Daily WHUFC News - 24th July 2014

Phoenix give Big Sam Yellow Fever
WHUFc.com
Sam Allardyce reflects on West Ham United's Football United Tour 2-1 defeat
by Wellington Phoenix
23.07.2014

Sam Allardyce praised Wellington Phoenix after the A-League side edged out
West Ham United 2-1 in Auckland. The Hammers suffered defeat in the opening
game of their two-match Football United Tour of New Zealand, falling two
goals behind at half-time before substitute Mauro Zarate pulled one back
late on.
Andrew Durante lost his marker to nod the Phoenix = whose loyal supporters
are known as the 'Yellow Fever' - in front before former Sunderland
midfielder Alex Gorrin fired in a superb second from outside the penalty
area. West Ham should have scored both before and after those goals, but
neither Carlton Cole nor Cheikhou Kouyate could find a way past an inspired
Glen Moss - Winston Reid's New Zealand international team-mate - in the
Phoenix goal. The Hammers improved after the break and halved their deficit
through Zarate's superb touch and accurate finish before the impressive
Stewart Downing was denied a late equaliser by replacement stopper Lewis
Italiano. There was to be no comeback, though, and Big Sam felt his side had
neither competed well enough, nor showed the requisite technical skills
required to defeat their opponents. At the same time, he conceded that the
Phoenix had taken full advantage of his own players' intense pre-season
schedule by pressing and competing relentlessly throughout a lively 90
minutes at Eden Park. "We're 20 days into our pre-season and I think that we
are disappointed with the first half performance, when we were caught cold
by the Phoenix," admitted Big Sam. "They showed a great attitude and played
at a tempo that we had a little struggle keeping tabs with and that's where
we lost the two goals. "We are finding our feet and finding our fitness with
each game but we certainly didn't find our standard, whereas the Phoenix hit
their standard and they competed as we expected them to. "They shut us down
high up the pitch and I thought they did that exceptionally well. They
knocked us out of our stride but, saying that, we should have scored the
first goal when Carlton Cole took a cutback from Matt Jarvis. "We then
should have scored just before half-time when it fell to Cheikh and that was
the difference between the two teams - they took their two chances and we
didn't. They scored through a header at the near post and the strike in the
bottom corner for the second was the way I was expecting us to be finishing.
"We tried to come back in the second half and got a little bit better. I had
to change the team because of the fatigue that kicked into the players
because we've been working extremely hard. "After our journey we've been
training every day, morning and afternoon, because we've got to get our
fitness levels up and fatigue the players. "It is a disappointing result,
but we're 20 days into pre-season and what matters is getting them ready for
16 August. I've won every pre-season game in the past and lost the first
three or four games in the league, and not won a pre-season game and then
not lost the first eight or ten games of the season. "It doesn't make a lot
of difference to me in terms of results. What is important to me is our
level of performance, what we are as a team, and our technique levels. That
did worry me, because our technique levels were way down on our standard so
I was disappointed about that. "I can understand that we were fatigued with
the way we've been working, but not the lack of technique on occasions. "The
players have to realise we didn't compete well enough, first and foremost.
Any game of football you play, anywhere in the world, you've got to earn the
right to play. "We're lovely in possession and in terms of trying to keep
the ball, but we weren't penetrative enough. When we lost it, the players
hardly competed and that was our biggest problem."

While the final result was one neither Big Sam, his players nor the
thousands of West Ham fans in the crowd would have been happy with, there
was encouragement to take from Zarate's cameo. The Argentine was lively,
neat and tidy in possession and showed quick feet and an eye for goal to net
with 20 minutes remaining. Downing, too, was in good form and only denied a
fine equaliser by an even better save from Italiano, who plunged to his
right to push the ball around the post. "It was a lovely goal," agreed Big
Sam. "Mauro showed some lovely touches around the final third and he's
certainly a type of player we haven't had at the Club. "In and around the
box, Mauro technically looks like he can open up defensive units and he did
do that against the Phoenix. "They were happy to put eight and nine behind
the ball once they went 2-0 up and I don't blame them for that because they
wanted to win the game, but Mauro showed a nice bit of technique, as did
Stewart Downing when he came on."

After using 20 players against the Phoenix, Big Sam is again expected to
utilise his squad when the Hammers take on Sydney FC in Wellington on
Saturday.
Cheikhou Kouyate suffered a knock to his leg in a heavy first-half
challenge, while James Tomkins was taken off late on, and the manager
admitted both may miss the Westpac Stadium fixture. "It's about giving the
squad of players as much match-fitness as I can give them. We've got to
balance out the amount of time we give them - we started out giving them 45
minutes in the first game and then 55 or so and tonight we gave them 60
minutes. "We'll reverse that on Saturday so those who played 30 will get 60
and some will get 90 - it depends on whether we have got any knocks or
strains. "It was a physical game and, by experience, some of the knocks they
got will mean they cannot play in Saturday's game, so some will have to play
90 minutes. "We'll have to wait until Friday to see where we are."

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Dev Squad triumph at Sutton
WHUFc.com
The Development Squad's productive pre-season continued with a 1-0 win at
Sutton on Wednesday
23.07.2014

Sutton United 0-1 Development Squad
Pre-Season Match

The Development Squad made it two wins on the spin in pre-season after
seeing off Skrill South side Sutton United at Gander Green Lane on Wednesday
night.
West Ham's youngsters edged a tightly-contested game, with a trialist
notching the only goal in a lively start to the second period. Djair
Parfitt-Williams could have given the scoreline a more comfortable look 15
minutes from time, but Tom Lovelock saved his penalty to ensure the visitors
would have to work to the end for their victory. That they did, and the
younger players will now head off to the Ruhr Cup in Germany full of
confidence. Fresh from winning the Absolute Sports Travel Cup at Cambridge
at the weekend, Nick Haycock's Development Squad returned to taking on
senior sides when they travelled to Sutton. West Ham were able to name
Elliot Lee, who notched twice in the victory over Espanyol, Seb Lletget,
KIeran Sadlier and Josh Cullen in their line-up, but the team did have a
more youthful feel about it than at the weekend, with the likes of Jordan
Brown and Josh Pask featuring from the start. After a quiet opening, it was
Sutton who had the first chance of the opening period, when, with 13 minutes
on the clock Jessy Reindorf took up a good position to meet Claudiu Hoban's
right wing cross, but could only head over the top. Four minutes later the
hosts used the same flank to get pull back to Dylan Bowella, who shot wide
of the near post.

At the other end, Lee created a chance for himself when he shifted the ball
inside his man in the left channel and clipped an effort just past the far
post.
WIth 29 minutes on the clock, Sadlier found space down the left and crossed
to the far post where Brown collected, moved back onto his left foot and
brought a good low save from home keeper Tom Lovelock. In truth though,
chances were few and far between before the break, although the opening to
the second half proved to be far more open. First Sadlier burst through and
brought a fine save from Lovelock with a meatily-struck shot, before play
swung to the other end and Bowella miskicked when in front of goal. He was
made to pay almost immediately as, with 50 minutes played, Brown crossed low
from the right wing and the trialist was there to finish neatly. Both sides
made a raft of changes as the second period went on and two of the Hammers
subs, Jahmal Hector-Ingram and Parfitt-Williams, combined to good effect on
73 minutes when the former cut back for the latter, who fired inches over.
Two minutes later the pair were involved again, Hector-Ingram running at,
and drawing a foul from, Max Kontic inside the area. Referee Mike Coen
pointed straight to the spot, but Parfitt-Williams could not take advantage
as Lovelock dived to the left to parry away to safety. However, the
youngster's miss would not cost the Dev Squad victory as they maintained
their unbeaten start to pre-season.

Development Squad: St Louis-Hamilton; Westley (Amoo 58), Burke (Harney 46),
Pask (Onariase 58), Knoyle (Akinola 58); Cullen (M.Carter 58), Lletget
(Diangana 58); Brown (Rodriguez 65), Trialist (Hector-Ingram 72), Sadlier
(Parfitt-Williams 58); Lee (Maiga 58)
Goal: Trialist 50

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Reid seeking improvement
WHUFC.com
Winston Reid is confident the Hammers will be ready and raring to go come 16
August
23.07.2014

Winston Reid believes West Ham United will be firing on all cylinders when
the Barclays Premier League season gets underway on 16 August. Reid
captained the Hammers for their third pre-season game on Wednesday night - a
2-1 defeat by Wellington Phoenix in his home city of Auckland, New Zealand.
Although he admitted to being disappointed by the result, he felt that the
minor defensive issues would be easy to iron out before Tottenham Hotspur
visit the Boleyn Ground for the season opener in three and a half weeks'
time. "Phoenix played a good game and we didn't hit our usual standards, but
it's pre-season and we're working hard out there to try to improve
ourselves.," he said. "We made some mistakes but come the start of the
season we won't be making those mistakes any more. "The Phoenix played well.
They sat back and we created some chances but didn't take them, but they
scored the two chances they created."

Reid had to use his role as skipper to have a quiet word with referee Peter
O'Leary after some fierce first-half tackles left him and several other boys
in Claret and Blue on the floor. Thankfully, all returned to their feet, but
his manager stressed afterwards that he thought some of the challenges had
been a little over enthusiastic. "Phoenix were excited and they came in and
were hard to us. There were a couple of tackles in there that crossed the
line but it calmed down a bit in the second half."

Reid passed up a good chance to register when he glanced a header wide five
minutes from the end, although he was far from the only Hammers who failed
to convert when well placed. Much of that was down to Reid's fellow
countryman Glen Moss between the sticks, who pulled out some vital stops to
keep Big Sam's side at bay. "He's a good goalkeeper and I would like him to
have put a couple in the back for the net! To be fair I should have scored
as well but that's football."

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Cresswell hails Hammers support
WHUFC.com
Aaron Cresswell said West Ham United's players have enjoyed meeting fans on
their tour of New Zealand
24.07.2014

The result might not have gone their way, but Aaron Cresswell said West Ham
United were honoured to be part of their Football United Tour fixture with
Wellington Phoenix. Cresswell and company were edged out 2-1 by the A-League
side in the opening match of their two-game tour of New Zealand on Wednesday
evening. The game attracted a 19,183-strong crowd from all over New Zealand,
Australia and beyond to Auckland's legendary Eden Park - home of the All
Blacks. A colourful atmosphere featured a traditional Maori welcome,
including a performance of the Haka, before the two teams took to the pitch
amid scenes of great noise and colour. Despite dominating proceedings for
long periods, the touring Hammers fell two goals down by half-time before
Mauro Zarate sparked a frenetic finish with a 70th-minute strike. As it was,
the Phoenix - New Zealand's only professional club - held out to celebrate a
famous victory, but the left-back said the Hammers would not allow
themselves to get too down about their unexpected defeat. "We have come over
here and we expected a physical and competitive test," admitted Cresswell.
"They came out and at us from the first whistle and it was a tough test, but
the most important thing for us was to get our fitness up. "They came
straight out of the blocks and were not of a bad standard at all. We're on
the other side of the world and didn't know quite what to expect as we
hadn't seen much of the league, but I thought they were a good team."

The No3 said the squad had thoroughly enjoyed the very warm welcome they
have received since touching down in New Zealand on Saturday. Three Open
Training sessions held earlier this week attracted thousands of fans, many
of whom met their heroes for photographs and autographs, while parts of
central Auckland were turned Claret and Blue ahead of Wednesday's match.
Coming after a week-long training camp in France and pre-season matches with
Stevenage and his old club Ipswich, the 24-year-old said he and his fellow
new boys had quickly settled into life at the Club. "It was hard getting
around the time difference and stuff, but once we got around it we had three
good sessions training-wise and obviously the game on Wednesday night, so
it's been a hectic few days but very enjoyable. "We went to France for a
week, then back to England for a few days to play two games before flying
out to New Zealand, so I've been with the boys constantly and it's been good
for the new lads to get to know the group."

As well as helping to strengthen team spirit, Cresswell said pre-season was
going well for him in terms of getting him match-fit ahead of the new
Barclays Premier League season. With Saturday's Football United Tour fixture
with Sydney FC in Wellington, two games at the Schalke 04 Cup and the visit
of UC Sampdoria still to come, the defender believes he and his colleagues
will be ready for action come the big kick-off on 16 August. "Pre-season is
always about getting yourselves right and working on your fitness. It's
always nice to get into form, but the main thing is obviously fitness.
"There are still three or four games left until the start of the season, so
we hope it will come as we get as fit as we can."

Cresswell has made just three appearances in a West Ham shirt since his
summer arrival from Ipswich Town, but he is already showing signs of forging
an encouraging partnership with Matt Jarvis down the left-hand side. "Jarvo
is a great player and I find it easy to link up with him. We'll be looking
to carry that through throughout the pre-season and do good things. "I'll
just take each game as it comes and try to do my best and influence whoever
is playing in front of me."

The productive partnership may be rekindled at Westpac Stadium on Saturday,
where Cresswell is hoping West Ham can end their stay in New Zealand with a
morale-boosting victory. "It would be nice to give the travelling fans who
are out here something to celebrate and hopefully get the win."

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West Ham striker to sit out rest of pre-season tour
BBC.co.uk

West Ham striker Andy Carroll will sit out the club's pre-season tour of New
Zealand after suffering a sore ankle. Carroll missed Wednesday's 2-1 defeat
by Wellington Phoenix and will not be considered for the match against
Sydney FC in Wellington on Saturday. A statement on the club's website said
that Carroll would "receive intensive treatment to ensure he is fit for the
start of the season". The problem is unrelated to the heel injury Carroll
had last season. The 25-year-old missed the majority of 2013-14, managing
just 15 league appearances and also failed to force his way into England's
World Cup squad. New signing Mauro Zarate scored his first goal for the club
as they slipped to defeat in their opening tour fixture.

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Andy Carroll returns from pre-season tour
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 24th July 2014
By: Staff Writer

West Ham's Andy Carroll has returned to England to receive treatment on an
injured ankle. On Wednesday it was revealed here on KUMB.com that the
striker could miss the start of the season - and several weeks thereafter -
having damaged his ankle whilst training with the rest of the first team
squad in New Zealand at the weekend. And co-owner David Sullivan's son Jack
followed up our story by confirming via Twitter last night that Carroll had
already returned to the UK ahead of the travelling party.

Whilst the extent of Carroll's latest injury remains educated guesswork - at
best - club staff are hopeful that the injury-cursed forward may yet recover
in time to feature in the opening game of the 2014/15 campaign at home to
Tottenham. However a sizeable number of supporters are beginning to run out
of patience with the club's record signing, who has been beset by a series
of injury problems since first joining West Ham two years ago.

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Andy Carroll facing new injury crisis
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 23rd July 2014
By: Staff Writer

Andy Carroll could be out of action for several weeks, according to reports
emerging this afternoon. A trusted source posting on the KUMB Forum this
afternoon claims that Carroll's ankle injury is far worse than previously
estimated, with the striker likely to be unavailable for between "two to
four months". Carroll is currently in New Zealand with the first team squad
but West Ham have already revealed that he will not be taking any part in
either of the two tour matches - the first of which West Ham lost to
Wellington Phoenix this morning. The same source had previously suggested
that Carroll was sent home from the pre-season trip to France earlier this
month after being told that his fitness levels were unacceptably low. Only
24 hours ago West Ham revealed that Carroll would miss both games of the
current Football United tour in New Zealand, stating that the striker had
been relieved of first team duties as "a precautionary measure after
developing a sore left ankle during training". The statement added: "It
should be clear that the affected area is not in any way associated with the
previous injury he successfully overcame towards the end of last season."

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Brown denies Bentley link
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 23rd July 2014
By: Staff Writer

Southend United manager Phil Brown has denied that he is considering selling
goalkeeper Daniel Bentley to West Ham. Brown, a long-term friend of
Allardyce's told the Echo that he had spoken to Big Sam after KUMB revealed
how West Ham had enquired about Bentley, the Blues' 21-year-old goalkeeper.
"I heard the rumour and wanted to check it out so I gave Sam a call in New
Zealand," said Brown. "You have to do these things to cover yourself,
especially if you're going to lose your first choice goalkeeper. "However,
Sam never made any reference to wanting to bring Daniel in." An odd choice
of words from Brown, who also revealed that he has both Paul Smith and Ted
Smith in reserve should Bentley be unavailable at any point. "Paul Smith is
fitter than he's been in a long time and he's had a good pre-season as
well,which is something he hasn't had for a couple of years now," he said.
"He might even challenge Dan for the number one slot and we have a great
number three in Ted Smith, so the goalkeeping position is looking very
strong indeed."

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Allardyce hurt by Phoenix defeat
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 23rd July 2014
By: Staff Writer

Sam Allardyce admitted to being disappointed by this morning's 2-1 defeat
against Wellington Phoenix - but insisted that fitness remained top of the
agenda.
The Hammers went down by the odd goal in three at Eden Park this morning
after two dreadful defensive lapses helped the home side take a two-goal
lead, before new signing Mauro Zarate finally gave the travelling fans
something to cheer about with a lovely curling effort. And whilst he
admitted to being unhappy at losing the game, Allardyce maintained that
continuing their efforts to regain full match fitness in time for the start
of the 2014/15 Premier League campaign was the ultimate goal for his squad.
"We're disappointed with the first half performance when we were caught cold
by the Phoenix," he told whufc.com. "They showed a great attitude and played
at a tempo that we struggled to keep tabs with - and that's where we lost
the two goals. "We are finding our fitness with each game but we certainly
didn't find our standard, whereas the Phoenix hit their standard and they
competed as we expected them to. They shut us down high up the pitch
exceptionally well. "We're 20 days into pre-season and what matters is
getting the players ready for 16 August. I've won every pre-season game in
the past and lost the first three or four games in the league, and not won a
pre-season game and then not lost the first eight or ten games of the
season!"

That's perhaps just as well, given that his side have failed to record a win
against Stevenage, Ipswich or Phoenix in pre-season so far. However
Allardyce did admit to being rather more concerned about a lack of quality
exhibited by his players. "It's a disappointing result, but it doesn't make
a lot of difference," he surmised. "What is important is our level of
performance, what we are as a team, and our technique levels. That did worry
me because our technique levels were way down on our standard, so I was
disappointed about that. I can understand that we were fatigued with the way
we've been working, but not the lack of technique on occasions. The players
have to realise we didn't compete well enough, first and foremost. Any game
of football you play, anywhere in the world, you've got to earn the right to
play."

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Wellington Phoenix 2-1 West Ham Utd
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 23rd July 2014
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United remain without a win in pre-season after suffering a
surprise defeat in the first leg of the Football United tour. Having
previously drawn at Stevenage and Ipswich, the Hammers were expected to
comfortably beat Wellington Phoenix at Eden Park this morning. However Sam
Allardyce's jet-lagged side were left somewhat embarrassed - or 'stunned',
according to stuff.co.nz - after falling to a 2-1 defeat.

A lively encounter, the game began with Phoenix full back Louie Fenton
somehow escaping a red card for a dreadful, ankle-high lunge at new signing
Cheikhou Kouyate. Carlton Cole narrowly failed to convert a low Matt Jarvis
cross before West Ham found themselves behind.

A Phoenix free kick was delivered towards the near post and as West Ham's
defence stood motionless, Andrew Durante emerged from behind his marker to
steer his header beyond goalkeeper Jussi Jaaskelainen. Pre-season or not, it
was a dreadful goal to concede.

And as poor as the opening goal was, the second - conceded on 25 minutes -
was little better. James Collins, who has consistently made grave errors
throughout his career conceded possession 30 yards from goal. Alex Rodriguez
picked up the loose ball before firing it into the corner of Jasskelainen's
net from the edge of the box as West Ham's other defenders retreated.

However the 'English Premier League giants' - courtesy of New Zealand TV -
did at least give the travelling fans - who sang a rousing chorus of "you're
nothing special, we lose every week" - something to cheer about when Mauro
Zaratae scored his first goal in a West Ham shirt.

With 20 minutes to play, the Argentinian managed to beat the otherwise
excellent Phoenix 'keeper Glen Moss. Receiving the ball from Matt Jarvis,
Zarate curled a lovely effort inside the post to give West Ham a fighting
chance.

However the Hammers were left disappointed - and no doubt a little
embarrassed too - after failing to score for a second time - much to the
delight of the home crowd who had seen their team gain a most unexpected
victory.

Even though West Ham's involvement in the Football United tournament is
primarily about fitness, the performance will have disappointed the many
hundreds of New Zealand-based and travelling Hammers fans, some of whom have
spent several thousands of pounds to make the trip.

The game was preceded with a minute's silence for John Adler and Liam
Sweeney, the Newcastle United fans who were killed in the terrorist attack
on a Malaysian Airlines flight last week whilst on their way to support
their team in the Football United tour.

West Ham Utd: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Reid (c), Collins, Cresswell, Kouyate,
Noble, Nolan, Diame, Jarvis, Cole.
Subs: Adrian, Howes, Tomkins, Downing, Fanimo, O'Brien, Potts, Poyet, Vaz
Te, Whitehead, Zarate.

Wellington Phoenix: Moss, Muscat, Gorrin, Burns, Brockie, Boyd, Riera,
Fenron, Sigmund, Durante (c), Blake.
Subs: Italiano, Caira, Boxall, Brindell-Smith, Cunningham, Rufer, Hicks,
Lia, Krishna, Ridenton, Doyle.

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West Ham lose 2-1 to Wellington Phoenix in Auckland, New Zealand
Last Updated: 23/07/14 11:17am
SSn

Mauro Zarate scored his first West Ham goal in a 2-1 friendly defeat to
Wellington Phoenix at Eden Park on Wednesday. The Hammers began their
Football United Tour with a loss in Auckland, against a Phoenix team that
finished ninth in the 10-team A-League last season. New signings Aaron
Cresswell and Cheikhou Kouyate were both named in the starting line-up by
Sam Allardyce, with Winston Reid captaining the team in the city of his
birth. Carlton Cole forced an early save out of Phoenix goalkeeper Glen Moss
but in the 11th minute, the New Zealand club's skipper Andrew Durante headed
an Alex Gorrin free-kick past Jussi Jaaskelainen to give them the lead. And
on 27 minutes, the Phoenix doubled their advantage as Spanish midfielder
Gorrin raced through after winning a block tackle with James Collins and
finished coolly into the far corner. Zarate replaced Kouyate on the hour
mark and pulled a goal back on 71 minutes, curling a shot inside the post
after being set up by Matt Jarvis. Reid went close with a header in the
final stages before Phoenix substitute goalkeeper Lewis Italiano tipped
Stewart Downing's goalbound effort round the post in stoppage time. West Ham
now move on to Wellington to face Sydney FC at the Westpac Stadium on
Saturday.

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ZARATE'S GOAL WAS CLASS, BUT APART FROM THAT...
By Iain Dale 23 Jul 2014 at 10:46
West Ham Till I Die

And to think I got up early on my holiday to watch that load of kack. OK,
it's only a pre-season friendly, yadda, yadda, yadda, but there was
virtually nothing positive to take out of that game apart from the quality
of Mauro Zarate's goal. We looked sluggish, uncommitted and too fond of
playing the long ball. If there has been a shift in our style of play I
can't say I noticed. Did anyone else?

There was a bit of an improvement in the second half when some of the fringe
players entered the fray, but we were made to look ordinary by a team which
would struggle in our League Two. And they are even further behind
pre-season than we are. Jussi looked as if he'd already retired and our
whole defence looked shaky. Kevin Nolan hardly touched the ball and although
Matt Jarvis raced past their right back with ease, he never actually
delivered a dangerous ball.

Maybe these new shirts are a jinx. I positively hate them. They don't even
look like a football shirt. No wonder we lost 2-1!

I think i will return to the Norfolk sun before I depress myself even
further…

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Ravel Morrison faces West Ham transfer after delaying groin surgery because
he was too scared
Jul 23, 2014 22:30 By Darren Lewis
Boss Allardyce "didn't seem that ­sympathetic" when the club had to explain
to controversial midfielder he needed the op now to be fit for start of
season
The Mirror

West Ham are ready to offload Ravel Morrison - because the midfielder is not
in Sam Allardyce's plans for the new season. The England Under-21
international, a fans' favourite at Upton Park, is recovering from a minor
groin ­operation while the rest of the Hammers' squad are touring New
Zealand. The procedure was delayed, however, after Morrison refused to have
the op because he was frightened about being cut. It is claimed Allardyce
"didn't seem that ­sympathetic" West Ham had to persuade the player the
surgery was necessary ahead of the new season. Morrison is also said to have
left Big Sam exasperated with an aversion to long-haul flights. It comes two
years after Morrison, 21, refused to drink anything other than official
'West Ham bottled water' during a pre-season stay in Germany. The former
Manchester United schemer has been at St George's Park in the Midlands this
week as part of his rehab. He has just a year left on his Hammers' contract
and has been persistently linked with a new deal.

Mirror Sport ­understands Swansea, Russia's CSKA Moscow and Sporting Lisbon
of Portugal have made discreet enquiries about his availability this summer.
Fulham failed with a big to poach him from Upton Park in January, and a
string of Championship clubs are ­interested in taking Morrison on loan for
next season. At his parent club, however, it is understood that Big Sam is
not prepared to indulge him ahead of the Hammers' team. A source close to
Morrison said: "Sam has been brilliant with Ravel – to his face – so unless
someone tells us otherwise he is happy to stay at West Ham. All the
indications have been that something could be worked out with his contract."
Morrison scored one of the goals of last season with his outstanding solo
effort as the Irons stunned Tottenham. It came during the first half of the
campaign, in which the midfielder was among West Ham's best players. But he
was shipped out on loan to QPR in February, as Allardyce constantly claimed
he was injured – only for Morrison to play regularly at Loftus Road.

West Ham were beaten 2-1 by Wellington Phoenix in Auckland on their tour of
New Zealand on Wednesday. They face Sydney FC in Wellington on Saturday.

Ravel Morrison's career timeline
2009 Signed for the Manchester United academy.
2010 Turned professional at Old Trafford on his 17th birthday.
2011 Received a 12-month referral order and was ordered to pay £1,445 in
costs and compensation after admitting two counts of witness intimidation.
Assault charge dropped when his girlfriend refused to testify. Convicted of
criminal damage for throwing her phone out of a window. Advised to undergo
counselling.
2012 Limited chances at United led to him being sold to West Ham in January.
Charged by the FA over the posting of a homophobic threat on twitter.
Accepted his guilt and was fined £7,000.
2013 After being capped by England at U16, U17 and U18, made debut for the
U21s against San Marino.
Returned from a loan spell at Birmingham and scored one of the goals of the
season on a solo run against Spurs at White Hart Lane.
2014 Loaned to QPR and was in the Wembley squad that won the playoff final.

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Could new signing Cheikhou Kouyate from Anderlecht give West Ham the
platform to play under Sam Allardyce?
With the help of Sky Sports' Belgium correspondent Kristof Terreur and the
Opta data, Adam Bate discusses whether Cheikhou Kouyate could have a big
impact at West Ham...
By Adam Bate | Twitter @ghostgoal | Last Updated: 23/07/14 11:51pm
SSN

Following a season that left some in the stands and the board room
dissatisfied with West Ham's efforts, the appointment of Teddy Sheringham as
an attacking coach was seen as a symbol of a new era of intent. But the
signs are that Sam Allardyce will continue to do things his way. While
Sheringham will get the chance to develop talents such as Enner Valencia and
Mauro Zarate, the West Ham manager has shown his determination to maintain a
robust approach by building his midfield around a 6'4" powerhouse who spent
much of last season at centre-back.

Cheikhou Kouyate joined the Hammers from Anderlecht in a £7million deal
earlier this month after featuring in the team's back-four in all but one of
their six Champions League appearances last term. Indeed, he was in the
centre of defence all season until reverting back to midfield in April. His
Champions League statistics are indicative of his significant presence as he
ranked among the club's top two players for tackles, interceptions,
clearances and blocks. Kouyate even boasted the best aerial duel success
rate for any player to win 10 or more in last season's competition. Such
efforts led Sky Sports' resident Belgian football correspondent Kristof
Terreur to describe Kouyate as "one of the better defenders in Belgium" with
the caveat that he "sometimes he still has some strange attacking movements"
in his game.

It's those attacking instincts his new boss is so keen to harness. Upon his
acquisition, Allardyce told the club's official website: "Kouyate is a
dynamic midfielder, goes box to box and has excellent skills with both feet
as well as being strong in the air. If needed, he can fill in at centre back
but his strength will be what he can do in midfield and creating the chances
we need to attack."

Kouyate's pre-season performances have certainly offered encouragement that
the Hammers might be able to find the right balance. After making a strong
debut against Stevenage, Kouyate got his first goal against Ipswich in an
assured display that showcased his pace, strength and ball-playing
abilities. Perhaps Allardyce now has the physical foil for Mark Noble in
midfield.

The 24-year-old looks to be benefiting from the deal being agreed so early
in the summer. "I've adapted well," he says. "The team has really welcomed
me and the players have been extremely kind. That's great and has helped me
fit in. That's what I was expecting, but I wasn't expecting it to happen so
quickly. From my very first day at West Ham, they have all been behind me."

This unity will be a key factor in whether West Ham's season is to be judged
a success or a failure by next May. Even when it comes to the arrival of
Sheringham, the insistence that the new coach was picked by Allardyce offers
hope that the integration of all the new faces will be a smooth one.

"Sam picked the one he wanted," said co-owner David Sullivan, quoted in the
Daily Mirror. "I think he has analysed the performance of the team last year
and agreed that we would like to score more goals. It was a weakness of the
team and he has brought in an expert to try and improve that."

Sheringham may be here and the mood at West Ham is changing. But Allardyce's
fingerprints remain on the team. And if Kouyate can build on his early
promise, that might be no bad thing.

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Nolan's words come back to haunt him
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 23, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh

Earlier this week Kevin Nolan told the Sun Andy-Carroll-1200

"We'll have the big man available for the whole of the season and that will
be a big thing for us, I'm confident that if we can keep Andy fit, as well
as introducing the signings we have brought in, this year is going to be a
very good one for us."

Those words must be haunting Nolan when hours later it became clear Andy
Carroll's fitness remained in severe doubt following West Ham's statement
last night blaming his ankle.

He is expected to fly back home today and it is claimed he will return to
face an intensive specialized programme in attempt to get him ready and
repay the faith the West Ham board and manager put in him when he signed
last summer.

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