Match Preview - Wellington Phoenix
WHUFC.com
Team news, ticket and travel details and much more ahead of West Ham United's historic visit to Eden Park
22.07.2014
WELLINGTON PHOENIX v WEST HAM UNITED
FOOTBALL UNITED TOUR
EDEN PARK, AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND
WEDNESDAY 23JULY 2014
KICK-OFF: 7.37PM NZ TIME
In brief
West Ham United play their first-ever match in New Zealand as part of the 2014 Football United Tour, taking on A-League side Wellington Phoenix at the 50,000-capacity Eden Park in Auckland.
The tournament also features Newcastle United, who beat Sydney FC 4-0 in the opening match in Dunedin, on New Zealand's South Island, on Tuesday evening.
The Hammers have drawn their opening two pre-season matches 2-2 at Stevenage and 0-0 at Ipswich Town, but will be hopeful of scoring a first victory when they take on the Phoenix on Wednesday.
Thousands of supporters from across New Zealand, Australia and further afield have descended on New Zealand's biggest city for what promises to be a unique occasion in Kiwi football history.
Before the big match kicks-off at 7.37pm local time, a curtain-raiser fixture will be played featuring some of New Zealand's best-known celebrities and sports stars. This kicks-off at 6pm.
A moment's silence will be held before kick-off in the main match in memory of John Alder and Liam Sweeney, the two Newcastle fans who were tragically killed en route to New Zealand, when a Malaysian Airlines flight was shot down over Ukraine last week.
The match will be screened live on television in New Zealand on pay-per-view by Sky Sport, in the UK by BT Sport and in more than 20 other countries around the world.
Who are they?
Founded in March 2007 following the dissolution of the New Zealand Knights, Wellington Phoenix entered the A-League later the same year, becoming the first expansion club in the league's history.
The name for the new club was picked from a shortlist of six, picked from 250 names suggested by the public, and represents the 'fresh start' for football made in the city with the club's birth.
In 2009/10, under the guidance of future New Zealand manager Ricki Herbert, Wellington Phoenix became the first ever New Zealand side to reach the A-League play-offs, defeating Perth Glory and Newcastle Jets to reach the Preliminary final, where they were beaten by Sydney FC. The Nix, as they are nicknamed, reached the play-offs again in 2011 and 2012.
In September 2011, the Phoenix was taken over by Welnix, a consortium of some of Wellington's most successful and influential businessmen. With business acumen and professional intergrity unparallelled in New Zealand business, this consortium has secured the future of the Phoenix for many years to come.
Scottish head coach Ernie Merrick has overseen a major turnover in players since his appointment in more than a dozen new faces since his appointment in May 2013. A two-time A-League champion with Melbourne Victory, Merrick will hope to see the Phoenix rise from a ninth-place finish in 2013/14.
As New Zealand's sole A-League representative, the Phoenix are an important and integral part of the country's sporting landscape, enjoying passionate support at home and abroad. With a strong suite of corporate sponsors, a passionate supporter base and the support of the Wellington community in general, the Wellington Phoenix's future looks bright.
Team news
West Ham will field the vast majority of their 24-man squad at Eden Park. However, Andy Carroll will miss the game with an ankle injury. For an update on this, click here.
One to watch
Wellington Phoenix
Australia international midfielder and winger Nathan Burns joined Wellington Phoenix from Korean club Incheon United in June 2014. Capped seven times by his country, Burns attended the Australian Institute of Sport as a youngster before turning out for Parramatta Eagles and A-League club Adelaide United.
In 2008, Burns moved to European football by joining Greek Super League side AEK Athens. He spent three and a half years in Greece, being loaned to Kerkyra in 2009/10, and totalled 70 appearances and ten goals for the two clubs.
After 18 months with Incheon, the 26-year-old returned to his homeland with Newcastle Jets on loan, scoring twice in 12 A-League appearances in 2013/14. At international level, Burns also helped Australia to runners-up spot at the 2011 AFC Asian Cup.
West Ham United
West Ham United fans could see Mauro Zarate make his second appearance in a Hammers shirt, with the exciting Argentine having made his debut as a substitute at Ipswich Town last time out.
Technically excellent, blessed with a low centre of gravity and superb finishing skills, Zarate has the talent and game to play in any of the attacking positions - either 'in the hole', out wide or as a central striker.
Zarate has looked sharp in training in New Zealand and could be handed a start in Andy Carroll's absence at Eden Park.
Tickets
Tickets are still available for what promises to be a unique occasion at New Zealand's largest stadium - Eden Park.
To purchases your tickets now, click here.
Travel
By public transport: For full information about how to get to Eden Park by public transport, click here.
By car: For full information about the road closures and parking restrictions around Eden Park, click here.
Where to go for a pre-match drink/meal
West Ham United fans are set to take over many of the bars in Auckland city centre, with supporters' groups attending from all over New Zealand, Australia and beyond.
The Australian supporters' clubs will be at O'Hagan's Irish Pub in the city's Viaduct Harbour district from 4pm.
Weather
The forecast is for a cool evening, with the small possibility of some showers and a maximum temperature of 10C (50F).
Last meeting
West Ham United have never met Wellington Phoenix previously.
Old boys
No player has every turned out for West Ham United and Wellington Phoenix.
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New Zealand update
WHUFC.com
Andy Carroll will be rested for both games on the Football United tour in New Zealand
22.07.2014
Andy Carroll will miss both games on the Football United tour of New Zealand as a precautionary measure after developing a sore left ankle during training.
After assessment by the Club's medical experts, it was decided to let the England international rest for both remaining games and receive intensive treatment to ensure he is fit for the start of the season. 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. West Ham United kick off their Football United tour against Wellington Phoenix in Auckland on Wednesday evening before facing Sydney FC in Wellington on Saturday.
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Phoenix rise to Hammers challenge
WHUFc.com
Wellington Phoenix head coach Ernie Merrick says the A-League club cannot wait to face West Ham United
21.07.2014
West Ham United's Football United Tour is a big deal to Wellington Phoenix. The visit of the Hammers, Newcastle United and Sydney FC to New Zealand was the brainchild of the A-League club, who will face Sam Allardyce's side at Eden Park in Auckland on Wednesday evening. While both clubs are still in pre-season, Phoenix head coach Ernie Merrick says the Football United Tour has caught the imagination of his players, staff and the general public alike. "I'm looking forward to it, the players are certainly looking forward to it and it has created a huge buzz around the whole of New Zealand," said Merrick, who visited Chadwell Heath earlier this year. It's great to see so many fans come out to see us. "This has never been done before in Australia and New Zealand, having two English Premier League sides visiting the country at the same time. This is first-class and we'll be making the most of it and hopefully we can put on a show for the fans. "First and foremost this is about our preparation in pre-season. In the A-League the pre-season is a prolonged period, so we really need to utilise the time well and play games regionally and against Australian sides. To play two Premier League sides is a huge boost for us and it will give our boys a chance to play against the players they have only seen on television."
Merrick said the Football United Tour, which is being broadcast in more than 20 countries worldwide, would offer the opportunity for his players to catch the attention of European clubs. "This is going to be broadcast on television, so it will be seen in Europe as well and I have no doubt that some of our young players will want to be spotted. I don't think it's a bad thing for them to have that ambition and we have some technically very good youngsters here.
"It will be very competitive. There is no doubt that Kiwi boys are very competitive, but they'll want to play good football too. This isn't about rough and tough or about defending - it's about trying to play a style that entertains the fans. "The result is important, but performance is very important for us at this stage as well."
Ticket sales for Wednesday's fixture and Saturday's double-header at Westpac Stadium in Wellington, where West Ham will face Sydney FC and the Phoenix will host Newcastle, have been very strong. A 20,000-strong crowd is expected at Eden Park, while a sell-out 34,500 will attend at Westpac - outstanding figures in a country more commonly associated with rugby union. "Ticket sales have been terrific, thanks in part to the promotion done by West Ham and Newcastle and the fact they have brought all their players," Merrick confirmed. "On the back of the World Cup, this really promotes the game in our country."
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Claret and Blues
WHUFC.com
All Blacks great Sir John Kirwan spent time with West Ham United during their tour to New Zealand
22.07.2014
West Ham United visited one of world sport's great venues on Tuesday, where they were welcomed by one of New Zealand's legendary sporting heroes.
Sir John Kirwan played 63 Test matches for the All Blacks rugby union team between 1984 and 1994, scoring 35 tries and winning the inaugural Rugby World Cup in 1987. The former winger spent eleven years playing for his home city of Auckland, while also turning out for Italian club Treviso during the European season. It was while living in Italy that he developed a love of football, supporting Juventus and studying the nuances of the beautiful game. Now a successful coach who has led both Italy and Japan to Rugby World Cups, the 49-year-old is now head coach of the Super Rugby team Auckland Blues. On Tuesday, he - was a very interested spectator - along with Blues players Angus Ta'avao, Jamison Gibson-Park and James Parsons - as West Ham trained at the home of the Blues, Auckland's iconic Eden Park. The Hammers taken on A-League side Wellington Phoenix at the 50,000-seater stadium on Wednesday evening at 7.30pm.
Sir John welcomed the Hammers to a stadium where he enjoyed a near-perfect playing record before spending an extended period in discussion with Hammers manager Sam Allardyce. "For me, Eden Park is a very special place," Sir John confirmed. "I didn't lose here for four years and didn't lose here playing for the All Blacks for about eight years and only lost two games in total, so it's a very special ground for me and I feel really at home here.
"It's a great honour for me to have such a prestigious football team here and I hope you enjoy the moment of what, for me, is a very special place. The honour is ours that you are here. "I'm a big soccer fan. I lived in Italy for 12 years and I like to study the game, so I'm a really passionate fan. I follow Juventus and my son plays soccer and wants to be a professional soccer player. He loves his soccer and I watch him play and am passionate about it. "It's also good for me to study. Big Sam, who I have seen from a distance for many years, was absolutely outstanding for me. As a manager myself, I got the chance to talk to him about some of the finer points on how to manage sides at that level."
Sir John believes that rugby union, which was an amatuer sport just 20 years ago, is now catching up with football - and in some areas has overtaken it - when it comes to many technical, physical, mental and commercial aspects of the game. "I think it's fair to say that rugby is heading towards soccer as far as income and the pressures on us as coaches and managers, so I was very privileged that I spent half an hour chatting to Sam. "I think all sports can learn from each other and many of the things I was talking about with Sam were mainly around management of players - physical, mental, game-stress and implementation of gameplan under pressure. There are a whole lot of different things, but they all come back to the individual athlete."
While New Zealand is undoubtedly rugby country, Sir John was quick to make the comparison of the Kiwis' love of the All Blacks and West Ham fans' loyal support of their own team. "For us, rugby is a bit like football is for you guys - a religion. I sum it up by saying that when my team loses - the biggest team with the biggest stadium in New Zealand - and I ring my mother up, who is 86, she will tell me what went wrong and ask me about selection, the scrum and the lineout. "That makes this country very unique and it's a bit like football in the UK. There are a lot of people who know about the game. We're passionate about it, we've got a winning culture and that comes with expectation and lots of passion, which is why we do it."
While Sir John had few peers as a rugby player, his talent on the football pitch is less well known. However, fans watching Wednesday's Football United Tour fixture between West Ham and Wellington will be able to catch him in action in a pre-match curtain-raiser game at Eden Park, which kicks-off at 6pm local time. "I've got a special pair of boots which make me go fast!" he joked. "I'm actually going to be playing as a defender, so if anybody tries to go past me there could be some contact! "I've heard the English game is much more physical than our game, so I was very interested to look at the Phoenix and your athletes, but I wouldn't be looking at the pre-game curtain-raiser for any tips! "I'm excited to be playing, I'm honoured that you guys are here and I think it's a fantastic thing for sport in general. I'll be out there having a kick-around, but I'll be watching the main game afterwards with a lot of interest."
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Lee loving pre-season purple patch
WHUFC.com
Elliot Lee is thrilled to be back scoring after injury brought a premature end to his involvement last term
22.07.2014
Elliot Lee is fit and firing again. West Ham United's teenage frontman missed the back end of last term with an ankle injury but is quickly making up for lost time. The 19-year-old has already netted four times for the Development Squad in pre-season and could hardly have wished for a better return to action.
"Pre-season's got off to a good start, I'm really pleased with how it's gone," Lee told West Ham TV. "With my injury last season, I really wanted to get my fitness and sharpness back as soon as I could. I think you can see that it's coming now and the goals are just an added bonus. It's brilliant to get them. "As a striker that's all you want to do, you want to score goals! I know throughout the season there will be blips when I don't score and I've just got to keep my confidence up. But at the minute, it's going really well for me. Hopefully I can just carry on scoring more."
Following a match-winning double at Havant and Waterlooville on Tuesday evening, Lee was at it again on Sunday, netting twice in quick succession to help down RCD Espanyol. If his first was a thing of beauty, nestling perfectly in the far corner, the second was more of a poacher's goal, but both welcome in his bid to wrestle his way back into senior reckoning. He continued: "I think it was a great team goal," he confirmed. "I owe all credit to my team-mates. We've popped it about down the left-hand side. It's a great ball from Kieran [Sadlier] to Sebby [Sebastian Lletget], it's a great set from Sebby to me and I've just put it in the corner, so it's a great goal all round if you ask me. "It [the second] is just being in the right place at the right time. Sam [Westley] has headed it against the bar and luckily it's come straight to me and I've just been able to put it in the goal. "I'm happy with my performances so far. I hope to carry on scoring goals, playing well and if I catch the gaffer's eye, then hopefully I can go and put in performances for the first team. But we'll have to see about that."
Aside from his own form, Lee is encouraged by how the Development Squad is shaping up this term, particularly with a new raft of youngsters ready to stake their claim. He continued: "I think we've had a great start to pre-season. All the lads are gelling again, we're all looking forward to the new season and hopefully we can do really well. We've got all the youngsters coming through. We push the youngsters on and they push us on, so there's no difference really. They've stepped up very well and they don't look out of place at all."
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West Ham striker Andy Carroll has picked up an ankle injury
Last Updated: 22/07/14 11:14pm
SSN
Andy Carroll is to miss both of West Ham United's friendly contests in New Zealand after picking up an ankle problem. The 25-year-old had been hoping to enjoy an injury-free pre-season, allowing him to start the 2014/15 campaign at peak fitness. Having spent much of last season on the treatment table as he nursed his way back from a serious heel complaint, the last thing he wanted was to suffer a fresh setback. West Ham hope the problem is not too serious and plan to rest Carroll as a precaution. They remain confident that the England international will be ready for the start of the new Premier League season and that there will be no repeat of the concerns from 12 months ago. A statement posted on the club's official website read: "After assessment by the Club's medical experts, it was decided to let the England international rest for both remaining games and receive intensive treatment to ensure he is fit for the start of the season. "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."
West Ham are due to face Wellington Phoenix in Auckland on Wednesday morning before travelling to Wellington to play Sydney FC on Saturday.
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GUEST POST: DAY TWO IN NEW ZEALAND
By Iain Dale 22 Jul 2014 at 08:37
West Ham Till I Die
Guest Post by Kiwi Hammer
I will cut to the chase ….. Andy Carroll did not train and was not at the ground. A "reliable source" tells me he was doing a gym session and they were hoping he would play tomorrow but would make no further comment other than that ……. like the seasoned journo i have become (ha ha ha ha ) i cannot divulge that source!
But the weather was better and the stadium far more befitting of the mighty West Ham Utd (1895) and much to my delight i managed to get the following players to sign my daughter's West Ham tops, and for that I will be forever grateful …… Kevin Nolan, Winston Reid, Ginge Collins, Mohammed Diame ….. and my personal favourite ……. Carlton Cole.
You will also be delighted to know that one of the drills focussed on SHOOTING !!
The guys spilt into 3 groups. Poyet, Vaz Te, Diame, Jarvis, Reid & Potts Nolan, Ginge. Tomkins, Zarate, Kouyate Noble, Downing, Cresswell, Demel, Cole
Obviously there were also the Academy boys who I'm less familiar with. One end was a 6 v 6 "game" in one third of the pitch, the other end the ball movement and shooting drill alternating sides of the pitch. At both ends the keepers were wholly involved. The groups rotated between attacking the goal in the 6 v 6, defending the goal in the 6 v 6 and the shooting drill.
Apart from a brief shower the weather held. David Gold mixed and mingled and talked of the possibility of additional loan players to add to the squad …. gee he's a patient man!!
I'm a 48 year man yet felt like a school boy today. I cant wait for tomorrow. You should all be very proud of your team, they are all doing you and the club proud over here.
I can see an upsurge in the support for West Ham United from down under.
Interestingly ….. someone (i assume authorised) was also selling West Ham gear as you came through the gate …… probably too many kids and not enough Dads to be successful, but interesting nonetheless. Tomorrow night could be a bumper night for sales.
The groundsman tells me they are hoping for 20,000 tomorrow night, anything above 10 realistically will be a great result (funny, he was also getting grumpy with the goalkeepers chewing up the grass and the work he was going to have to do to get it shipshape by kick off).
Come on you Irons
UPDATE: I've just read that 17,000 tickets have been pre-sold.
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West Ham's young wing wizard Oscar Borg, on trial at Manchester United, to start for Red Devils' Under 18 side
Borg, on trial at Manchester United, to start for Red Devils' Under 18 side
The West Ham youngster has been dubbed as the 'next Gareth Bale'
Southampton are also interested in 16-year-old wing-back
By ADAM CRAFTON
PUBLISHED: 19:23, 22 July 2014 | UPDATED: 19:23, 22 July 2014
Daily Mail
Oscar Borg, the 16-year-old West Ham winger compared to Gareth Bale and on trial at Manchester United, is set to start for the Red Devils' under-18 team against Trafford on Monday night. The youngster, currently trying to impress at Old Trafford, has also attracted interest from Southampton, according to the Daily Express. Nicknamed 'Gareth' by the West Ham coaching set-up for a similar style of play to the Welsh wizard, Borg looks to have a bright future. Should Borg impress, he will cost United around £220,000 but as he is not signed on as a scholar at West Ham he is free to move. The east Londoners have also offered another rising star, Reece Oxford, a new and much improved deal to stay following interest from United, Arsenal and Chelsea. Oxford is a 15-year-old defender who has already played for West Ham's Under 18 side. The deal is believed to be the biggest the club have ever offered to a player under 20. Speaking earlier this month Hammers co-owner David Sullivan spoke of the club's intention to keep Oxford and blasted England's top sides for continually poaching the lesser clubs' best talent. 'It almost makes you give up on having an academy if they can come in and nick your best 15-year-old. What's the point?,' Sullivan said. Meanwhile Ogo Obi, a trialist from Watford, will also play some part for United's young side.
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West Ham will regret sticking with Sam Allardyce
by Daryl Hardy
GiveMesport.com
Ahead of the new Premier League season West Ham have been busy in the transfer market as they look to improve on a stuttering campaign last term, however their decision to stick with Sam Allardyce as manager could prove to be their downfall. The Hammers finished 13th last season reaching the benchmark points tally of 40 which is often enough to ensure a team of their Premier League safety. However the 2013-14 season was not like many others with the bottom half of the table in a relegation dogfight for the majority of it.
Deserves recognition
Just seven points separated the relegated Norwich in 18th and West Ham. Allardyce deserves credit for getting his side out of the scrap and clearing them to safety, which he has previously stated was his objective for the season. Although if the club want to progress and ensure they are not involved in a similar situation in the future, then it is perhaps not wise to stick with the man that put them there in the first place.
In need of a new style
Allardyce teams are fighters, scrappers and give everything they've got to the cause which is a credit to the man as it has got them this far. But in my opinion his style does not suit the West Ham philosophy of free-flowing, attacking football, breeding youngsters through the academy and generating excitement among fans with their often unpredictable but enjoyable performances. Nowadays under Allardyce they are the complete opposite. They have become so predictable that teams know how to deal with them and have wisened up to the 59-year-old manager's tricks. He plays direct, percentage football that isn't very reliable or pretty to watch. The fact that his sides are usually defensively sound and well organised is his saving grace, but is that enough in the modern era of football that is all about goals and excitement?
Calls for sacking
There were vociferous calls from sections of the club's support for his dismissal last season despite the side reaching the Capital One Cup semi-final and securing league safety. The board at the club have been insistent on improvements being made to the team's style of play to provide "more entertainment" in future while also demanding a top-half finish. But having watched many Allardyce sides in the past he is not one to change – his Bolton, Blackburn and Newcastle team's all provided similar displays and outcomes.
In my view it would be a surprise if Big Sam is still at the helm this time next year as his new season objectives appear rather ambitious and I don't believe he is the man to take them forward, but if his new signings deliver then there is no reason why he can't steer them clear of relegation once again.
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Up to 950 homes to be build at the Boleyn Ground
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 22, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
A scoping planning application has been submitted to Newham council on behalf of the applicant Galliard Homes for the redevelopment of the Boleyn Ground. The proposed application is for demolition of the existing buildings on site and the development of a residential-led mixed used scheme compromising of up to approximately 950 residential units in a number of buildings ranging in height from 3-16 storeys. Also proposed is approximately 950sqm of non-residential floor space which predominantly comprises of small-scale commercial and community uses and public and private open spaces and landscaping.
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Arsenal chasing West Ham starlet
By Essex Chronicle | Posted: July 22, 2014
ARSENAL have joined the chase for West Ham youngster Reece Oxford. The teenager has impressed for the Hammers youth team and is now on the radar for several Premier League Clubs. The Gunners will have to fend off interest from Manchester United and Chelsea if they are to secure the defender's signature. However, Sam Allardyce is hoping to keep hold of Oxford, as the club try to pin him down to a long-term deal.
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Andy Carroll will play one half tomorrow
Posted by Sean Whetstone on July 22, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
The Brisbane & Sydney Hammers from Australia are in New Zealand to watch the Football United tour and earlier today Claret and Hugh caught up with Brisbane Hammers chairman Dave Rhodes to give us an update of today's open training session. "David Gold said Andy Carroll had a slight knock and would play a half tomorrow. He didn't train today. There wasn't a whole lot to report from the training. They were kicking the ball about doing a bit of sprints etc. everybody was there except Carroll from what I could see. Kevin Nolan came over for a chat with the Brisbane Hammers and he was good as gold. The West Ham media team took our banner to the dressing room and got it signed by all the West Ham lads. None of the other players came over to us which was a bit disappointing but David Gold came over for a good chat, what a lovely bloke he is. We were interviewed by West ham TV first then New Zealand TV Channel One News which you can see below. COYI"
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Enner Valencia to miss Wellington Phoenix clash as club plays down Ivan Strinic links
Evening Standard
KEN DYER
Published: 22 July 2014 Updated: 11:38, 22 July 2014
West Ham's new £12 million signing Enner Valencia will be missing from Sam Allardyce's team when they meet Wellington Phoenix tomorrow in the first of two pre‑season tour matches in New Zealand. The 24-year-old, who scored all of Ecuador's three goals in the World Cup finals, has signed a five-year deal for the Upton Park club but is still waiting for a work permit.
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Hammers hit Arsenal "wall"
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 22, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
West Ham are still chasing Arsenal's Carl Jenkinson but talks are currently deadlocked! The Hammers are keen to grab the right back either permanently or on loan but the Gunners are playing hardball. And until the north Londoners complete their own business it is unlikely the Hammers will be able to move forward. Jenkinson would have a £5 million price tag on his head were he be allowed to move on from the Emirates and it would be a deal the Irons would find hard to resist. The alternative of course would be a loan with an option to buy at the end of the season. However, at the moment Gunners boss Arsene Wenger is unwilling to move the process on as he chases his own targets. A senior Hammers source told ClaretandHugh: "Nothing has changed at the moment but that's not to say it's dead. Anything can happen in this game!"
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AC fitness: The big question
Posted by Hugh5outhon1895 on July 22, 2014 in Whispers
Claret & Hugh
Andy Carroll's state of health continues to monopolise pre season as more reports flow in on the issue from New Zealand. ClaretandHugh carried a story yesterday which claimed the Geordie had done just five minutes on the training pitch. Very quickly a source close to the club, and with the squad in New Zealand, claimed there was no injury, that he trained fully on Sunday and was on an exercise bike in the tunnel on Monday during the training session. He added he will play in both games in New Zealand, that he was a bit behind the other squad members in terms of fitness and had his own programme. The first game comes against Wellington Phoenix tomorrow morning and the second against Sydney FC on Saturday. How much that will tell us about his state of fitness is debatable given these are, after all, friendlies. But the big question that hasn't been answered after originally being raised on Twitter by a usually reliable resource, is WHY the player is behind the others in training. Unless there has been an injury problem – and there didn't appear to be as he enjoyed the summer break amid the usual accompanying glare of publicity – it begs a few questions. I have little doubt that the No 9 will be up to speed by the time the Spurs match comes around but given his history with injuries, the club should not be surprised that questions are being asked by the fans. Andy Carroll's fitness is a major and central issue at West Ham United and hopefully at some stage we will be told why he has been on his own programme.
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