottish club Rangers later this week. Mohsni - who spent three years at Southend before leaving the club on a free transfer at the end of last season - featured for the Gers in the friendly with Elgin City last night. West Ham offered Southend £100,000 for the 6'4" central defender last August but the bid was rejected - a move that Shrimpers chairman Ron Martin later admitted he "got wrong".

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham apply for work permit
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 12th July 2013
By: Staff Writer

West Ham have applied for a work permit for Columbian forward Duvan Zapata, according to reports. The 22-year-old is hoping to secure a dream move to England after West Ham agreed a fee - thought to be worth anywhere between £2.5m and £7m, depending on which particular source you read - with Zapata's current club Estudiantes of Argentina. However his move to the UK is by no means certain to happen, with doubts over his ability to meet the criteria for a work permit. The major stumbling block would appear to be that Zapata is yet to make a single full international appearance for Columbia. According to journalist Ed Malyon, who writes about South American football, Zapata is "quick, strong and energetic but not a great finisher. He's never really scored buckets of goals in the Argentinian league - West Ham are paying £££ for potential."

Whilst KUMB member westhamamerica, another keen follower of the Argentinian league added: "He uses his size a lot and is really quick. Still a pretty raw talent, though. "He could be better in the air and his passing game is okay at best, so he'd be one for the future rather than going right into the 18 from what I've seen. A lot of Argentinian clubs play very direct so I don't think he would be out of his element coming here."

However many in South America feel that Zapata has the ability to become the next Columbian to make the breakthrough in Europe, following the likes of Radamel Falcao and James Rodriguez (both now at Monaco). A number of top European clubs - including Borussia Dortmund, Lyon, and Benfica - have all previously shown an interest in the Colombian, who scored 11 goals in 27 matches last season.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Diame returns
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 12th July 2013
By: Staff Writer

Midfielder Mo Diame could make his first appearance of pre-season when West Ham face AFC Bournemouth at Dean Court tomorrow afternoon. Sam Allardyce's squad are on their way to the south coast for tomorrow's friendly at which the Irons will be looking to secure a third successive victory. And Diame, who was afforded extra recovery time before returning to training with the squad at Chadwell Heath is in line to make his first appearance since the 4-2 win over Reading on the final day of last season according to David Gold. West Ham's pre-season got off to the perfect start in Cork last weekend where goals from Alou Diarra, Joe Cole, Matt Taylor, Paul McCallum, Mark Noble (from the penalty spot) and Ravel Morrision gave them a 6-2 win. That was followed up by Wednesday night's 3-0 success at Boreham Wood where early goals from Ravel Morrison and Ricardo Vaz Te gave United an early advantage before captain Kevin Nolan added the final goal with a few minutes remaining. After visiting Bournemouth tomorrow - where Sam Allardyce's side are 13/5 favourites according to football betting at William Hill online - the Hammers look forward to a trip to Colchester (Tuesday, 16th July) before they head off to Germany for matches against Mainz 05, Hamburg SV and Eintracht Braunschweig. The final match of pre-season is the home encounter against Pacos de Ferreira on Saturday, 10th August.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Queens Park Rangers contenders to sign Javier Saviola
Last Updated: July 12, 2013 1:03pm
SSN

Queens Park Rangers have emerged as contenders to sign Argentine star Javier Saviola, Sky Sports can reveal. A number of British clubs are actively interested in landing the 31-year-old, who is a free agent after deciding to leave Malaga at the end of the season, despite scoring eight goals for the Liga outfit last term. West Ham and Celtic are both believed to be keeping tabs on Saviola, but Harry Redknapp, who has attempted to sign the player on more than one occasion during his career, is now back on his trail. And, despite QPR's relegation to the Championship, he would be keen on helping fire the club back to the Premier League. "Javier is more than keen on linking up with Harry Redknapp, he knows his teams play good football and the chance of helping QPR to promotion is genuinely appealing to him," a source close to the player confirmed to Sky Sports. "Javier's next move is not about the finances, he wants a footballing challenge and England gives him that."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham apply for work permit for Colombian striker Duvan Zapata
Last Updated: July 12, 2013 1:45pm
SSN

West Ham United have applied for a work permit for Colombian striker Duvan Zapata. The Hammers have lined up a deal with Argentine side Estudiantes for the highly-rated 22-year-old. Zapata is eager to seal a move to the Premier League, but his application will have to go to appeal and West Ham are working on their case. A number of high-profile figures in world football are set to give references about Zapata, who is valued at close to £8million, and so West Ham are hopeful they will get a permit on the 'special talent' avenue. The fact Colombia are now ranked in the world's top three is also likely to be taken into account and, although Zapata is yet to win his first cap, he does look set to become part of their squad before next summer's World Cup finals. A source close to the deal confirmed to Sky Sports that he was 'hopeful' of securing what he believes would be a 'dream move'.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Chelsea star shuns move away after Mourinho promise
Touchlinetalk.com
Written by Christy Mitchell on July 12, 2013

Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku turned down a loan move to West Ham United after being promised first team football by Jose Mourinho, according to The Express. Lukaku's impressive 17 goals at West Bromwich Albion last season enticed Sam Allardyce to target the striker in the summer transfer window, and his approach for the forward this week was met by a swift rejection by Chelsea, the newspaper claims.

Bizarre

Also, in a terribly strange twist last night, it emerged that Chelsea target Bruma's agent claimed he was at the hands of a kidnap attempt by his own fans.
The incident allegedly happened on Wednesday night and Bruma is now pressing charges, and he wants FIFA to investigate the issue, and wants his Sporting contract to be terminated immediately. His agent Catio Balde, who reported the allegation said, as reported by the newspaper: "We have pressed charges.
"This is a very serious and unpleasant matter, and it has led to this decision." Chelsea will have to fight off Galatasary for Balde, who have offered £10million for him, whereas Chelsea have only rated him at a measely £1.8million. Balde said: "There are offers from foreign clubs, including Chelsea, but right now, Bruma's mind is not on Sporting."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gold defends Hammers pricing
by Hugh Southon
12th July 2013 4:13pm BST
Sportsdirectnews.com

Exclusive
West Ham United co-chairman David Gold has hit back at "mischief making" reports that the club are charging excessive ticket prices. The reports claim that in some cases prices for non-season ticket holders will go as high as £77 for some games against top opposition. But Gold said; "There are highest prices at every club - there are also very affordable prices. There's a direct correlation between prices charged and league position. "In many cases those clubs charging the lowest prices find themselves relegated. Yes, there are high prices of course but there are also low. We are adopting a balanced approach and there's prices available for everybody. "Some Category A prices go to £72 and the lowest in that band are £52 and lets remember we are cheaper than the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs and others. "We are happy with our prices and we believe we are affordable across the board. There's a balance to be struck - it's always been the same in all areas of life."

And a spokesman for the club declared in a stement that tickets for the most sought-after fixtures in the 2013/14 season at the Boleyn Ground go on sale exclusively to Bond Holders and Academy Members on Tuesday 16 July. He said: "With demand for seats at the home of the Hammers higher than ever, the early opportunity to purchase tickets will allow supporters - starting with Bond Holders and Academy Members - more time to guarantee their place for the most eagerly anticipated matches in the calendar. Fans who take up the opportunity to purchase their ticket in advance will also ensure that they get the cheapest possible price - the tickets are guaranteed to not be sold any cheaper but may be more expensive nearer to matchday if they are categorised as A+ matches - and get the first pick of the best available seats to watch all of the pulsating action.

The six category A games - Manchester City (19 October), Chelsea (23 November), Arsenal (Boxing Day), Manchester United (22 March 2014), Liverpool (5 April 2014) and Tottenham Hotspur (3 May 2014) - will be made available to Bond Holders and Academy Members during an exclusive eight-week window from Tuesday 16 July before the tickets go on general sale on Tuesday 3 September.

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

http://vyperz.blogspot.com