WHUFC.com
Anthony Edgar ensured Avram Grant began his West Ham United career with
victory at Peterborough United
16.07.2010
Anthony Edgar is hoping his match-winning performance at Peterborough United
caught the eye of new West Ham United manager Avram Grant. The young
midfielder ensured Grant began his tenure with a victory by scoring an
outstanding individual goal in the 2-1 success at London Road on Wednesday.
The 19-year-old picked up possession 35 yards out before running at the Posh
defence and unleashing a low, left-foot shot past England Under-21
goalkeeper Joe Lewis.Having made a positive start to the new campaign, Edgar
is now hoping to be handed further opportunities to shine in pre-season. "I
definitely enjoyed it. I was just happy to get on and show what I can do.
There were a lot of West Ham fans here and they were great and really got
behind us. It was a great performance, I thought. "I enjoyed it in there.
It's all about experience and wherever the manager puts me I'll play and
I'll try to play to my best. "I knew what I was going to do before I got the
ball. I knew I was going to have to shift the ball and try to go for goal
and it went in, thank God!"
While his goal owed everything to the teenager's individual ability, he was
quick to pay tribute to his team-mates. "It was not only me, it was the team
as well. Benni McCarthy and Freddie Sears up front were also very sharp.
They gave me the ball and I finished it. It was only me, it was them as
well. "I was so pleased to get a chance to show what I can do and I was
pleased with my performance. The team performance was exceptional and
hopefully we can push on from here."
The first-team squad fly to Germany for a training camp on Friday and, while
Edgar is hoping to be on the plane, he has vowed to do his best wherever he
is playing this weekend. Grant's side face Bundesliga side VfL Borussia
Monchengladbach in Ruhpolding on Saturday evening, while Alex Dyer's
reserves head for Blue Squad South club Thurrock earlier the same day.
"Hopefully, if I travel [to Germany], I'll be involved in that but if I
don't I'll keep working hard and keep progressing. "I'm just going to do
what I do best which is play. Hopefully I can do that and push on from
there."
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Transfer update
WHUFC.com
Avram Grant is set to see his West Ham United squad boosted on Friday
14.07.2010
West Ham United are pleased to announce the club should be in a position to
unveil at least one exciting new signing on Friday. With the first-team
squad flying out from London Heathrow to their German training camp on
Friday morning, the hard work on bringing new faces to the Boleyn Ground is
continuing, with an announcement expected to be made before the end of the
day. The latest transfer update comes after the club's first summer signing,
Germany midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger, produced a confident debut display
in Wednesday's 2-1 pre-season victory at Peterborough United. The club is
hoping to bring in at least two more new faces, adding international
strength to Avram Grant's squad ahead of the start of the new Barclays
Premier League season. The Hammers will touch down in south east Germany on
Friday afternoon for an eight-day training camp that includes matches
against Bundesliga side VfL Borussia Monchengladbach and Greek champions
Panathinaikos. The travelling party, which includes Scott Parker and
youngsters Matt Fry, Anthony Edgar and Cristian Montano, will be joined by
England duo Robert Green and Matthew Upson in the next few days. The new
signings should all make their Boleyn bow in the SBOBET Cup in aid of the
Academy against RC Deportivo La Coruna on Saturday 7 August before the
Premier League gets under way seven days later.
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Take your seat in the Di Canio Lounge
WHUFC.com
Supporters should move quickly to secure their place in the all-new Paolo Di
Canio Lounge
16.07.2010
Supporters can still secure their place in a new Boleyn Ground hospitality
suite honouring a true West Ham United legend. Situated in the West Stand,
The Paolo Di Canio Lounge will provide fans with a truly unique venue in
which to enjoy their visit to the home of the Hammers. Work is underway to
complete the new facility, which will complement the superb lounges,
restaurants and bars already on offer at the Boleyn Ground. Individual
season packages are now on sale for the lounge, which will be themed around
Di Canio's four unforgettable years in east London. What is more, those who
purchase a seasonal membership will have an exclusive opportunity to meet
the Italian maestro himself, with the 2001 FIFA Fair Play Award winner on
hand to open the lounge at the opening home Premier League game of the
2009/10 season against Bolton Wanderers.
The opening of the Paolo Di Canio Lounge continues the club's commitment to
honouring the former Hammers greats including Bobby Moore, Ron Greenwood,
John Lyall, Sir Trevor Brooking and Billy Bonds. Supporters can expect a
relaxing and comfortable environment and will be able to watch all the match
action from some of the best seats in the house, situated in the VIP area of
the West Stand.
This exclusive package is priced at £1,848 +VAT per person, enabling you to
watch not only the 2010/11 Barclays Premier League season unfold. Members
will also receive the first two domestic cup matches included in the price.
For your chance to meet the legendary Paolo Di Canio and enjoy what is sure
to be an exciting new era at the club from these luxurious surroundings,
click the link below, call the Corporate Sales Team on 0871 221 2700 or
e-mail corporatesales@westhamunited.co.uk
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Reserves head for Thurrock
WHUFC.com
Alex Dyer's youngsters will begin their pre-season schedule with a visit to
near-neighbours Thurrock
16.07.2010
West Ham United reserves kick-off their pre-season schedule by making the
short trip to Blue Square South side Thurrock on Saturday. Alex Dyer will
have a promising squad at his disposal for the visit to Ship Lane, with
young professionals Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson, Olly Lee, Jordan Brown (pictured)
and Callum McNaughton among a host of Academy graduates ready to line up
against The Fleet.
The quartet all featured in Wednesday's pre-season friendly victory at
Peterborough United and, with fellow youngsters Matt Fry, Anthony Edgar and
Cristian Montano travelling with the first-team squad to Germany, all know
they can catch the eye of manager Avram Grant. With Grant and his squad
jetting out for an eight-day training camp on Friday, Dyer is expecting his
young players to do everything they can to impress both at Thurrock and in
their second pre-season friendly at League Two Burton Albion on Saturday 24
July. "The boys have been in for two weeks now and working hard on their
pre-season training, so it will be nice for them to get back into a match
situation again," said Dyer. "Some of them played for the first team in
midweek and did well. This will be their first reserve-team fixture of the
season and we will be looking to start on a positive note. "We always go to
Thurrock because they do a lot for the club behind the scenes and I'm sure
it will be a good, competitive fixture. We have got a young squad, but this
will be good experience for them all. "Three of the boys who did well at
Peterborough have gone with the first team to Germany and I am pleased for
them, because everybody wants to be in and around the first-team squad. This
club has always shown a commitment to promote promising youngsters and I am
sure that will continue."
Alongside his reserve-team regulars, Dyer will also have a number of the
club's promising scholars at his disposal. With the Under-18s not starting
their own pre-season schedule until 24 July, the likes of England U17
forward Robert Hall, Turkey U18 goalkeeper Deniz Mehmet, Poland U18
full-back Filip Modelski and Republic of Ireland youth internationals Eoin
Wearen and Daniel Purdy could all be in action at Thurrock. Saturday's match
kicks-off at 3pm, with tickets available on the turnstiles.
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One two
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 16th July 2010
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are set to announce a double signing later today. As previously
mentioned here on KUMB.com, both Pablo Barrera and Frederic Piquionne are
expected to be unveiled by new manager Avram Grant on the day his squad
flies to Austria for their pre-season tour. Barrera, who will costs the
Hammers around £3.5million watched United's 2-1 defeat of Peterborough on
Wednesday night and is expecting to have his work permit situation resolved
imminently.
Piquioone, the former Portsmouth striker has been in London in order to
undergo a medical ahead of a cut-price £1million switch from Lyon. However
the situation regarding fellow French striker Loic Remy is rather less
promising with the news that Liverpool have joined the race to sign the
highly-rated youngster. The Hammers had been in pole position to land the
23-year-old but having dallied over terms appear to have allowed Liverpool
to enter the race.
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Hammers must set sights lower
By Martin Samuel, July 15, 2010
The Jewish Chronicle
As transfer policies go, no wonder Avram Grant wishes to keep owner David
Sullivan away from the one at West Ham United. Here is Sullivan explaining
why the purchase of Germany's World Cup striker Miroslav Klose did not go
through: "We had a deal in place before the World Cup after Klose had a bad
season with Bayern Munich. However, as a result of what he has done in South
Africa, it is unlikely to happen."
Now there is a plan. Had Klose continued playing rubbish, West Ham would
have signed him, but as he turned out to be good, the deal is now off. This
would certainly explain why Robert Green and Matthew Upson are no longer on
the market.
Maybe the words came out wrong; maybe the sentence sounded good in his head.
Either way, Sullivan inadvertently flagged up why owners - who are nearer to
fans than professionals - are not to be trusted with their own money when it
comes to buying players. Klose is a big name, an impressive name, but he is
32 and this season has been poor for Munich, scoring six goals in 38
appearances, compared to previous tallies of 20 in 38, and 21 in 47. He
looked a busted flush, a great talent who had lost interest in the game and
was destined to be replaced by younger, hungrier players. So why would
anyone want to buy him? On club form, it would have been a vanity purchase,
a celebrity purchase, much like that of Thierry Henry, another player West
Ham have been linked with this summer.
Klose and Henry could be Grant's preferences, too, who knows? Yet somehow I
doubt it. West Ham are likely to be fighting relegation next season and the
last thing the club needs right now is another big-time Charlie swanning
about as if he is doing everybody a favour just being there. They had enough
of that with South African Benni McCarthy last season.
The only reason any coach would be interested in Klose is that he looked
rejuvenated at the World Cup, although Arsene Wenger, the Arsenal manager,
has correctly identified acquisitions based on tournament displays as folly.
Just because Klose got himself in the right frame of mind to represent
Germany against Argentina, does not mean he would be similarly inspired by a
trip to Blackpool in West Ham's colours on a wet Wednesday night.
Managers know this. Some will still gamble on a waning talent but Grant has
spent the last season fighting a lost cause at Portsmouth, and knows the
rigours of the battle for survival. Silver superstars are most certainly not
the way forward here.
Sullivan wants to be hands-on – he once said if Wenger was his manager he
would 'probably' let him get on with it – but the best owners soon realise
that the vision at a football club has to come from an employee, not the
employer.
The board can have its business strategy, but the real success stories of
the last 20 years in English football, Sir Alex Ferguson at Manchester
United, Wenger at Arsenal, Jose Mourinho – initially – at Chelsea, have come
when the manager has been given his head. All thrived because no owner tried
to do them a favour in the transfer market, however well-intentioned.
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Piquionne in Hammers medical
Frenchman set for Upton Park switch
Last updated: 16th July 2010
SSN
Skysports.com understands Frederic Piquionne is undergoing a medical at West
Ham ahead of his move to Upton Park. As revealed by skysports.com last month
West Ham have been leading the chase for the former Portsmouth forward. Lyon
forward Piquionne impressed at Fratton Park last season with 11 goals
despite their relegation from the Premier League and he has expressed a
desire to return to England A number of clubs, including West Brom, Fulham
and Blackburn had been chasing Piquionne, but West Ham are closing in on his
signature after agreeing a fee with Lyon for his services. The 31-year-old
is expected to sign a three-year deal at West Ham if he successfully comes
through his medical and could become their second signing of the summer
following Thomas Hitzlsperger. Hammers boss Avram Grant is keen to be
reunited with Piquionne having worked with him at Portsmouth last season and
it looks like he is set to finally land his man.
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Reds make Remy move
Striker keen on Anfield move
By Peter O'Rourke Last updated: 16th July 2010
SSN
Skysports.com can confirm Liverpool have made a move to sign French striker
Loic Remy from under the noses of West Ham and Tottenham. New Reds boss Roy
Hodgson has entered the race for the Nice ace and is hoping to beat his
Premier League rivals to the forward's signature. Remy is regarded as one of
the best young strikers in Europe after impressing at Nice over the last few
seasons. The 23-year-old, who has been likened to Thierry Henry, scored 16
goals for Nice last season and has broken into the France national team.
West Ham had been leading the chase for Remy after making a couple of
sizeable offers for the striker, but they were unable to agree a fee with
Nice. However, they could now lose out on Remy with Liverpool firming up
their interest in the player with a bid. Liverpool's technical director
Eduardo Macia is believed to have been tracking Remy for five years and he
has recommended Hodgson make a move for the pacy hit-man. The Reds are in
need of a new striker as they look to bolster their attacking options ahead
of the Europa League deadline with Fernando Torres currently on the
sidelines, leaving David Ngog as the only available forward for the start of
the club's European campaign.
Liverpool's financial director Philip Nash is believed to have raised the
funds to enable the club to make their move as they look to win the race for
the in-demand Frenchman. Remy's agent, Frederic Guerra, has admitted he has
spoken to Liverpool about a possible move and that Remy would be keen on a
switch to Anfield. "Yes, Liverpool are interested in Loic and Loic is
interested in Liverpool," Guerra told skysports.com. "There has also been
interest from West Ham and Tottenham and it is now up to Nice. "Loic has
always said he is keen to play in England and Liverpool are a massive club.
"I believe if Loic comes to England he will be a massive success. "He is
like Thierry Henry, but I believe if he comes to England he could be even
better than Henry. "He is a sensational player, he is very strong, very
quick and two-footed. He is the complete player and Liverpool would love
him."
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West Ham United to unveil UNAM Pumas winger Pablo Barrera - report
16 Jul 2010 12:24:00
Goal.com
West Ham United are reportedly set to unveil UNAM Pumas midfielder Pablo
Barrera as the club's latest acquisition on Friday. The Mexican club had
previously revealed that a deal had been struck between the two parties for
the transfer of the player, who is expected to sign a four-year deal with
the east London club.
However, Pumas president Victor Mahbub previously confirmed that the
23-year-old would likely use the Hammers as a stepping stone to moving on to
a bigger club in two or three years time. The east London club have
announced on its official website that they will unveil an unnamed player on
Friday, while Sky Sports reports that this signing is expected to be that of
the Mexican in question. New manager Avram Grant had previously admitted
that West Ham were close to securing the services of Barrera.
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Hammers to confirm Barrera and Piquionne deals
By Harry Harris, Football Correspondent
July 16, 2010
ESPN
West Ham are poised to confirm the signings of Lyon striker Frederic
Piquionne and Mexican winger Pablo Barrera. The club announced on Friday
morning they "should be in a position to unveil at least one exciting new
signing" and it is understood that Avram Grant is close to concluding the
double deal. Barrera represented Mexico at the World Cup and will join the
club from Pumas UNAM in a £4 million deal. He has agreed a four-year
contract with the Hammers.
Piquionne played under Grant during a loan spell with Portsmouth last season
and has been in East London to undergo a medical and conclude negotiations.
A source told Soccernet: "The deal for Piquionne is 99% done." West Ham are
also looking to sign Nice forward Loic Remy, who says both Tottenham and
Liverpool have shown an interest in him this summer. It is understood that
Liverpool have bid £1.5 million less than the Hammers but Remy has hinted
his preference is a move to Anfield.
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Hammers target Remy could join Liverpool
Author: Nigel Brown
Posted on:16 July 2010 - 11:10 AM
Sport.co.uk
Liverpool have emerged as the most likely destination for Nice striker Loic
Remy who had been expected to sign for West Ham United. Reds boss Roy
Hodgson is a big fan of the 23-year-old while Nice's chief executive,
Patrick Governatori, has claimed that both Liverpool and Tottenham have made
bids for the player.
Remy admitted: "I have never hidden my desire to play in England. It will be
a choice between two clubs with big futures. I have a slight preference for
a prestige club like Liverpool, even though Tottenham are also very, very
interesting. "Nothing has been decided. Wherever I play, I'll have to fight
and work hard to win my place."
Hammers owners David Sullivan and David Gold, as well as vice-chairman
Karren Brady, flew to the south of France on Wednesday in a an attempt to
seal a £12million deal for the player but it now appears that Liverpool
could hijack their plans. Remy scored 11 league goals in his first season at
Nice and found the net 14 times in 34 Ligue 1 appearances for the club last
term. Meanwhile, Emiliano Insua is set to join Fiorentina and Benfica are
hoping to snap up Damien Plessis.
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Bad luck West Ham! Liverpool want Remy
Betfairfootball.com
There was nothing worse at school than having one of the big kids come along
and take your best marble, especially if you'd not even had a chance to play
with it yet. So, imagine how West Ham must feel with the news that Liverpool
have decided they also fancy Nice striker Loic Remy - no matter how bad
things were at Anfield last season, signing for the Reds is still going to
look more attractive than a move to Upton Park. Earlier in the week the
Hammers looked favourites to capture the 23-year-old for a fee of around
£12m and Nice were ready to do business. However, reports on L'Equipe and
Tribal Football both suggest Remy is also being courted by Roy Hodgson, and
that the Reds could have the deal completed in the next few days.
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