WHUFC.com
Robert Green, Scott Parker and Carlton Cole have all been key of late for
the upbeat Hammers
02.08.2010
Avram Grant has been pleased to see his senior England players move to the
fore in recent days - although has admitted he could do without losing them
for next week's international friendly. After the weekend win at Ipswich
Town, the manager was most effusive in his praise for Robert Green, with the
shot-stopper unquestionably the man of the match at Portman Road. Despite
the predictable terrace taunts for the former Norwich City No1, Green stood
firm and was more than equal to everything thrown his way. "Rob Green is a
fantastic goalkeeper," the manager said. "I didn't know him before but he
has a strong mentality. Of course when you are playing away some of the
supporters are against you. He knows how to do his job, he is not a child. I
think you saw him cope. The best answer of football players is on the pitch,
not to the media."
Talking of the media, Carlton Cole's name is beginning to be mentioned in
dispatches for the international date against Hungary on Wednesday week at
Wembley. The striker has scored four goals in just 270 minutes of the 450
played by the club this summer - a strike rate of one every 67 minutes. He
has certainly been a key man in all five friendly wins. "Carlton Cole is
working very hard," the manager added of a forward who was left out by Fabio
Capello from even his provisional plans for the FIFA World Cup just gone
despite a strong finish to the last campaign. "His attitude is good. He is a
good player. Against Ipswich, he was in the right place at the right time
again. "I think the new system has helped him. We also have a team that know
how to play football so they can give him the pass at the right time. If you
look at all the goals we have scored this summer, all the goals came from
combinations between many players in the team. Of course it is good for
him."
Scott Parker is another who may well be in with a chance for England
contention, after just missing the final cut for South Africa. His club
manager, who was joined on the bench by new assistant manager Zeljko
Petrovic, simply refused to be drawn on considering anything other than the
two-time Hammer of the Year remaining a long-term fixture at the club. "We
have plans for next season but also beyond that, there is a vision at the
club. I want to put West Ham in a good place, playing good football. He is a
big important part of that. We have made it very clear that Scott Parker
will stay with us."
Grant may lose Parker for a few days, though, ahead of the big Barclays
Premier League kick-off on Saturday 14 August, with that Hungary match. He
is not alone in questioning the timing. "It is not good for the team that
four days before the season starts you cannot practice with all the
players."
The unquestioned England talent within the ranks has been supplemented
superbly already by Thomas Hitzlsperger's instant impact in midfield, and
the Hammers were bolstered by two other debutants in Pablo Barrera and
Frederic Piquionne at Ipswich. Both came off the bench and looked lively,
given their relative lack of match action. "Finally Freddie got his
clearance so he could play his first game for 30 minutes and it was good for
his first game. The movement was good, he is a good player for us. He is a
quick player and he will score goals. For Pablo, even though he has not
played much, it was important for him to experience the atmosphere in
England. "They are good players and they'll be good for us. We are pleased
with them."
The positive mood was understandable, given that the team are on a run of
five wins from five. Grant was happy with that but stressed it was not just
about the results. "It's always good to win. We want to have this mentality
at this club but it's more important that the players will understand the
tactics and be in a better physical condition. Slowly, slowly and step by
step we are reaching our targets."
Grant will again be working with the owners to identify new targets in the
coming days but reiterated that fresh faces would only arrive if they were
an improvement on those already in place. "We are trying to always improve
the squad. It is good to have competition for places. There is a good team
here now but we will always look for players to make the squad better." That
said, he is also ready and willing to blood those from the youth ranks - a
key selling point for him when joining the club earlier in the summer and
also a positive given the league's new rules on homegrown talent. "One of
the reasons I came to West Ham is that our vision for the club is to have
players from the Academy. "We have a very good Academy and we want talented
young players. This is part of the vision for this club."
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Kieron timing it right
WHUFC.com
Hammers fans will be encouraged by Kieron Dyer's form and fitness during an
intensive pre-season
01.08.2010
Kieron Dyer had plenty of reasons to be happy after enjoying a productive 60
minutes in Saturday's 1-0 pre-season friendly victory at Ipswich Town. The
West Ham United player began his career with the Tractor Boys, making more
than 100 first-team appearances for the club between 1996 and 1999. Dyer
received a superb reception on his latest return to Portman Road, starting
the match on the right of a three-man midfield before Matthew Upson's
enforced substitution saw him switch to right-back. After enduring four
seasons of frustration and injury setbacks, Dyer is hoping to finally get
the chance to show Hammers supporters exactly why he is such a hero at the
Suffolk club - starting with the Barclays Premier League opener at Aston
Villa on 14 August. "It's been a long time since I played an hour but it's
petrol in the tank, as they say," he told WHUTV. "We've got another game on
Tuesday and one on Saturday, so hopefully I'll get 90 minutes in one of
those games and it will set me up for Villa. "I've been back to Ipswich a
few times since I've left and it's a great family club. They always treat
their ex-players with respect and with a great ovation and it was the same
on Saturday and I really appreciated it. "I was really stiff towards the end
but we've had a really difficult training week and you could see from our
performance that everyone was very tired and nobody really had any explosive
pace. Ipswich gave us a good test. We're all aiming for 14 August and it's
going really well."
Although he is best known for his speedy wingplay further up the pitch, Dyer
has turned out at right-back for Ipswich, Newcastle United and England,
showing his versatility and willingness to put team before individual. "That
was my fifth position in pre-season so it's good! I've said I will play
anywhere and I'm obviously a versatile player and with Matty Upson coming
off early I dropped back into right-back and I quite enjoyed it actually! I
started my Ipswich career at right-back when Gus Uhlenbeek got injured so I
know the position quite well and I really enjoyed it."
Saturday's victory made it five consecutive successes for Avram Grant's
squad and, while Dyer admitted the Hammers had not been at their best at his
former stomping ground, he thinks things are moving in the right direction
ahead of the new campaign. "The fans who were there on Saturday should not
read too much into the performance because this past week in training has
been really hard, as I said. We were below-par but the manager and the
coaching staff expected it. We are going to be tapering off training in the
next couple of weeks so we'll be sharper coming into matches and you'll get
a better indication of where we are."
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Encouraging signs in reserve
WHUFC.com
George Moncur has been one of many positives for Alex Dyer in the reserves
this pre-season
02.08.2010
Alex Dyer will get to work with his young charges again this week believing
they have what it takes to give manager Avram Grant plenty of food for
thought this season. The reserve-team manager went into the weekend on a
high after the 4-0 win away to Bishop's Stortford last Thursday. Freddie
Sears, who dropped down from the first team, may have got the headlines with
all four goals but Dyer was especially encouraged by the efforts of his
whole side.
The likes of Cristian Montano and Ahmed Abdulla looked lively up front,
while Anthony Edgar and Olly Lee showed their experience at this level with
energetic midfield displays. Also standing out was the 16-year-old George
Moncur, who has lit up the second string's summer so far with performances
of precision and poise that go far beyond his years. "I was delighted with
the result, but more with the performance," he said. "It was great, the boys
worked hard. To be fair they had done in the previous two games [against
Thurrock and Burton] as well.
"We have got a bunch of young lads in there who work hard for each other. We
have got a group together with good unity and they are working hard for each
other. George's future looks bright, he has trained well and, alongside Olly
Lee, has helped us boss it in midfield." It was also noticeable to see
Jordan Spence, Matt Fry, Holmar Eyjolfsson and Jordan Brown show good
composure at the back in front of Marek Stech and Peter Kurucz, who had a
half each. "I am trying in training to get all the lads - no matter what
position they play - comfortable in possession. It bodes well for the future
and the first team."
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Stoke boss Tony Pulis dismisses link with Carlton Cole
BBC.co.uk
Stoke City manager Tony Pulis says speculation linking him with a move for
West Ham United and England striker Carlton Cole is untrue. A national
newspaper reported on Saturday that the Potters had made a club-record bid
of £9m for Cole, 26. "There's no truth in it whatsoever," Pulis told BBC
Radio Stoke. "They've got to fill their papers and fill their television
programmes. "I'll do all of my business with the clubs that I'm dealing
with."
Stoke have been quiet in the transfer market during pre-season, bringing in
teenager Florent Cuvelier from Portsmouth and experienced goalkeeper Carlo
Nash, who was released by Everton in May. The Potters have also been linked
with moves for Manchester City pair Roque Santa Cruz and Jo as Pulis looks
to add more firepower to a squad which managed just 34 goals in the Premier
League in 2009/10. Cole, who has won all six of his international caps under
Fabio Capello, scored 10 times for the Hammers last season and netted the
only goal in their 1-0 victory over Ipswich on Saturday. Meanwhile, Pulis
has not ruled James Beattie or Dave Kitson out of his plans for the new
season. The forward pair are likely to be allowed to leave the Britannia
Stadium if the club receives a suitable offer. "They're both Stoke City
players, we still pay them and at the moment they're working as hard as the
others to keep fit," said the Stoke manager. "If we need them for next
season, we need them for next season." The Potters beat Burnley 2-1 in a
friendly at Huddersfield's Galpharm Stadium on Saturday, with Tuncay and
Michael Tonge scoring the goals.
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Dyer positive on fitness
Hammers midfielder in good shape
Last updated: 1st August 2010
SSN
West Ham attacker Kieron Dyer is encouraged by his own fitness after he
played 60 minutes in a friendly against Ipswich on Saturday. The 31-year-old
midfielder has been ravaged by injuries in recent seasons but after four
difficult campaigns he is determined to overcome his problems this term.
Dyer played an hour of the game against former club Ipswich and is
optimistic on his own fitness ahead of the Hammers' Premier League opener
against Aston Villa on 14th August. "It has been a long time since I played
for an hour but it's petrol in the tank, as they say," he told WHUTV. "We've
got another game on Tuesday and one on Saturday, so hopefully I'll get 90
minutes in one of those games and it will set me up for Villa. "I was really
stiff towards the end but we've had a really difficult training week and you
could see from our performance that everyone was very tired and nobody
really had any explosive pace. "Ipswich gave us a good test. We're all
aiming for 14th August and it's going really well." West Ham are preparing
for their first campaign under the stewardship of Avram Grant, who took the
reins of the club this summer.
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Grant calm over Upson injury
Star defender expected to be okay after early substitution
Last updated: 1st August 2010
SSN
West Ham manager Avram Grant does not believe that an injury suffered by
star defender Matthew Upson is anything serious. The England international
sustained a minor problem in Saturday's 1-0 friendly win over Ipswich and he
was substituted as a precaution. Former Arsenal and Birmingham player Upson
is a key man for the Hammers and Grantwill be keen to have the 31-year-old
fully fit for his new era at Upton Park. Injuries will therefore be a
concern for the West Ham boss, but he does not think that the centre-back's
fitness setback is a major issue ahead of Tuesday's trip to Southend and
next Saturday's visit of Deportivo La Coruna. Grant told West Ham's official
website of Upson, who was playing only his second match since returning from
the World Cup: "I don't think it is serious, but we don't want to risk our
players. "I think he will be okay, but we need to see what the medical
department say."
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Dyer hoping for no more Hammer blows
Published 23:00 01/08/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror
West Ham midfielder Kieron Dyer is ready to silence the critics who said he
was finished. Dyer is also convinced his injury nightmare is over. He has
started only seven League games since his £6million move from Newcastle in
August 2007. Dyer, 31, has been plagued with problems after breaking his leg
just
weeks after signing and has needed four operations. With a new medical team
in place at Upton Park, he is adamant that the West Ham fans will see the
best of him this season. Dyer said: "I hope my injury problems are behind me
and I feel good. There is plenty of petrol in the tank. "We have another
match on Tuesday and hopefully I can get 90 minutes under my belt and be
ready for the opening game against Aston Villa. "I am due a bit of luck.
This is my fourth season with West Ham and I don't think I have played 90
minutes yet."
Dyer was even used as a right-back in the 1-0 win at Ipswich on Saturday. He
said: "That is my fifth position in pre-season. It shows the manager I have
many strings to my bow and I will play anywhere."
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Ipswich 0 West Ham 1: Kieron Dyer hails medics after latest comeback from
injury
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 12:40 AM on 2nd August 2010
Daily Mail
West Ham midfielder Kieron Dyer is convinced that the club's medical team
have given him a new lease of life after his injury hell in recent years.
Dyer, 31, played an hour against his former club Ipswich on Saturday before
being substituted. He said: 'We have got a new medical team and, fingers
crossed, I feel good. There is plenty of petrol in the tank. I don't want to
put the curse on me but I am due luck. This is my fourth season with West
Ham. I don't think I've played 90 minutes yet.' Dyer is hoping his
versatility will help his first-team chances. He was used at right back at
Ipswich - his fifth position in pre-season.
In-form striker Carlton Cole won the match with a close-range volley in the
31st minute.
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Could We Really Stomach the Return of Bellamy?
West Ham Till I Die
I remember writing some pretty strong stuff when Craig Bellamy did the dirty
on us and demanded a transfer, originally to Spurs and then Manchester City.
I thought he owed it to us to stay and show us what he was really made of
after a series of injuries during his time at Upton Park restricted his
appearances to justy 24, in which he scored 7 times.
I really thought he and Dean Ashton could form a devastating partnership,
but it was not to be. There are now rumours that Mancini won't include
Bellamyh in his 25 man squad, which would surely signal his departure from
Manchester City. If so, no doubt Mr Redknapp would be after him like a dog
on heat, but it's thought also that West Ham might put in a cheeky bid.
Could you stomach a Bellamy return to Upton Park? I'm not sure I could. I'm
a forgiving sort of chap, but the manner in which he left in January 2009
left a very sour taste in my mouth.
UPDATE: After 400 votes, 65% of you would welcome Bellamy back with open
arms.
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Parma chasing West Ham attacker Diamanti
02.08.10 | tribalfootball.com
Parma are chasing West Ham United attacker Alessandro Diamanti. The former
Livorno star is available from the Hammers this summer. Parma chief Pietro
Leonardi says Diamanti is on their shopping list in the event they fail to
strike terms with Juventus for Sebastian Giovinco.
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West Ham convinced £30M coming to them
01.08.10 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United believe they're due a massive £30 million in the coming
weeks. The Sunday Express says the Hammers want £20m in compensation for the
loss of striker Dean Ashton, who was forced to quit last season following an
injury he picked up on England duty. They are also hoping injury-jinxed
midfielder Kieron Dyer can save another £10m in the transfer market by
making a successful comeback.
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