Daily WHUFC News - 14th August 2010

Aston Villa match preview
WHUFC.com
All the early team news and background for Saturday's return to the Barclays
Premier League
13.08.2010

Barclays Premier League
Aston Villa v West Ham United
Villa Park
Saturday 14 August 2010
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Mike Dean

Introduction

• West Ham United kick off the 2010/11 campaign with a trip to the Midlands
to take on managerless Aston Villa. The game will be Avram Grant's first
competitive fixture in charge of the club after he became the club's 13th
manager on 3 June 2010.
• West Ham have not lost in their last three matches against Villa, with 0-0
and 1-1 draws in the last two outings at Villa Park either side of a 2-1 win
in east London on 4 November 2009. The stadium also holds happy memories
after the 1-0 win against Middlesbrough in the 2006 FA Cup semi-final on 23
April 2006.
• The Hammers have played seven matches during the summer, winning the first
five and drawing the last two - the last of those fixtures against RC
Deportivo La Coruna in the SBOBET Cup last weekend actually culminating with
a 5-3 shoot-out win for the Hammers.
• In pre-season, Avram Grant's men secured victories over League One outfit
Peterborough United (2-1), German side VfL Borussia Monchengladbach (2-0),
Greek champions Panathinaikos (1-0), League One outfit MK Dons (2-0),
Championship club Ipswich Town (1-0) before a draw at Southend United (1-1).
The final summer contest was that Deportivo date when Pablo Barrera struck
the winning penalty after Rob Green had made a save.
• Saturday's fixture could see Hammers league debuts for Thomas Hitzlsperger
- a fitness worry - Pablo Barrera, Frederic Piquionne, Tal Ben Haim and
Winston Reid. Hitzlsperger, Barrera and Piquionne have all played during the
summer, while Ben Haim has just a 45-minute reserve run-out under his belt
and Reid has yet to figure.
• The Hammers last won a Barclays Premier League match on the road at
Wolverhampton Wanderers almost exactly a year ago. The 2-0 victory at
Molineux came on 15 August 2009 before the next 18 awaydays saw the Hammers
never once take the full three points, along with a Carling Cup third-round
loss at Bolton Wanderers.
• West Ham finished 17th last season with just 35 points, although were most
successful against Aston Villa and relegated Portsmouth - winning at home
and drawing away.
• Villa secured UEFA Europa League football this season with a sixth-placed
finish in 2009/10 - the third time in a row that they ended up in that
relatively lofty league position.
• The Hammers have won seven, drawn one and lost seven of their opening
Premier League games since its inception in 1992.

• Two 3-1 wins count as their best-ever start to a Premier League season. A
3-1 win at home to Charlton Athletic in 2006 was matched by a defeat of
Blackburn Rovers by the same score in 2005

• The biggest opening-day defeat in the Barclays Premier League came in
2002, when Newcastle United won 4-0 at St James' Park.
• West Ham have not drawn the opening game since 1994, when they drew 0-0
with Leeds United at Elland Road.

• Carlton Cole was West Ham's leading scorer last season with 10 top-flight
goals.

• Robert Green topped the appearance charts for the last campaign, playing
every minute of every Premier League game. He has played 126 consecutive
top-flight matches. He started the last 12 games of the 2006/07 campaign and
every one of the 38 games in each of the last three campaigns.
• Brad Friedel, his opposite number on Saturday, is the league leader for
consecutive starts - having made 228 appearances in a row in the top-flight
- having played every game in the Barclays Premier League for the last six
seasons.
• Aston Villa began last season with a 2-0 home defeat by Wigan Athletic.
This is the fourth season in a row that they have started the campaign at
Villa Park, with two defeats and a win in the previous three first games.
Last meeting
• The last meeting between the two sides was the 0-0 draw at Villa Park on
17 January this year. The match was notable for 18-year-old Frank Nouble
leading the line on his own on his first start for the club.
The lineups were:
Aston Villa: Friedel, Warnock, Cuellar, Dunne, Collins, Downing, Milner,
Young, Petrov, Heskey (Carew 57), Agbonlahor
Subs not used: Guzan, Sidwell, Young, Delph, Delfouneso, Beye
West Ham United: Green, Upson, Spector, Tomkins, Parker (Diamanti 57), Kovac
(Stanislas 62), Noble, Behrami, Faubert, Collison, Nouble (Da Costa 89)
Subs not used: Kurucz, Jimenez, Daprela, Sears
• This is the 91st league meeting between the two sides. West Ham have won
32, Aston Villa have won 30 and there have been 28 draws.
Head to head

Last six meetings (Premier League unless stated)
17 January 2010 - Aston Villa 0-0 West Ham United
4 November 2009 - West Ham United 2-1 Aston Villa
18 April 2009 - Aston Vila 1-1 West Ham United
20 December 2008 - West Ham United 0-1 Aston Villa
11 May 2008 - West Ham United 2-2 Aston Villa
6 October 2007 - Aston Villa 1-0 West Ham United

Overall record v Aston Villa (all competitions) W 37 D 30 L 34
Last time out
Saturday 7 August 2010
SBOBET Cup
West Ham United 0-0 RC Deportivo La Coruna (Hammers win 5-3 on penalties)
West Ham United: Green, Tomkins, Gabbidon (Barrera 63), Upson, Ilunga,
Parker, Noble, Hitzlsperger (Boa Morte 75), Faubert, Diamanti (Piquionne
63), Cole
Subs: Stech, Daprela, Spector, Da Costa, Kovac, Stanislas
Friday 6 August 2010
Aston Villa 0-0 Valencia
Aston Villa: Friedel (Guzan 63), Beye, Clark (Lowry 82), Dunne (Warnock 46),
L Young (Lichaj 73), Albrighton (Delfouneso 63), Petrov (Sidwell 63),
Reo-Coker (Salifou 82), Downing, A Young (Weimann 73), Carew (Heskey 46).

West Ham United

• Avram Grant's West Ham United will be aiming to continue the form shown in
pre-sason, which has seen them defeat League One new boys Peterborough
United (2-1) at London Road, German Bundesliga challengers VfL Borussia
Monchengladbach (2-0) in Ruhpolding, Greek double winners Panathinaikos
(1-0) in the Austrian town of Kitzbuhel, MK Dons (2-0) at stadium:mk and
Ipswich Town (1-0) at Portman Road. The away schedule was completed by the
1-1 draw at Southend before the goalless draw against RC Deportivo La Coruna
and subsequent 5-3 penalty shoot-out win.
• Carlton Cole has been in fine form in pre-season, scoring in the victories
over Peterborough, Monchengladbach and MK Dons with just 45 minute run-outs
in each contest before adding a fourth in six games against Ipswich.
• Benni McCarthy scored his first goal for the club this summer with a fine
half-volley against Monchengladbach.
• Thomas Hitzlsperger, on 99 Barclays Premier League appearances, made a
bright start to his West Ham career following his summer arrival from SS
Lazio, scoring his first goal for the club with a direct free-kick in the
1-0 victory over Panathinaikos.
• Julien Faubert was also off the mark this summer, netting the first
against MK Dons, having assisted on McCarthy's goal against Monchengladbach.
• West Ham United went 471 minutes without conceding this summer between
Peter Kurucz being beaten by Peterborough United's Dave Hibbert in the 49th
minute of the meeting on 14 July and Anthony Grant firing past Marek Stech
in the 70th minute of the 3 August game at Southend. In between there were
four clean sheets against Monchengladbach, Panathinaikos, MK Dons and
Ipswich.
• The November 2009 victory over Villa was West Ham United's first in eight
attempts. Their previous maximum came when a Marlon Harewood hat-trick
helped them to a 4-0 win at the Boleyn Ground in September 2005.
• The Hammers have won at Villa Park twice, in 1995 and 2006, since the
inception of the Premier League.
• West Ham's biggest ever away win at Aston Villa came in a Division One
fixture played on 2 April 1927. Vic Watson scored twice, while Stanley
Earle, Joseph Johnson and Jimmy Ruffell also netted in a 5-1 victory for the
Hammers in front of a crowd of 20,000 at Villa Park.

Aston Villa

• Villa will be managed for the first time by caretaker manager Kevin
MacDonald after Martin O'Neill's surprise resignation on Tuesday. O'Neill
had been at the Boleyn to watch the Deportivo match last Saturday.
• Villa's biggest-ever home league victory over West Ham came in Division
One on 25 April 1987. That day, the Villans ran out 4-0 winners at Villa
Park in front of a crowd of just 13,584. Warren Aspinall scored twice, while
Stephen Hunt and Simon Stainrod netted a goal each. Villa would end the
season by being relegated to Division Two.
• The club picked up 64 points last season, their best since a second-place
finish in 1993.
• John Carew top scored for the club last season with 17 goals, ten of which
came in the league.

Team news

• West Ham United manager Avram Grant is waiting for more news on Thomas
Hitzlsperger after he picked up a thigh problem in captaining Germany in
midweek away to Denmark. Pablo Barrera and Frederic Piquionne are the most
likely players to make their competitive debuts for the club after summer
arrivals, with Tal Ben Haim and Winston Reid short of match practice.
• Peter Kurucz has joined Jack Collison and Zavon Hines on the long-term
injured list after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament last Saturday.
• Kieron Dyer, Benni McCarthy and Freddie Sears have all been training this
week. McCarthy (hamstring) and Sears (thigh) had minor issues while Dyer's
return to fitness is being carefully managed.
• Valon Behrami went away with Switzerland in midweek after 45 minutes for
the reserves last weekend alongside Ben Haim but did not play.

• For Villa. Carlos Cuellar and James Collins are both out with hamstring
and calf problems, but they hope to have Gabriel Agbonlahor (hamstring) and
Curtis Davies (knee) fit to play.
• James Milner is in the matchday squad, despite being linked with a move to
Manchester City.
• Marc Albrighton, who made his England Under-21 bow in midweek, could get
his first top-flight start on the wing.
Old boys

• James Collins will be prevented from facing West Ham United for the second
time since leaving the Boleyn Ground just under a year ago. The central
defender left swapped London for Birmingham on 1 September 2009 for an
undisclosed fee after making 65 appearances in all competitions, scoring two
goals.

• Carlton Cole will be playing against the team where he spent the 2004/05
season on loan. Cole scored three goals in 30 league and cup appearances (20
starts) for Villa.
• Thomas Hitzlsperger spent five seasons at Villa Park after leaving Bayern
Munich in August 2000. He left in the summer of 2005 after making 99 league
appearances for the club and picking up the nickname Der Hammer because of
his powerful left foot.
• Aston Villa midfielder Nigel Reo-Coker spent three-and-a-half seasons at
West Ham. The former MK Dons player made 142 appearances for the Hammers,
scoring eleven goals, before making the switch to Villa in the summer of
2007 for a £7.5m fee.

• Among the other players who have represented both clubs are Billy Askew,
Alan Curbishley, Mervyn Day, Marlon Harewood, Ray Houghton, David James,
Fred Norris, Tony Scott, Les Sealey, Nolberto Solano, Tommy Southren, David
Unsworth and Phil Woosnam.
Referee
• Saturday's referee will be Mike Dean, who last took charge of the Hammers
with the 2-0 home win against Birmingham City back on 10 February 2010.
• Dean began refereeing in 1985, starting out his career in senior football
in the Northern Premier League.

• In 2004, Dean took charge of his first international match, a friendly
between the Netherlands and Republic of Ireland at Amsterdam Arena. That
same year, he took control of the FA Community Shield between Arsenal and
Manchester United.

• In May 2006, he refereed the Championship play-off final between Leeds
United and Watford at the Millennium Stadium. In 2008, he was the
man-in-the-middle for the FA Cup final between Portsmouth and Cardiff City
at Wembley Stadium.
General information
• The weather forecast on Saturday afternoon is for heavy showers with
temperatures set to peak at around 20C
• Tickets are all sold out
Next up
• West Ham welcome Bolton Wanderers on Saturday week... For details of how
to purchase tickets, click here.
• Villa are in UEFA Europa League qualifying action on Thursday when they
travel to Austrian side SK Rapid Wien.

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Avram on Friday
WHUFC.com
Avram Grant has spoken ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League opener at
Aston Villa
13.08.2010

West Ham United manager Avram Grant conducted his pre-match press conference
ahead of Saturday's Barclays Premier League opening-day fixture at Aston
Villa. Grant was asked about a wide range of issues, including Saturday's
match, his aims for the 2010/11 season, possible new arrivals, the future of
Hammer of the Year Scott Parker and the fitness of striker Benni McCarthy.

Avram on Aston Villa...
"I was very surprised by Martin O'Neill's departure because first I like
Martin as a person. He's a very good person and, in my opinion, he's a very
good manager and Aston Villa looks to me to be a very stable club. If a
manager is going one week before the league is started, for me it is a big
surprise. "I never like to play against a team in the first game after they
have changed the coach. I will tell you the answer after the game but for
the moment I don't think it's an easy game - it's very difficult. "I don't
think [the departure of Martin O'Neill will make things easier] because it
is the first game of the season. If it was the middle of the season, maybe,
but the first game of the season players are always trying to impress the
next coach. They will do their best. They have very good players so I expect
a very difficult game for us. "We had an OK pre-season. I was happy with the
pre-season. I always like to do better but you know when you come to the
league that it's a different story."

Avram on his hopes for the new season...
"The aims are not for one season. We have targets for the next seasons. At
the end of the day, we want to put West Ham in the place they belong. "I
think West Ham was a very good club that played very good and very positive
football. The tradition of positive football started here at West Ham with
Ron Greenwood and then other teams followed this, so we want to play good
football, to gives chances to talented players because we have a very good
scouting system and Academy which is our base. "Over the next season, as the
owners said, we want to not fight against relegation, play good football and
put a good base for the next season. "At the end of the season, if we look
back and say it was better than the last season, then for me that's a good
start."

Avram on Scott Parker's future...
"As I understand it, and I fully support this, the club wants Scott to stay
for a very long time and are giving him a long contract. I don't know what's
happening with this but I think everybody wants this deal because it's good
for the club, it's good for Scott because he's very, very important for this
club. I hope it will be done."

Avram on the importance of keeping the club's best players...
"They are very good players for us. We are going forward for the next
seasons, not for one season. You see we don't take players for one year
because we like to do things not for one year. Alongside these players we
need experienced players who are very positive and good football players.
The players you mentioned are very good players and are very important to us
and we want to move forward with them, not without them."

Avram on possible new signings...
"Nobody has signed yet in the last day. As we always say, when a player
signs, we will let you know. For the moment, there is no news. As I say,
when a player signs, we will announce it. From my experience, especially in
England, we need to see all of the deal before we can say anything about
players.
"Of course, we are happy with the squad that we have but we have some areas
that we need to improve. In any case, if there are any players until the
31st of this month who can improve the squad and make the competition even
stronger, it will be good for everybody. We will continue looking."

Avram on David Beckham...
"I met David Beckham last year at the NBA finals and he's a very lovely guy.
For me he's not just a very good player, but one of the best characters I've
seen in football. But now he's injured, so I wish him all the best and we
will see what will happen."

Avram on missing out on Miralem Sulejmani...
"You know, I like to fight about things I can change, even one per cent.
This deal didn't succeed, no matter why, and we are looking forward. I will
not look back at something I cannot change."

Avram on Benni McCarthy...
"Benni has a problem and we have a programme for him to make him better. As
you know, he needs to lose some weight to be fit. He's a very good player
when he's fit so we're trying our best. "I don't know [the answer]. I am
here a little bit more than one month and he is a nice guy and is doing
everything I tell him to do. I know it started one year ago and it's a pity
because he's a very good player. "Any player that belongs to the squad, you
try to take the best of him, but it's not one way. The player also needs to
do his job."

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Sulejmani appeal denied
WHUFC.com
The club has not been granted a work permit to sign AFC Ajax forward Miralem
Sulejmani
12.08.2010

West Ham United can confirm the club's work permit application for Miralem
Sulejmani has been rejected by an Appeal panel at the Football Association.
The club had agreed terms with the player and AFC Ajax but the move was
dependent on Thursday afternoon's hearing. West Ham will make no further
comment at this time, with the club still very active in the transfer market
and looking to add more new recruits for Avram Grant's squad. Five new faces
have already arrived this summer in Thomas Hitzlsperger, Pablo Barrera,
Frederic Piquionne, Tal Ben Haim and Winston Reid, while the club have also
retained the services of key men like Robert Green and Scott Parker.

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Freddie ready
WHUFC.com
Aston Villa away should be Frederic Piquionne's league bow for West Ham
United
13.08.2010

Frederic Piquionne is raring to get his Barclays Premier League campaign
going with West Ham United away to Aston Villa. The striker has settled in
quickly to life in east London and is eager to show that when the Hammers
arrive at Villa Park on Saturday. "I am enjoying it here," the striker said.
"I want to work hard for this team and score many goals. I think we can do a
big season because we have very good players in this team."

One of five new faces, with more to come, Piquionne has had the comfort of
already knowing his manager after scoring ten goals for him at Portsmouth
last season. "Avram is a very good manager. I am very happy to be here with
him at West Ham and I hope to repay his faith on the pitch. "We have a new
manager and a new tactic, there are many new things. We have the chance to
have a good season."

His optimism is fuelled by the competition for places in attack, describing
Carlton Cole as "a very good player" but quickly going on to talk up the
threat of Benni McCarthy and youngsters Frank Nouble and Zavon Hines. "We
will all do our best for the team and we will score more goals this season."

Piquionne was also positive about the travelling support from the fans,
having witnessed it already in the pre-season camp in Germany and games at
Ipswich Town and Southend United. "I know the fans are going to be amazing
and fantastic for us. We have quality in the squad to make them happy. We
have new players in the team and I think the top ten is possible this season
"Every stadium will be full, the fans will be fantastic and I enjoy playing
here. There are exciting plans for the club and we will do the best on the
pitch. It is important first to stay in the Premier League and then to try
and finish in the top ten."

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Cup ticket prices slashed
West Ham United and Oxford United have agreed on cheap prices for all on
Tuesday 24 August
13.08.2010
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West Ham United are delighted that ticket prices of just £5 for kids and £10
for adults have been agreed with Oxford United for the Carling Cup
second-round tie. The significant price reduction was part of the club's bid
to thank supporters for their loyal backing once again this year, with
season tickets and memberships being snapped up in their thousands. A bumper
Boleyn Ground crowd is expected on Tuesday 24 August, with the Hammers
looking to show they mean business in every match they play.

The club would also like to thank Oxford for their co-operation in the
matter, which means with their help that as many supporters as possible will
be able to see what could be a memorable Boleyn Ground night under the
lights. There is plenty of promise for an exciting evening, with manager
Avram Grant's squad full of optimism for the new season. The manager has a
fine cup pedigree, having reached the UEFA Champions League final and FA Cup
final in 2008 and 2010 respectively. Hopes will be high that the Hammers -
boasting several new signings - can enjoy a long run in the competition.

Tickets priced at £5 for Under-16s and £10 for adults are on sale to season
ticket holders from today. Members can buy their tickets from Wednesday 18
August with general sale following from Thursday 19 August. With prices
greatly reduced, fans are urged to make sure of their seats as soon as
possible.

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Further funds raised
WHUFC.com
On the eve of the new Barclays Premier League season, the club has received
a boost from new investors
13.08.2010

W H Holding, the parent company of West Ham United, is pleased to announce
the club has raised £4m in new equity through a placing of shares, primarily
with new investors. The proceeds will partly be used to buy in some of the
shareholding of CB Holding EHF, with the balance available to fund the
further development of the club on and off the pitch. The placing was
conducted by Shore Capital and Corporate Limited. The new investors are John
Harris CBE and Daniel Harris, and Terence Brown, former Chairman of the
club. Daniel Harris is joining the board and Terence Brown is becoming
Honorary Life President of the club. David Sullivan and David Gold also
subscribed for further shares. Terence Brown is well known to supporters
having been involved with the Club for many years. Father and son John and
Daniel Harris are lifelong supporters of West Ham and will also be known to
many supporters. They previously built up the publicly listed Alba Group,
which was founded by John Harris, and currently run Harvard Medical Devices.
Daniel Harris said: "My father and I have considered investing in West Ham
on a number of occasions. We chose to do so now because we have confidence
in the new management team and believe they are capable of fulfilling West
Ham's exciting potential. We look forward to the future success of the
club."

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Squad numbers confirmed
WHUFC.com
West Ham United can confirm their first-team squad numbers for the 2010/11
season
13.08.2010

West Ham United are delighted to be able to confirm the club's official
squad numbers for the 2010/11 season. With the exception of No6, which was
retired in honour of Hammers and England legend Bobby Moore OBE in August
2008, numbers 1 to 11 will be filled. New signings Winston Reid, Tal Ben
Haim and Thomas Hitzlsperger will wear Nos 2, 3 and 11 respectively, while
James Tomkins takes the No5 shirt while Carlton Cole moves to No9 and Jack
Collison to No10. Pablo Barrera will wear the No12 shirt vacated by Cole,
while Frederic Piquionne will wear No30. Youngsters Junior Stanislas, Zavon
Hines and Jordan Spence have also taken new numbers, wearing 25, 26 and 27
respectively.

Full 2010/11 squad list

1 Robert Green
2 Winston Reid
3 Tal Ben Haim
4 Danny Gabbidon
5 James Tomkins
6
7 Kieron Dyer
8 Scott Parker
9 Carlton Cole
10 Jack Collison
11 Thomas Hitzlsperger
12 Pablo Barrera
13 Luis Boa Morte
14 Radoslav Kovac
15 Matthew Upson
16 Mark Noble
17 Benni McCarthy
18 Jonathan Spector
19 Freddie Sears
20 Julien Faubert
21 Valon Behrami
22 Manuel da Costa
23 Herita Ilunga
24 Frank Nouble
25 Junior Stanislas
26 Zavon Hines
27 Jordan Spence
28 Peter Kurucz
29 Marek Stech
30 Frederic Piquionne
31
32 Alessandro Diamanti
33 Fabio Daprela

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Brown in
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 13th August 2010
By: Staff Writer

Former Chairman Terry Brown has been named Honourary Life President for the
second time, it has been revealed. The former Chairman of the club, who was
held responsible by the majority of supporters for breaking up what could
have been West Ham's greatest ever team at the beginning of this century is
back on the board he resigned from after falling our with the Icelandics, to
whom he sold the club in 2006.

In an announcement confirming the capture of a further £4million in equity
from investors John and Daniel Harris and Brown - which is being used to
further reduce the influence of Straumur and CB Holdings - it was also
revealed that co-Chairmen David Gold and David Sullivan have 'subscribed for
further shares'.

KUMB first revealed Brown's interest in returning to the board last
December. The former Chairman, who borrowed £2million in the early 1990s
with which to buy into the club sold his controlling stake to Bjorgolffur
Gusmundsson for an estimated £85million some 14 years later.

It is the second time that Brown has been awarded the title which was first
given to him in 2006. Less than six months after selling the club - a
condition of which was the new title - Brown stepped down after it was
revealed that his successors were planning to sue him for damages relating
to the Carlos Tevez affair.

The Harris' - father and son - currently head Harvard Medical Devices.

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Aston Villa v West Ham
BBC.co.uk
Barclays Premier League
Venue: Villa Park Date: Saturday, 14 August Kick-off: 1500 BST
Coverage: BBC Sport website, BBC Radio 5 live, local radio, Final Score &
highlights on Match of the Day

TEAM NEWS
Aston Villa are without defenders James Collins and Carlos Cuellar, who have
respective calf and hamstring injuries.
Curtis Davies hopes to overcome a knee complaint to make his first start for
a year, while Gabriel Agbonlahor is a slight doubt with a hamstring problem.

West Ham could give debuts to summer signings Pablo Barrera, Winston Reid,
Tal Ben Haim and Frederic Piquionne.
Thomas Hitzlsperger may miss out against his former club after limping out
of Germany's midweek friendly.

Aston Villa
Doubtful: Agbonlahor (hamstring), Davies (knee)
Injured: Collins (calf), Cuellar (hamstring), Delph (knee)

West Ham
Doubtful: Hitzlsperger (thigh)
Injured: Collison & Kurucz (both knee)

MATCH PREVIEW
Aston Villa begin the new season in a similar state of turmoil to how West
Ham ended the previous campaign. While the Hammers have regrouped since
narrowly avoiding relegation, uncertainty has enveloped Villa Park following
the sudden resignation of manager Martin O'Neill on Monday. Reserve-team
coach Kevin MacDonald takes temporary charge, as he did in the Premier
League 16 years ago at Leicester after Brian Little left; ironically to
become Villa's manager. MacDonald failed to win any of his three games in
charge: his only point came at home to Villa, who he then joined as part of
Little's coaching staff.
It remains to be seen how destabilising O'Neill's departure will prove to
be. MacDonald will buy Villa time, but it is new signings the club needs to
invest in after a barren summer so far.
West Ham's Avram Grant has endured his share of managerial travails at
Chelsea and Portsmouth and will want stability for himself as much as his
new employers. The rebuilding process is well underway, with half a dozen
new faces added to their squad. Grant, though, has lost his first Premier
League match in charge at both previous clubs.

MATCH FACTS
Head-to-head
• West Ham have won only one of their last 13 visits to Villa Park (W1, D7,
L5). That was in January 2006 when Marlon Harewood scored the decisive
penalty in a 2-1 Premier League victory.
• Villa's only defeat in the last eight meetings came at Upton Park last
November.

Aston Villa
• Villa's 64-point tally last season was their best since they finished as
runners-up in 1993.
• Their home record of 32 points from 19 matches was the worst in the top
half of the table, and only 12th best overall.
• Villa have only won two of their nine home league matches in 2010, drawing
six and losing to Blackburn on the final day of last season.
• They have won one of their last five opening-day fixtures - 4-2 at home
against Manchester City in 2008 when Gabriel Agbonlahor scored a hat-trick.
• Stephen Warnock will be making his 200th career league start.
• Emile Heskey is poised to make his 500th career league appearance. He has
scored 113 goals.

West Ham
• The Hammers have won four of their last five opening-day matches. Their
only defeat in the last seven was 2-0 at home to Manchester City in 2007.
• Their only away victory last season came on the opening weekend against
Wolves. West Ham's final away tally of nine points was the third lowest
total in the top flight.
• New manager Avram Grant lost his first Premier League match at both
previous clubs, with Chelsea and Portsmouth beaten by Manchester United.
• If fit, Thomas Hitzlsperger's West Ham debut will be his 100th Premier
League appearance. His previous 99 matches came for Aston Villa between 2000
to 2005.
• Matthew Upson will be making his 300th club career start.

LAST SEASON'S LEADING GOALSCORERS

Aston Villa
Carew: 17 goals (10 league);
Agbonlahor: 16 goals (13 league)

West Ham
Cole: 10 goals (10 league); Diamanti: 8 goals (7 league)

MATCH OFFICIALS
Referee: Mike Dean
Assistant referees: John Flynn & Andy Halliday
Fourth official: Andy D'Urso

LAST LEAGUE MATCH LINE-UPS
Aston Villa (L 0-1 v Blackburn, h): Friedel; Cuellar, Collins, Dunne,
Warnock (L Young 41), A Young, Milner, Petrov, Downing, Agbonlahor
(Delfouneso 78), Carew (Heskey 76) Subs not used: Guzan, Beye, Sidwell,
Reo-Coker.
West Ham (D 1-1 v Man City, h): Green; Faubert, Upson, Da Costa, Daprela,
Parker, Kovac, Boa Morte (Franco 64), Cole (Stanislas 64), Ilan, Diamanti
(Spence 88) Subs not used: Gabbidon, Spector, Kurucz, McCarthy.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Squad numbers 2010/11
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 13th August 2010
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United have released the new squad numbers for the forthcoming
season. With a host of new signings to incorporate, several changes have
been made to last year's squad list - including Carlton Cole moving from 12
to 9 and the currently injured Jack Collison being granted the famous number
10, previously worn by the likes of Trevor Brooking and Paolo Di Canio.
Currently all numbers from 1 to 33 are catered for - bar the retired number
six and number 31. Radoslav Kovac, who is expected to move to Stoke, has
been given number 14.

2010/11 Squad List

(Last season's squad number in brackets)

1 (1) Robert Green
2 (-) Winston Reid
3 (-) Tal Ben Haim
4 (4) Danny Gabbidon
5 (30) James Tomkins
7 (7) Kieron Dyer
8 (8) Scott Parker
9 (12) Carlton Cole
10 (31) Jack Collison
11 (-) Thomas Hitzlsperger
12 (-) Pablo Barrera
13 (13) Luis Boa Morte
14 (14) Radoslav Kovac
15 (15) Matthew Upson
16 (16) Mark Noble
17 (17) Benni McCarthy
18 (18) Jonathan Spector
19 (33) Freddie Sears
20 (20) Julien Faubert
21 (21) Valon Behrami
22 (22) Manuel Da Costa
23 (3) Herita Ilunga
24 (24) Frank Nouble
25 (46) Junior Stanislas
26 (41) Zavon Hines
27 (42) Jordan Spence
28 (17) Peter Kurucz
29 (29) Marek Stech
30 (-) Frederic Piquionne
32 (32) Alessandro Diamanti
33 (33) Fabio Daprela

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Green to get new deal
Hammers to offer keeper contract extension
Last updated: 13th August 2010
SSN

West Ham are preparing to offer Robert Green a new long-term deal in an
effort to keep him at the club. The England international still has two
years left to run on his current contract at Upton Park, but is set to be
rewarded with fresh terms. The Hammers believe their goalkeeper remains the
best in the country, despite his horror show at the 2010 World Cup. As a
result, co-owner David Sullivan has revealed that the club will sit down
with Greennext summer and attempt to thrash out an extended agreement. "He's
an integral part of our team and, next summer, we'll sit down and offer him
a new long-term contract," said Sullivan. "I saw Robert on Sunday and he's
very relaxed about the coming season."
Meanwhile, reports suggest Scott Parker is close to agreeing a new contract
at Upton Park. The midfielder was the subject of a big-money bid from
Tottenham earlier this summer, which was swiftly knocked back. He now
appears set to commit his long-term future to the Hammers, with talks
regarding a lucrative four-year package edging towards a conclusion.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Behrami seeks Hammers exit
Diamanti could be sold, but Upson is set to stay
Last updated: 13th August 2010
SSN

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has revealed that Valon Behrami is keen to
leave the club. The Switzerland international has been strongly linked with
a switch this summer, with Serie A outfit Palermo thought to be leading the
chase. Sullivan has now confirmed that the versatile 25-year-old has
expressed a desire to move on, with the Hammers prepared to listen to
offers. "We have not had a bid for him," said the Upton Park supremo. "He
doesn't want to be here, his wife doesn't like London - but he cost us
£6million and his agent got more than £1million to bring him to West Ham.
"He's actually a very decent player and I'm surprised we've not had a bid
for him."
West Ham are also looking to cash-in on Alessandro Diamanti after telling
the Italian forward that he is surplus to requirements. Sullivan said: "We
had one bidder. He cost us £6million last summer."
But while Behrami and Diamanti could soon be heading for the exits, the
Hammers are reluctant to sell Matthew Upson. The England international
appeared destined to be on his way earlier this summer, but a lack of
interest has ensured that he remains part of Avram Grant's plans. "He's not
indicated to us what he wants to do," said Sullivan. "He said he would after
the World Cup. I think he probably thought a big club would come in for him
but we've not had that. "Sunderland inquired but he didn't think he wanted
to go there. I hope this season he does prove he is worthy of playing in the
Champions League. We have no choice if he wants to go into the last year of
his contract. "We've bought some good, new, young centre-halves and I'm
interested to see how Upson performs.
"If he does well we will bid against other clubs for his services, if not we
will let him go next summer. We've got Winston Reid and James Tomkins and
plenty of centre-halves so let's see what he does. He is a great player."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
McCarthy admits weight battle
Hammers striker told to shed pounds or lose wages
By Ben Collins Last updated: 13th August 2010
SSN

West Ham striker Benni McCarthy is battling to lose weight in time for the
new season. The South African has struggled for fitness since making a
£2.5million move from Blackburn in January and in May his body fat was
measured at 24.2 per cent. A healthy male athlete should measure between
five and 12 per cent on the Body Mass Index, with between 20 and 25
considered desirable for most middle-aged men. After missing out on South
Africa's World Cup squad, the 32-year-old returned early for pre-season
training and has trimmed down to 16 per cent. However, West Ham chairman
David Sullivan has warned that McCarthy could be fined a week's wages -
£38,000 - if he fails to lose another kilo in the next week. McCarthy was
out with a knee injury towards the end of last season although he admits a
poor diet has contributed to his weight problems in the past. "I eat well
but it doesn't matter," he told the Daily Mail. "Me, I'm the type of person
who, if I don't train hard, I pick up weight. "With my bone structure, body
structure, if I don't train with intensity, I will get bigger. "When you're
injured, you can't train. For three weeks, I was told to stay off my feet,
just come in for treatment. I couldn't go in the gym. If I was on my feet,
my knee would just swell up. "I started to get worried because I know I pick
up weight quite easily. I was out for five weeks, just doing rehab on the
knee. When I started training again, I could tell I was too heavy, two or
three kilos too heavy, and I didn't train at the same intensity I normally
would do. I didn't feel right. "I used to eat the wrong things at the wrong
times," added McCarthy, a Champions Leaguewinner with Porto in 2004.
"Carbohydrates, you can't eat at night. You eat it during the day and burn
it off when you train. If you eat it at night, you store it and get heavier.
That was my problem."
McCarthy was ordered to lose weight towards the end of last year by
Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce and Hammers' chief Sullivan has now warned he
faces losing a week's wages. "Benni has a rigorous weight-loss programme and
if he doesn't lose the weight we will be fining him," he told the Daily
Telegraph.
"We are not being unrealistic. We've given him a target of losing a kilo -
2.2lb - a week. He has to lose five or six more kilos. "He's training very
hard so he must be eating or drinking something very wrong. Short of
spending 24 hours a day with him, we have to assume that. "With the amount
of training he is doing his weight should be going down with a normal diet.
We are not starving him."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Aston Villa v West Ham preview
Villa reeling from O'Neill exit while Grant aims for positive start
By Ben Collins Last updated: 13th August 2010
SSN

PREDICTIONS:
Skysports.com prediction: 1-1
SKY BET odds: Villa 10/11 Draw 11/5 West Ham 10/3
One to Watch: Ashley Young

Aston Villa open their season at home to West Ham on Saturday still reeling
from the departure of Martin O'Neill. The Northern Irish boss chose to bring
his four-year tenure to an end just four days before the start of the new
campaign. The former Celtic boss has led Villa to a sixth-placed finish in
each of the last three seasons but had become frustrated over the club's
transfer policy. There were very few comings and goings at Villa Park this
summer and star midfielder James Milner, last season's PFA Young Player of
the Year, looks set to be sold this summer before the transfer window shuts.
The ongoing saga over Milner's potential move to Manchester City has been an
unwelcome distraction during Villa's pre-season, which saw them beat
Feyenoord 2-1 before losing 4-1 to Benfica. In their other friendly against
top-class opposition, Villa drew 0-0 with Valencia at Villa Park last
Friday, a match in which Luke Young, Stewart Downing, Nigel Reo-Coker and
young winger Marc Albrighton were particularly impressive. A crumb of
comfort for Villa fans following O'Neill's sudden exit is that the likes of
Reo-Coker and Curtis Davies will be keen to impress caretaker boss Kevin
MacDonald after falling out of favour under O'Neill. And Young was one of
England's stand-out players in Wednesday's 2-1 friendly win over Hungary,
coming off the bench at half-time and laying on the winner for Steven
Gerrard. Milner also featured as a second-half substitute but has been left
out of Villa's squad to face West Ham as his switch to Man City edges
nearer. Only a pay-off dispute between Stephen Ireland is thought to be
holding up the move with a part-exchange deal having been agreed.

There has been many changes at West Ham, however, as they aim to avoid
another relegation scrap. Gianfranco Zola was sacked at the end of last
season, with Avram Grant the man to step into the Hammers hotseat after
battling adversity at Portsmouth. Grant has signed Frederic Piquionne from
Lyon after having him on loan at Pompey last season while Thomas
Hitzlsperger, Pablo Barrera, Winston Reid and Tal Ben Haim have also arrived
at Upton Park. Guillermo Franco and Ilan have been released, but one man the
Hammers were keen to keep hold off was Scott Parker and they have managed to
stave off interest from Tottenham in their star midfielder. Robert Green and
Matthew Upson will be aiming to put the World Cup behind them although
striker Carlton Cole was back in the England squad for the Hungary friendly.
Benni McCarthy has been told he must lose even more weight despite a
rigorous pre-season training regime and did not appear in the Hammers' final
friendly, a 0-0 draw at home to Deportivo La Coruna last Saturday.

Team news
Villa's caretaker MacDonald will be without the services of defensive duo
Carlos Cuellar and James Collins. Cuellar has failed to recover from a
hamstring injury so either Habib Beye or Luke Young will come in at
full-back. Collins is ruled out with a calf problem so Davies is expected to
partner Richard Dunneat the back, although if he fails to shake off a knee
problem then youngster Ciaran Clark should come in. Striker Gabriel
Agbonlahor is battling to overcome a hamstring injury in time so Emile
Heskey could start as MacDonald may be mindful of Villa's Europa League trip
to face Rapid Vienna on Thursday.

West Ham could give debuts to summer signings Barrera, Ben Haim, Piquionne
and Reid. Hitzlsperger may miss out against his former club, however, after
limping out of Germany's midweek friendly, while Jack Collison (knee)
remains a long-term absentee.

Possible starting XIs:

Villa: Friedel, Beye, Dunne, Davies, Warnock, A Young, Petrov, Reo-Coker,
Downing, Agbonlahor, Carew.

West Ham: Green, Tomkins, Gabbidon, Upson, Ilunga, Faubert, Parker, Noble,
Barrera, Cole, Piquionne.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Parker offered fresh terms
Hammers keen to tie midfielder down on long-term contract
By Chris Burton Last updated: 13th August 2010
SSN

West Ham have stepped up their efforts to keep Scott Parker at the club by
offering him a new long-term deal. The midfielder has been the subject of
interest from Tottenham this summer, with one bid having already been
knocked back. The Hammers made it clear in snubbing that approach that they
had no intention of selling the England international for any price. That
remains their stance, with the 29-year-old having become an integral member
of their squad. The Upton Park outfit are now keen to end any uncertainty
regarding Parker's future by tying him down on an improved five-year
contract. "As I understand it the club wants Scott to stay and have given
him a long contract," said Hammers boss Avram Grant. "It's good for the club
and good for Scott. He's very important to this club and I hope it will be
done."
While retaining the services of Parker has been a top priority for Grant
this summer, he has also been looking to bolster his ranks. Five fresh faces
have been drafted in to help create competition for places, but the Hammers
have been forced to accept defeat in their efforts to land Miralem Sulejmani
after seeing the Ajax midfielder fail to obtain a work permit. "We didn't
succeed in the deal and we are looking forward - I can't look back on things
I can't change," added Grant.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Aston Villa name James Milner in squad to face West Ham despite impending
Man City move
Aston Villa midfielder James Milner, the subject of a possible move to
Manchester City, has been named in caretaker-manager Kevin MacDonald's squad
to play West Ham on Saturday.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Telegraph staff
Published: 2:02PM BST 13 Aug 2010

City are believed to be offering a player-plus-cash deal involving Stephen
Ireland to meet Aston Villa's £30 million valuation of the England
midfielder. But MacDonald, in charge since the resignation of manager Martin
O'Neill, has named Milner to face West Ham. Milner has not featured in any
of Villa's warm-up matches since the World Cup but he played 20 minutes as a
substitute for England against Hungary on Wednesday. MacDonald said: "The
latest about Milner is that talks are still ongoing. Nothing can be done
today in terms of him being signed in time to play tomorrow. "James has been
put in the squad and will be available to play for Aston Villa against West
Ham."
MacDonald was non-committal on whether he would like to replace O'Neill on a
permanent basis. But he admitted owner Randy Lerner had asked him to be
ready to take charge for another week if a successor to O'Neill is not
imminent The former Liverpool midfielder said: "Would I like to be a
manager? What will be will be. Mr Lerner told me to prepare the team for
West Ham. "I spoke to him today and he also asked me to make preparations
for next week just in case. That's all I'm doing."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Aston Villa v WEST HAM: Avram Grant set to be without new signing Thomasz
Hitzlsperger
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER Last updated at 2:49 PM on 13th August 2010
Daily Mail

Thomas Hitzlsperger looks set to miss out on his West Ham debut against his
former club Aston Villa. The midfielder, a summer signing from Lazio,
suffered a thigh injury playing for Germany in midweek and is a major doubt.
New manager Avram Grant could hand debuts to Mexico winger Pablo Barrera,
New Zealand defender Winston Reid and his old Portsmouth pair Tal Ben-Haim
and Frederic Piquionne. Midfielder Jack Collison and striker Zavon Hines
(both knee) remain long-term absentees.

Team (from): Green, Faubert, Upson, Tomkins, Ilunga, Noble, Parker, Behrami,
Piquionne, Cole, Boa Morte, Gabbidon, Dyer, Kovac, Hitzlsperger, McCarthy,
Ben-Haim, Spector, Sears, Da Costa, Nouble, Stech, Diamanti, Daprela,
Stanislas, Barrera, Reid.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham keen to offer Rob Green new contract - despite World Cup shocker
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 3:05 PM on 13th August 2010
Daily Mail

West Ham are readying an offer to keep England World Cup flop Rob Green at
the club for the long term. Green has two years remaining on his current
deal but the club are keen to tie down a player they see crucial to their
future - despite his horror show in South Africa. Co-owner David Sullivan
has revealed that the club will sit down with Green at the end of the season
to thrash out an extended agreement. Sullivan said: 'Green's an integral
part of our team and, next summer, we'll sit down and offer him a new
long-term contract. 'I saw Robert on Sunday and he's very relaxed about the
coming season.' And reports suggest Scott Parker is close to agreeing a new
contract at Upton Park. The midfielder was the subject of a bid from
Tottenham last month which was rejected. Talks regarding a lucrative
four-year package are edging towards a conclusion.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Parker to commit future
August 13, 2010
ESPN

West Ham midfielder Scott Parker is close to signing a new five-year
contract. Parker, 29, has been linked with moves to Liverpool and Tottenham
over the summer but is set to commit his future to the Hammers. "As I
understand it the club wants Scott to stay and have given him a long
contract," West Ham boss Avram Grant said. "It's good for the club and good
for Scott. He's very important to this club and I hope it will be done."
Grant has brought in five new players so far this summer but has failed in
his bid to land Miralem Sulejmani after the Ajax midfielder failed to obtain
a work permit. "We didn't succeed in the deal and we are looking forward - I
can't look back on things I can't change," Grant added. The Hammers are
understood to be close to agreeing a deal for Manchester City striker Felipe
Caicedo.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Prem Guide : West Ham
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: 13 Aug 2010

AVRAM GRANT must improve West Ham's performances and attitude as the club
faces a landmark season. But the new boss also has to ensure a trip to Upton
Park remains entertaining for the long-suffering fans. Hammers supporters
have a definite masochistic tendency. Many will quietly admit they prefer a
hair-raising flirt with relegation to mid-table mediocrity. Under Alan
Curbishley, the team reached 10th place in November and beached there. The
crowd had to be woken up to be told the season had finished. Grant has to
learn quickly that West Ham is about passion and commitment on the pitch,
combined with stylish football. There is not a ruthless demand from the
punters for trophies. The Israeli has been able to sign five new players and
pre-season went well with four wins from five games. Grant once led Chelsea
to a Champions League final but was unable to keep Portsmouth in the Premier
League last season. He has experience at both ends of the spectrum but West
Ham is a different kind of club and that's not just some romantic East End
notion. The club have never won much. Three FA Cups, the Cup Winners' Cup
back in 1965 and that's pretty much it. Loose talk about the Champions
League and the ill-fated signings of Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano were
greeted with suspicion from the punters at Upton Park. And, last season, the
team let the fans down badly. This time around, German Thomas Hitzlsperger
will bring experience, while dashing Mexican winger Pablo Barrera promises
to wow the crowds. Grant can get off to a great start with victory at Villa
Park today. But, even if they lose, West Ham have to go down with a fight or
the fans will soon be on his back.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
We'll Av a good go this year
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today

DAVID SULLIVAN hurled insults at West Ham's players last season - but on
Sunday he threw a party for them. A bouncy castle, barbecue, beer and
ice-cream replaced stinging public criticism and threats of pay cuts. The
club's outspoken co-owner summed up last season's relegation worries as
'Armageddon'. The new buzzword is 'togetherness'.
West Ham supporters remain unconvinced about new boss Avram Grant and few
are bold enough to predict much glory at Upton Park this term. But Sullivan
insists that while he has not gone soft hosting a garden party at his
stately-home HQ, the boardroom battles, dressing-room dressing-downs and the
fears of financial meltdown have faded... for now. Grant has yet to complete
a full season as a Premier League manager but will have the full backing of
Sullivan, joint-chairman David Gold and vice-chair Karren Brady for the full
tenure of his three-year contract. Ahead of today's game at Aston Villa,
Sullivan said: "Last season, West Ham conceded goals for fun - that won't
happen this year. "There were a lot of disruptive things going on. A change
of owners, the club looking like it was going bankrupt, selling players like
James Collins early in the season. "There's a real feeling of togetherness
now and that will come across in the first 12 or 14 games. "We have a
manager I totally believe in. And coaching staff I believe in. "We are
seasoned pros at running clubs and know harmony and togetherness is what
works best and it's what we're trying to build at the club. "If you look at
the managers we picked, we are good judges. "The last two managers we picked
were Steve Bruce and Alex McLeish, neither of whom had any Premier League
experience but are now established Premier League managers. "We stuck with
Steve Bruce during some horrendous spells. "Last season, we had a crisis. I
did what was necessary to gee people up. Whether it was wise or not we'll
never know. "Normally it's not the way we run a club. But relegation would
have been a disaster. The criticism was a tactic I'd used before. "Whether
it had any impact, I do not know. "For the next five or six years, I will be
supportive. We're building a team that will take the club forward."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Green backed to bounce Beck
The Sun
By JAMES MASTERS
Published: Today

AVRAM GRANT reckons blunder keeper Rob Green can emulate David Beckham by
going from World Cup zero to Premier League hero. West Ham No 1 Green is set
for a red-hot reception from the Holte End this afternoon as the Hammers
kick-off their season at Aston Villa. Green is sure to get stick for his
World Cup howler that let the USA equalise in the teams' opener in South
Africa. Yet Irons boss Grant insists Beckham, Cristiano Ronaldo and Oliver
Kahn have all suffered World Cup hardship, only to come back stronger. He
said: "I believe any player has to give answers on the pitch. "I remember
David Beckham after he was sent off in the 1998 World Cup - he had his best
season, even though the supporters weren't giving him a good welcome. "I
remember Cristiano Ronaldo after his wink at the 2006 World Cup, the fans
didn't like him - and it was also his best season. Maybe it is a good thing
for a footballer to go through. "Things like this happen. In the 2002 World
Cup final, Oliver Kahn conceded a goal my grandmother could have stopped and
Germany lost. "Robert Green is a very good goalkeeper. It will not be the
last goal that any goalkeeper will concede like this."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Karren Brady's Football Diary
KARREN BRADY - First lady of football
Email the author
Published: Today

OH my God, the summer is over!

I thought I'd do a round-up of the close-season and take a look at the new
campaign. We're busy at Upton Park transforming "Well, it's West Ham, what
do you expect?" so often used historically by supporters in a negative way.
We're editing it to make the association one of quality, high levels of
service and top-class experience because our values are authentic. I prefer:
"It's West Ham. We expect a lot." This is not just about appointing a new
manager and signing new players - which we have, in plenty - it's more to do
with creating a new era based on professionalism and good values. The pace
has been hectic and it's been one of my busiest close-seasons in 17 years.
But I'm not complaining, I love it.

AND we're off...

It will be a relief to go to Villa today without a hard hat. Now I'm not
with the club Villa fans regard as Public Enemy No 1 I'm hoping the old
Birmingham City board will be made more welcome than in the past. I wonder
if Benni McCarthy will play? Sent home by South Africa for being overweight,
his problems have become ours. My husband said: "You? Talking about Benni's
weight? Hello pot. Meet kettle!" Don't worry Burton supporters, he'll be out
of hospital soon! I hope even Benni - now nicknamed 'two Bennis' - has
grasped the expectation at the club.

You can't Av everything

MAYBE it's typical of Avram Grant that he should arrange to meet for our
first informal chat at 10pm in a trendy London restaurant. Maybe not. When I
told him that was late and I was usually thinking of bed at such a time,
there was a guffaw down the line. I was at our table when Avram texted to
say his plane from Israel was delayed and he'd be half-an-hour late. Crikey,
I was missing my Horlicks. By the time he arrived the restaurant lights had
dimmed and the throb-throb of dance beat was so loud I couldn't hear a word
he was mumbling. So I shouted: "Avram, I can't hear you, I can't see you,
let's go somewhere else."
Not a promising first date but I like his humour. He's as dry as Dead Man's
Gulch.

Welcome to Harry's Law

HARRY REDKNAPP has introduced something into the transfer market I call
Harry's Law. It goes: "Do what I like, when I like, with whom I like." Scott
Parker grew unsettled by Spurs' clear interest in him even though West Ham
joint-chairman David Sullivan stated he was not for sale. No permission to
speak to Scott was requested or would have been given. But this was not good
enough for Spurs who were convinced we would be pressured into selling.
Daniel Levy - my friend, but obviously not a very good one - once ventured
to me that business was all about principles and money. I told him he had
failed in both on this occasion. Something very similar has now happened
with Ashley Young at Villa. I'm glad about this - but not so happy it has
happened in such a way.

He's not that Fab, after all

ONCE 'Fabio Fabuloso', England's manager returned from the World Cup with a
reputation as Fabio Flopo. A great club manager, but it appears he's a work
in progress when it comes to the very different skills required when a team
is in long-term residence. Over in South Africa he had to be part
scout-master, part tactical guru. Well, Capello is certainly no happy-clappy
scout-master. I was chatting with a couple of the World Cup squad at a
party, and one of them put it this way: "It's like a summer romance. "You
meet a girl and think she's great and can't get enough of her. So you move
in together. After 10 minutes you realise everything about her annoys you."
Some testimony, that.

My Heart stopper

LIFE at West Ham is not without plenty of laughs. After work a couple of
staff and I are chatting. One, a Geordie, revealed: "I was in the shower and
heard you on the radio. I got hard on." I like informality, but... "You had
a what?" I said. "Hard. You know. Hard on." Cue uproar. A voice whispered
from beside me: "He means Heart - you were on Heart FM radio." Thank heavens
for that!

Boss fits the bill

SCOTS are known for a combination of moths and wallets, just ask an agent
who convinced a club to sign a Scottish manager. The agent remains annoyed
at the manager's lack of gratitude. "Let's put that right," said the boss
when they met. "A bottle of champagne . ." Bottle emptied, the boss left.
Then the waiter arrived with the bill.

Hard times indeed

IF ever there was proof times are hard for football club owners... Premier
League chairman - short bloke, enormous chest, always seems in a bad mood
and good-ish friend - invited me to spend the day on his yacht with him in
Marbella. "So, where are we going," I asked all excitedly. "Going? We're not
going anywhere. Do you know how much fuel this thing uses?"

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham aiming to see off Tottenham and sign PSG midfielder Stephane
Sessegnon
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 10:34 AM on 13th August 2010
Daily Mail

West Ham United are vying with Tottenham Hotspur for Paris Saint-Germain
midfielder Stephane Sessegnon. White Hart Lane boss Harry Redknapp is
monitoring the 26-year-old because of fears he faces a defensive shortage.
However, the Hammers are said to be the club closest to making a formal
offer for the Benin international. Everton also reportedly considered him,
but Mikel Arteta's commitment to a new contract Goodison Park has reduced
their need to strengthen in midfield. PSG will demand a big fee for a player
who was man of the match in their Ligue 1 opener against Saint-Etienne last
Saturday. Sessegnon was signed from Le Mans for £6million two seasons ago,
but PSG put off suitors last summer by asking for £15m.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
The Lastest Twists: Sulejmani Deal Off?
West Ham Till I Die

It would seem the Sulejmani deal has finally come to a conclusion, with the
result being not so good for West Ham. The Ajax striker and Serbian
international has had his work permit appeal rejected and it appears the
deal is dead in the water. I dont think there is much anyone can now do to
resurrect this move as his application for a permit has now been turned down
twice. Its a shame as i think he would have been a terrific player for us,
but we must now set our sights on other targets and hopefully get another
forward in before next week. It would seem this weekends match has come too
soon to introduce any more players.

It seems thats Kovac's transfer from West Ham to Stoke City should be
completed within the next 48 hours. Reports suggest that it is West Ham who
are actually holding things up at the moment as they are undecided whether
to do a deal or not. For the reported fee of £2million, which is what we
shelled out to buy him last year, i cant see what there is to think about?

Good Luck to West Ham tomorrow! My prediction for the game, 2-1 West Ham,
with Piquionne scoring the winner!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers block Kovac's Stoke switch after Hitzlsperger injury
Published 09:32 13/08/10 By James Nursey
The Mirror

West Ham have put a temporary block on Radoslav Kovac's switch to Stoke
while they assess Thomas Hitzlsperger's injury. Czech midfielder Kovac, 30,
was due at the Britannia Stadium yesterday to discuss a £1.5million switch.
But Hammers' new signing Hitzlsperger, recruited on a free from Lazio,
picked up a thigh injury in Germany's 2-2 draw against Denmark in an
international friendly on Wednesday. Hitzlsperger was subbed in the 66th
minute and West Ham also have injury worries over fellow midfielder Valon
Behrami, who didn't play in Switzerland's friendly in Austria.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Aston Villa v West Ham United: match preview
Read a full match preview of the Premier League game between Aston Villa and
West Ham United at Villa Park on Saturday Aug 14 2010, kick-off 15.00 BST.
Telegraph.co.uk
By John Ley
Published: 6:00AM BST 13 Aug 2010

Saturday, August 14
Aston Villa v West Ham United
Villa Park
Kick-off: 15.00 BST
TV: Highlights, BBC One Match of the Day.

Aston Villa (Possible, 4-4-2): Friedel; Cuéllar, Collins, Dunne, Warnock; A
Young, Milner, Petrov, Downing; Carew, Agbonlahor.

West Ham United (Possible, 4-5-1): Green; Faubert, da Costa, Upson, Ilunga;
Parker, Noble, Hitzlsperger, Diamanti; Cole, Piquionne.

Referee: M Dean. Matches (last season): 30. R: 116.Y: 6.

Tale of the game

Villa begin life after Martin O'Neill without any new signings. But West Ham
have failed to win in their last four League visits to Upton Park and,
crucially, they have not won away in the Premier League for a year. The last
success they experienced away from Upton Park was at Wolves on the opening
day of last season.
New manager Avram Grant lost twice against Villa last season, with
Portsmouth, but West Ham were unbeaten in seven pre-season friendlies. He
may give debuts to some of his summer signings including Frederic Piquionne
and former Villa favourite Thomas Hitzlsperger.

Last season: West Ham 2 Villa 1, Villa 0 West Ham 0.

Stat of the game: Villa lost their last two games of last season; a third
successive defeat would represent their worst run since April 2009 (four
straight losses).

Betting tip: West Ham to take advantage of the turmoil at Villa Park. Take
1-0 to the Hammers at a rather enticing 10-1.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham to fine Benni McCarthy if striker does not lose weight
West Ham United will fine Benni McCarthy a week's wages – £38,000 – if he
fails to lose a kilo in weight within seven days.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt
Published: 7:00AM BST 13 Aug 2010

West ham have told Benni McCarthy he will be fined a week's wages unless he
loses a kilo in weight in the next seven days. The weight loss regime will
continue for five weeks as the Premier League club have finally lost
patience with the South African striker, who has struggled for fitness since
he moved to Upton Park.Club chairman David Sullivan told Telegraph Sport:
"Benni has a rigorous weight loss programme and if he doesn't lose the
weight we will be fining him. We are not being unrealistic. We've given him
a target of losing a kilo – 2.2lb – a week. He has to lose five or six more
kilos. "He's training very hard so he must be eating or drinking something
very wrong. Short of spending 24 hours a day with him, we have to assume
that. "With the amount of training he is doing his weight should be going
down with a normal diet. We are not starving him. It's just don't eat ice
cream, don't eat cakes, don't drink wine. Who knows when they go home what
they do. "They say he's lost five kilos but he still looks heavy to me. But
we are very optimistic. I can fine him. I can't be unrealistic and say half
a stone a week but a kilo a week is a realistic target for a man of his
size. "It's like a jockey turning up overweight. He can't ride a horse can
he, and no one is going to pay him? I think we are fully within our rights
to say 'you are not honouring your side of the contract'. You expect him to
turn up in a state to be a footballer."

McCarthy, 32, is the club's fourth-highest earner and has two years left on
his contract having arrived from Blackburn Rovers in January for £2.2
million. His weight problems meant he was left out of South Africa's World
Cup squad. It remains to be seen whether he survives the overhaul of the
squad Sullivan and new manager Avram Grant are carrying out this summer. "In
a perfect world I would love to have been able to throw every player out,
get all the money that was paid for their transfers in a pot and start
again," Sullivan said. "I look at some of the money the club has paid for
some players and it does not make sense."

New Zealand defender Winston Reid plus Tal Ben Haim (on loan) and Frédéric
Piquionne, both of whom Grant managed at Portsmouth, have been added to the
squad along with Pablo Barrera, a £4 million Mexico forward, and Thomas
Hitzlsperger, the German midfielder. Sullivan will hope to sign at least one
more striker after the club failed to obtain a work permit for Miralem
Sulejmani, the Ajax forward who was set to arrive on a season-long loan. "We
have brought balance to the squad," Sullivan said, criticising what he
inherited. "We are playing cards with a bad hand, but we have to work our
way through as best we can and hang on in there."

Sullivan said he was optimistic that midfielder Scott Parker would sign a
new contract next week, with a one-year extension to his existing three
years. "He has not told us he wants to leave," he said. "And we do not want
to sell." The same applied to Carlton Cole, he said.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham hope injury-jinxed Kieron Dyer's latest comeback is not a false
dawn
Any mention of Kieron Dyer in an international week will lead to a sense
that here is one of the lost talents of English football, a player limited
to 33 caps because of his injury jinx.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt
Published: 7:30AM BST 13 Aug 2010

More directly there has been the fear for the past two years that he may
have to retire from football altogether. West Ham United probably feel they
are jinxed, having already suffered the premature retirement of Dean Ashton,
while Dyer is the club's top earner at a staggering £83,000 a week. His
contract is made all the more ludicrous by his fitness record. It has been
some drain on strained financial resources. But, finally, there are hopes
that Dyer may play again after having been restricted to just seven starts
in the past three years. He had four operations alone to rectify a leg
break. Over the summer it was recommended that Dyer undergo a new treatment.
It was identified that he had a huge patch of scar tissue on a leg caused by
a series of operations. According to sources, the patch was around an inch
by eight inches in size and prevented him from being fully fit. Through a
course of painful, deep massage, the scar tissue has been broken up and
reduced to, it is claimed, around half an inch by an inch. "It's been
extremely painful but he's now in a situation where there is optimism that
he will be injury-free this season," a source said. "He might just be able
to make a major contribution again."

At the same time, Dyer, 32 in December, only had a two-week holiday in the
close season to work on his core fitness. Although he suffered for a week
after playing an hour of the pre-season friendly against Ipswich Town, that
has been attributed to his lack of playing time. West Ham, who have been the
victims of a number of false dawns, are not making a great deal of Dyer's
fitness – and neither is he – but it would be a significant boost to see him
playing again.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
ASTON VILLA v West Ham: No Carlos Cuellar and James Collins leaves defensive
crisis
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER Last updated at 11:28 AM on 13th August 2010
Daily Mail

Aston Villa caretaker boss Kevin MacDonald will be without defensive duo
Carlos Cuellar and James Collins for the Barclays Premier League opener
against West Ham. Cuellar has failed to recover from a hamstring injury
while Collins is ruled out with a calf problem. Curtis Davies could partner
Richard Dunne at the back if he shakes off a knee problem. If not, then
rookie Ciaran Clark, who made his first Premier League start against Fulham
12 months ago, could deputise.
Striker Gabriel Agbonlahor is also battling to overcome a hamstring injury
in time to face the Hammers.

Team (from): Friedel, Guzan, Luke Young, Lichaj, Beye, Dunne, Davies, Clark,
Warnock, Ashley Young, Downing, Albrighton, Petrov, Sidwell, Reo-Coker,
Carew, Delfouneso, Heskey, Agbonlahor.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers offer Parker new deal
The Sun
Published: Today

SCOTT PARKER is closing in on a new five-year contract at West Ham. The
29-year-old midfielder has been linked with Liverpool and Tottenham but is
set to commit his future to the Hammers. West Ham boss Avram Grant said: "As
I understand it the club wants Scott to stay and have offered him a long
contract.
"It's good for the club and good for Scott. He's very important to this club
and I hope it will be done."
Grant has brought in five new players this summer but failed to land Miralem
Sulejmani after the Ajax midfielder was denied a work permit. The former
Portsmouth manager added: "We didn't succeed in the deal and we are looking
forward. I can't look back on things I can't change."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Parker poised to pen Hammers deal
Published 14:51 13/08/10 By Pa Sports
The Mirror

West Ham midfielder Scott Parker is close to signing a new five-year
contract. The 29-year-old, West Ham's player of the year last season, has
been linked with moves to Liverpool and Tottenham over the summer but is set
to commit his future to the Upton Park club. "As I understand it the club
wants Scott to stay and have given him a long contract," said Hammers boss
Avram Grant. "It's good for the club and good for Scott. He's very important
to this club and I hope it will be done."
Grant has brought in five new players so far this summer but has failed in
his bid to land Miralem Sulejmani after the Ajax midfielder failed to obtain
a work permit. "We didn't succeed in the deal and we are looking forward - I
can't look back on things I can't change," added Grant. The Hammers are
understood to be close to agreeing a deal for Manchester City striker Felipe
Caicedo.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Grant: Rob Green can be my Cristiano Ronaldo
Published 23:00 13/08/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror

Robert Green has been tipped to bounce back from World Cup misery in the
same way as David Beckham and Cristiano Ronaldo. West Ham keeper Green is
expecting to be booed at Villa Park today, following his World Cup blunder
for England. But Hammers boss Avram Grant reckons Green is mentally strong.
Grant said: "I remember Beckham after the 1998 World Cup, it was his best
season even though fans weren't giving him a good welcome. "Ronaldo after
the 2006 World Cup – they didn't like him and it was also his best season. I
hope the reaction will be the same. Maybe it's a good thing."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Parker set to sign new five-year West Ham contract
ESPN Soccernet staff
ESPN
August 13, 2010

West Ham midfielder Scott Parker is close to signing a new five-year
contract. Parker, 29, has been linked with moves to Liverpool and Tottenham
over the summer but is set to commit his future to the Hammers. "As I
understand it the club wants Scott to stay and have given him a long
contract," West Ham boss Avram Grant said. "It's good for the club and good
for Scott. He's very important to this club and I hope it will be done."
Grant has brought in five new players so far this summer but has failed in
his bid to land Miralem Sulejmani after the Ajax midfielder failed to obtain
a work permit. "We didn't succeed in the deal and we are looking forward - I
can't look back on things I can't change," Grant added. The Hammers are
understood to be close to agreeing a deal for Manchester City striker Felipe
Caicedo.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Slim down or be fined, West Ham warn striker McCarthy
BBC.co.uk

West Ham striker Benni McCarthy has been told by club co-owner David
Sullivan to lose weight or be fined. The 32-year-old has failed to make an
impact since joining in February and missed out on a place in South Africa's
World Cup squad because of his weight. "It's like a jockey being overweight.
He can't ride a horse and no-one is going to pay him," said Sullivan. "I
think we are fully within our rights to say 'you are not honouring your side
of the contract'." Sullivan said the former Ajax and Blackburn striker, who
is South Africa's record goal-scorer, was being put on a weight-loss
programme. "We are not being unrealistic. We've given him a target of losing
a kilo (2.2lbs) a week. He has to lose five or six more kilos," he said. "He
is training very hard so he must be eating or drinking something very wrong.
Short of spending 24 hours with him, we have to assume that. "You expect him
to turn up in a state to be a footballer. We are not starving him. It's just
don't eat ice cream, don't eat cakes, don't drink wine." McCarthy is
unlikely to be included in manager Avram Grant's squad for the opening game
of the new Premier League season, away to Aston Villa on Saturday.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham midfielder Scott Parker set to sign new five-year contract
West Ham midfielder Scott Parker is set to sign a new deal with the Premier
League club, handing manager Avram Grant a major boost ahead of the new
season.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Telegraph staff and agencies
Published: 5:10PM BST 13 Aug 2010

Grant has already brought in five new recruits - Thomas Hitzlsperger, Pablo
Barrera, Winston Reid, Tal Ben-Haim and Frederic Piquionne - and is close to
landing Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo. But the news Parker is
poised to put pen to paper on a bumper five-year deal to ward off interest
from Tottenham and Liverpool has given Grant a major boost on the eve of the
Barclays Premier League season. The 29-year-old midfielder was named the
West Ham player of the year last term and was the only squad member
co-chairman David Sullivan claimed he would not listen to offers for.
Parker's performances helped West Ham avoid relegation under Gianfranco Zola
and earned him a call-up to Fabio Capello's provisional World Cup squad -
although he failed to make the cut to South Africa. Grant said: "As I
understand it the club wants Scott to stay and have given him a long
contract. It's good for the club and good for Scott. He's very important to
this club and I hope it will be done."

West ham have left an open invitation for David Beckham to join them, but
whether the apparent 'former' England star will be lining up in the same
midfield as Parker in the future remains to be seen. "I met David Beckham
last year at the NBA finals," added Grant. "He's a lovely guy and a very
good player - one of the best characters I have seen in football. "But now
he is injured. I wish him all the best and then we will see what happens."
Grant kicks off his West Ham reign with a trip to an Aston Villa side
reeling from the departure of manager Martin O'Neill and the proposed sale
of James Milner to Manchester City. But the former Chelsea and Portsmouth
boss refuted suggestions it is a good time to be playing the midlanders.
"It's the first game of the season," he said. "If it was the middle of the
season, maybe, but in the first game when there's a change of coach players
are always trying to impress so I think they will do their best. "They have
very good players so I expect a very difficult game for us."
One player with little chance - or should that be fat chance - of facing
Villa is striker Benni McCarthy. The South African was left out his nation's
World Cup squad due to his lack of fitness and has been put on a strict
weight-loss regime in a bid to shed some extra pounds. "Benni has a problem.
He needs to lose some weight to be fit - he's a very good player when fit so
we are trying our best," said Grant. "I've only been here one month. He's a
nice guy, he's doing everything we tell him to do but I cannot follow the
players around 24 hours a day - maybe I will in the future. "But I don't
know what any player is doing in their private life and I can't put my
finger on it. I know it started a year ago, and it's a pity because he's
very skilful and a very good player. "Any player that belongs to the squad
we always try to get the best out of but it is not all one way, the player
also needs to do his job." Hitzlsperger is likely to miss out on the trip to
his former club after suffering a thigh injury playing for Germany in
midweek.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Avram Grant vows to follow in footsteps of Ron Greenwood at West Ham
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER Last updated at 11:42 PM on 13th August 2010
Daily Mail

Avram Grant has revealed he has set himself the target of recreating the
attractive football West Ham played in the Sixties under legendary coach Ron
Greenwood. 'Our resources are very, very limited, we can't even bring in
players who are less than big money,' he said. 'But we can make a good job
out of what we have. ' I love the traditions of the club, I believe in the
football that was started here by Ron Greenwood who tried to change the way
of playing in this country. 'I wanted to see how he did things. Sure the
results are important but there is also a way of playing that is important.
For me, success is a journey - not a target. We are starting the journey at
Aston Villa.'

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Avram Upholds the Greenwood Philosophy, as 'Relegation Misery' is Predicted!
West Ham Till I Die

On the eve of the new Premier League season, Avram Grant has vowed to
continue the playing philosophy of Ron Greenwood. He is quoted as stating:
' I love the traditions of the club, I believe in the football that was
started here by Ron Greenwood who tried to change the way of playing in this
country.
'I wanted to see how he did things. Sure the results are important but there
is also a way of playing that is important. 'For me, success is a journey
– not a target. We are starting the journey at Aston Villa.'

Words to warm the hearts of all true Hammers! Ron Greenwood is probably the
greatest and most innovative coach that English football has ever produced.
It is often a cliche to say that people are head of their time, but in
Greenwood's case it is perfectly true. He developed coaching methods in the
1960s that are integral to modern coaching manuals and still used every day
at professional clubs.

Greenwood was the nearest thing that you will get to a footballing
intellectual, a purist who wanted to see the game played the right way.
Avram Grant is right to aspire to being Greenwood's heir and it is certain
that Hammers fans will respond positively to his stated ambition. However,
as I have said previously, the trick is combine Greenwood's flowing,
attacking style of football with a new professionalism, discipline, team
spirit and will to win. Now that would be a winning combination!

Well done ITN news, yesterday evening, for emphasising the success of West
Ham's Academy and its contribution to England, in their report on the
implications of the new 'Home Grown' rules. What did the report say, 'A
club that produced seven of the England squad and they are not even in the
top four of the PL.'

Too often the media have banged on about the young English players at clubs
like Spurs and Aston Villa, conveniently forgetting that the likes of
Milner, Young, Lennon and Dawson were bought from other clubs and not
actually produced via their Academies.

It is nice to see the West Ham getting credit for its youth policy; as well
as media coverage of Tony Carr's views on the development of young players.
After all, Carr has a track record second to none in this country. As a
club, we are very fortunate to have him running our Academy.

Elsewhere, Sports Mail journalist Des Kelly has tipped us for relegation
(along with Blackpool and WBA)! Kelly suspects that he may have powers of
prediction (a la Mystic Meg?) after getting the PL title winners, runners-up
and relegated clubs spot on last season! And the reason for our predicted
demise? Allegedly West Ham will suffer 'the consequences of appointing a
manager who bows to the bungling interference of owners with the misery of
relegation. '

Indeed, the papers have been pretty down beat about our prospects this
season, most of them seeing us as finishing firmly in the bottom half.
Although they have largely stopped short of predicting the 'misery of
relegation.'

Oh well, that all probably guarantees that we are going to have a very good
season. I am greatly reassured!

And tomorrow I reckon we will start that season with a solid 0-1 West Ham
victory.

SJ. Chandos.

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

http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 13th August 2010

Miralem merked
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 12th August 2010
By: Staff Writer

West Ham have been thwarted in their attempts to sign Miralem Sulejmani after a work permit application was rejected. Despite having commanded the Dutch record transfer fee - some €16million when moving from Heerenveen to Ajax in 2008 - an adjudicating panel refused to issue the permit as Sulejmani has played in just a handful of Serbia's recent games - less than double figures in the past two years. The club are expected to confirm the news shortly.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sulejmani denied permit
Hammers forced to abandon deal
Last updated: 12th August 2010
SSN

West Ham United have been forced to abandon their bid for Ajax's Miralem Sulejmani after he failed to secure a work permit, skysports.com understands.
The Hammers had agreed a deal with the Dutch giants to sign Sulejmani, who is Ajax's record signing after they paid Heerenveen more than £13million for his services just two years ago. However, Sulejmani - a Serbian international - has just eight caps to his name and they have been spread over two years, meaning he did not automatically qualify for a work permit under Premier League criteria. West Ham appealed the decision, but an independent football panel ruled against Avram Grant's side, who had been hoping to include Sulejmani in their squad ahead of their opening game at Aston Villa this weekend. Now Grant will turn elsewhere with deals in the pipeline for Manchester City's Felipe Caicedo and former Middlesbrough forward Jeremie Aliadiere.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers in Cheik chase
The Sun
Published: Today

WEST HAM boss Avram Grant is lining up a £4million bid for FC Twente star Cheik Tiote. Grant had scouts checking on the midfielder when he played in the Ivory Coast's 1-0 win over Italy at Upton Park on Tuesday. And Tiote, 24, said: "I want to move to England, my advisers have told me there is interest for me."

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Bumper new deal for Green
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today

WEST HAM are ready to back World Cup blunder keeper Robert Green with a bumper new contract. Green, 30, apologised to the nation after his howler in England's opening game against the USA on June 12. But the ex-Three Lions No 1, who has two years left on his deal, has been in top form during pre-season.
And Hammers co-owner David Sullivan said: "He's an integral part of our team and, next summer, we'll sit down and offer him a new long-term contract. "I saw Robert on Sunday and he's very relaxed about the coming season." West Ham midfielder Scott Parker has agreed a new four-year deal following an £8million bid from Tottenham.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Valon Behrami wants to leave West Ham, says chairman David Sullivan
Switzerland international midfielder Valon Behrami wants to leave West Ham United, according to chairman David Sullivan.
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt
Published: 6:31PM BST 12 Aug 2010

Valon Behrami has his sights set on the West Ham exit door according to the club's chairman. "We have not had a bid for him," Sullivan said. "He doesn't want to be here, his wife doesn't like London – but he cost us £6 million and his agent got more than £1 million to bring him to West Ham. He's actually a very decent player and I'm surprised we've not had a bid for him."
Behrami, 25, is one of several players West Ham would like to move on this summer – or whose future is in doubt – as Sullivan tries to balance the books.
It was expected, for example, that Matthew Upson, who has one year left on his contract, would leave.Sullivan said: "He's not indicated to us what he wants to do. He said he would after the World Cup. I think he probably thought a big club would come in for him but we've not had that. "Sunderland inquired but he didn't think he wanted to go there. "I hope this season he does prove he is worthy of playing Champions League. We have no choice if he wants to go into the last year of his contract. "We've bought some good new young centre-halves and I'm interested to see how he [Upson] performs. "If he does well we will bid against other clubs for his services, if not we will happily let him go next summer. We've got Winston Reid and James Tomkins and plenty of centre-halves so let's see what he does. He is a great player." West Ham still hope to sell Alessandro Diamanti, who was told he could leave at the end of last season. "We had one bidder but he didn't confirm. He [Diamanti] cost £6 million last summer," said Sullivan, who hopes to sell Radoslav Kovac to Stoke City.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham move for Miralem Sulejmani hit by red tape as Fulham denied chance to sign Chelsea starlet
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER Last updated at 8:43 PM on 12th August 2010
Daily Mail

West Ham's attempts to sign Serb forward Miralem Sulejmani from Ajax have been thwarted after he was denied a work permit. Young Chelsea central defender Slobodan Rajkovic, 21, was also denied a work permit after agreeing a deal to join Fulham. Free agent Ricardo Rocha has been offered a chance to re-sign for Portsmouth so long as he takes a massive pay cut.

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Scott Parker to sign five-year deal and stay at West Ham United
David Sullivan hints he will have his say on the club's transfers
Avram Grant wants Manchester City's Felipe Caicedo on loan
Jamie Jackson
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 12 August 2010 23.13 BST

West Ham captain Scott Parker is set to pledge his future to the club by signing a new five-year-contract. Scott Parker is close to signing an improved deal at West Ham so ending speculation that he could move away from Upton Park, and potentially move across London to Tottenham Hotspur. David Sullivan, West Ham's joint owner, has hinted he may veto the manager Avram Grant's choice of new players in extreme circumstances, describing himself as "no mug" when it comes to recruitment.

With regard to Parker's new contract, Sullivan told the Evening Standard: "I have promised the fans I will not let Scott Parker go and I will not waver from that. If Scott came to me, said he wanted to move and was prepared to put in a transfer request, I would say, 'I'm terribly sorry, Scott, but I've made a promise to the fans'. I would remind him that it is too late to find a replacement now and ask him for one more year's commitment.

"Then I would let him go next summer if he still felt the same way. Scott has said nothing of the sort, though. Even if a club offered £10m I wouldn't sell him. If it was £30m though, I would have to think hard."

The club captain is expected to sign a new five-year deal within the next week. The club will offer the 29-year-old improved terms that will reportedly be worth up to £20m.

The 21-year-old Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo is heading to West Ham on a season-long loan, having fallen out of favour under Roberto Mancini.Caicedo, an Ecuadorian, signed when Sven-Goran Eriksson was in charge in 2008.

Despite Sullivan's public criticism of Grant's predecessor, Gianfranco Zola, which led to the Italian's departure, the co-chairman did not completely rule out having a say in football matters.

He added: "We won't be interfering with Avram. Of the next 20 players we sign, 18 will be his choice. Maybe the 19th will be a player I like. I've been in football for almost 20 years now and I'm not a complete mug when it comes to picking a player. I think that's reasonable.

"The 20th will perhaps be a player Avram wants but I will veto. But having said all that, if Avram was still set on a player, he would probably veto my veto."

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Chewing the fat with Benni McCarthy: West Ham's chunky striker is on a mission to lose weight...
EXCLUSIVE By MATT BARLOW
Last updated at 1:29 AM on 13th August 2010
Daily Mail

Benni McCarthy is shrinking — and, for once, a tale of vanishing pounds at Upton Park will come as music to the ears of David Sullivan. It was Sullivan who 'outed' McCarthy in May, revealing how the striker's body fat had soared to 24.2 per cent. 'Benni McCarthy is nearly as fat as me,' claimed West Ham's 61-year-old co-chairman, frustrated by a poor return on a £2.5million signing. McCarthy had not arrived in great shape, due to lack of action at Blackburn, and then injured his knee on his debut. Things got worse when he failed to make the South Africa squad for the World Cup finals but the 32-year-old returned early for pre-season and is working hard to shift some of the bulk. 'I eat well but it doesn't matter,' says McCarthy as he takes a break between sessions at West Ham's training ground. 'Me, I'm the type of person who, if I don't train hard, I pick up weight. With my bone structure, body structure, if I don't train with intensity, I will get bigger. 'When you're injured, you can't train. For three weeks, I was told to stay off my feet, just come in for treatment. I couldn't go in the gym. If I was on my feet, my knee would just swell up. 'I started to get worried because I know I pick up weight quite easily. I was out for five weeks, just doing rehab on the knee. When I started training again, I could tell I was too heavy, two or three kilos too heavy, and I didn't train at the same intensity I normally would do. I didn't feel right.'

It wasn't the first time McCarthy had been admonished for piling on weight. Six months before Sullivan spoke out, Blackburn manager Sam Allardyce ordered him to slim down to win back his place in the team. 'I used to eat the wrong things at the wrong times,' admits McCarthy. 'Carbohydrates, you can't eat at night. You eat it during the day and burn it off when you train. If you eat it at night, you store it and get heavier. That was my problem.'

The Body Mass Index (BMI) of Benni McCarthy was measured in May, with his level of body fat recorded at 24.2 per cent. Here's how he shapes up:
Recommended body fat percentages:
5-12 — Healthy male athlete
20-25 — Desirable for most middleaged
males (less than 20 is deemed
underweight for middle-aged males)
27-30 — Overweight
30+ — Obese

There is still work to do. McCarthy accepts that himself. His latest body-fat measurements have been around 16 per cent, high for a professional athlete, but the striker is starting to feel sharper again, thanks to his programme of work with physio Andy Rolls and fitness coach Eamon Swift. He scored his first goal in West Ham colours during a pre-season friendly against Borussia Monchengladbach and is out to show new manager Avram Grant he has not lost the instinct which helped him become a European champion with Jose Mourinho's Porto in 2004. 'I feel much better,' says McCarthy. 'I'm training hard and sleeping a lot. People say, "You can sleep when you're dead", but if you don't sleep enough you'll pay the price. I've set certain targets for myself. By the start of the season I want to be down at 12 or 13 per cent. That's normal for me. 'I was taught from early ages at Ajax that you play how you train. You try to give 100 per cent in training and you take the good into a game. 'You always get players who don't train well but rise to the occasion in a match. (Ricardo) Carvalho was the worst trainer ever at Porto but he'd be the best player in a match. He was fortunate to have a manager like Mourinho who understood him. If he had someone else in his career he would not be where he is today. 'I want to come back and work my socks off because this is the club that employed me. They thought I was the player to get them out of the mess they were in last season and I thought I could do it. 'Then, unfortunately, I got injured. I've never been injured in my career and I was devastated when they said six to eight weeks.'

McCarthy returned to action before the end of the season but his poor physical condition was a problem. He accepts Sullivan's comments about his weight, saying: 'If you can't take the pressure, you shouldn't make football your profession.' And he also understands why South Africa manager Carlos Alberto Parreira left him out. 'I wasn't angry,' says McCarthy, his country's all-time record scorer with 35 goals. 'In six months leading up to the World Cup, I never really played. I was surprised to be called into the 30-player squad. Then, when you get there, you think, "Maybe, with the experience you've got, you might make the 23". But it didn't happen like that. I wasn't devastated.'

McCarthy may be shrinking but his personality is large. 'I don't need to prove anything to anyone but I do want to show people what I can do,' he says. 'Winners go home and they get the prom queens. You get nothing when you're a loser. Winners, you see their missus, top class. All the best-looking women want winners.' Then it's back to the training pitch for the second part of another double session.

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STOKE GAFFER TONY PULIS POTS WALTERS AND KOVAC FOR £5M
Daily Star
13th August 2010 By John Percy

TONY PULIS is set to take his spending to £13m in 24 hours after clinching deals for Jon Walters and Radoslav Kovac. Stoke boss Pulis expects to complete a £3m swoop for Ipswich striker Walters before tomorrow's clash at Wolves. Walters, 26, has been a long-term target for the Potters and the Tractor Boys have accepted an improved bid. West Ham's Czech Republic ace Kovac, 30, is poised to agree a £2m move. The Hammers have been battling to sell players this summer and have allowed the midfielder to leave London. Walters and Kovac will join £8m record signing Kenwyne Jones at the Britannia Stadium after his switch from Sunderland. Pulis is ready to end James Beattie's Stoke nightmare by lining up a £1.5m move to Rangers and will now increase his efforts to sign another striker.

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Gold: Bids for the stars were all real
East London Recorder
12 August 2010
By Dave Evans

WEST HAM have defended their pursuit of Thierry Henry and David Beckham during the summer and suggested that it was not financially imprudent to look at players of that sort of calibre. Rumours have been everywhere that the Hammers were keen to add a superstar to their ranks with Ronaldinho and last January Ruud van Nistelrooy on their radar, as well as Henry and Beckham. But for co-chairman David Gold there was never any question that their acquisition would have put West Ham's financial recovery in doubt. "They were all genuine and I think they were financially prudent propositions," insisted Gold in an exclusive interview with the Recorder. "People say how can you bring someone in on £80,000 a week and then say that you are running a prudent business? "Well, if you have got players that are leaving that you know are coming to the end of their contract, like for example Ilan, that takes £40,000 a week off the wage bill straight away. "That is what you do in desperate times. Consider, if you bring in a player like Henry who we were going to try and sign for four months. "Normally players come on a year's contract and you have to pay for them and you have to pay for them in the summer. "If you bring in somebody on £100,000 a week, but it is just for a short period of time. Although it sounds expensive, for a short period it is viable. "You do these things, you go the extra mile, when you are fighting for your life and that is exactly what we were doing. "You can be more prudent once stability arrives and the squad is balanced."
West Ham are certainly not out of the financial mire yet. When Gold and David Sullivan took over, it was revealed that the club owed around £110million. That figure has dipped below the £100m mark now, but Gold stressed that they still needed to be economically prudent. "It has been difficult to sign players this summer, because we don't have the money to spend as a club. The money for the players that have signed has come out of mine and David Sullivan's pocket," he revealed. "When we arrived the aim was to keep our best players which we did; we needed a few to help us survive, that was our next priority and we did that by the skin of our teeth. Now we go into a new era with new opportunites, but at all times we are looking at maintaining a financial strength. "We don't want to take risks and we can't gamble with this football club." He continued: "You start the rebuilding process from a stable, reliable base and I think that is here now. "Time will tell, I will tell you in a couple of months, but if we have still not got it right, then we can go again in the window, whereas last time round we only had six or seven days to do anything and we nearly failed. "Despite the fact that we did everything we could, we were very close to relegation, but now we start the new season with great optimism." With optimism, but without a world star, which may be a blessing in disguise.

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http://vyperz.blogspot.com

Daily WHUFC News - 12th August 2010

Pablo ready for Villa thriller
WHUFC.com
After a flying visit to Mexico, Pablo Barrera will be focusing firmly on club commitments
12.08.2010

Pablo Barrera is looking forward to making an impact in the Barclays Premier League after a run-out in midweek for Mexico against world champions Spain.
The flying winger was a half-time substitute in Mexico City on Wednesday night, as El Tri were only denied a famous win by a last-gasp David Silva equaliser. Having got his international commitments out of the way, Barrera can focus on the day job - starting with a possible competitive debut for the Hammers away to Aston Villa. "I want to win a starting place in the team and do a good job," said Barrera, the man they call 'Dynamite', who arrived at the Boleyn Ground in a £4m transfer from Club Universidad Nacional, or Pumas to use their popular name last month. "I want the team to do well and be high up in the table and give the fans something to sing about. I am coming here with the goal of being a success and standing out for my team. I want to achieve things here."

After the Villa date will come the home match with Bolton Wanderers on Saturday week, when a strong crowd is expected for a game that has been designated Kids for a Quid. Barrera made his Boleyn bow against RC Deportivo La Coruna last weekend but had been swotting up on his new home even before he arrived in England. "The truth is, I was told it was a good club," he said. "I looked on the internet and saw it was a club with a lot of tradition and where the people get right behind you all the time. "The first time I came over for the medical checks, they told me all about the players who've been at the club down the years, the stadium. So I know a bit about the history of the club."

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Injury blow for Kurucz
WHUFC.com
Young goalkeeper Peter Kurucz faces a lengthy period out after suffering a serious knee injury
12.08.2010

West Ham United goalkeeper Peter Kurucz faces an extended spell on the sidelines after suffering a serious knee injury. The Hungary Under-21 player was hurt in an innocuous incident while playing for the Hammers reserves against Ipswich Town at Chadwell Heath last Saturday. Head of Sports Medicine and Sports Science Andy Rolls said the 22-year-old would undergo surgery before embarking on an extended period of rehabilitation. "Peter was playing for the reserves at the training ground on Saturday. He was running and shepherding a ball out of play when he has put his foot down and suffered an absolutely freak injury.
"Some weight has gone through his knee in a different pattern to normal and his anterior cruciate ligament - one of the ligaments that gives stability to his knee - has ruptured. This will need an operation to repair it."

Kurucz joined West Ham, initially on loan, from Hungarian side Ujpest FC in February 2009. A regular in the reserves last season, the Budapest-born goalkeeper made his first-team debut as a substitute in the Barclays Premier League meeting with Manchester United at the Boleyn Ground on 5 December 2009. He has also featured prominently in West Ham's pre-season schedule, appearing in the first-team friendly victories over Peterborough United, VfL Borussia Monchengladbach and Panathinaikos.

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Time to make a Mark
WHUFC.com
Aston Villa are first up for the Hammers but Mark Noble is more than up for the match
12.08.2010

Mark Noble is hoping a positive summer's work translates into three points as West Ham United get the Barclays Premier League started away to Aston Villa on Saturday The homegrown midfielder is entering his seventh season in the first team and is optimistic that the positive pre-season campaign just gone will stand the club in good stead. "I feel really good," he said. "Hopefully we will go into Villa with the same attitude. We haven't conceded many goals which is good during pre-season. We know what a good side they are and we are looking forward to the challenge. "As much as it doesn't mean anything in pre-season, it is nice to go into the season with confidence. We are looking forward to that and getting the season kicked off."

Noble has enjoyed his first summer off in three years having been on England duty in the UEFA European Under-21 Championship in 2008 and 2009. Before then, he was flying at the end of 2009/10 and was keen to continue in that way. "At the end of last season, I didn't want it to end. I came into my own and was playing in the position I wanted to play in. I started to play my best football. I want to carry that on into this season."

Noble began last season with a terrific strike in the 2-0 victory away to Wolverhampton Wanderers, amazingly the last time the Hammers won a competitive fixture on the road. This time around, he said he was going to focus more on what he can bring to the side from an assists point of view. "I am not going to set a goals target. I have been working hard in pre-season on it and if I play the deeper role it is more difficult. I want to concentrate on setting goals up and hopefully I can chip in myself with a few."

A father of two now and the club's longest serving player, Noble has a maturity beyond his years. He knows it is important to be positive but also to not get too carried away, whether about the team's hopes or personal ambitions with club and country. "If the team does well, it makes life easier for me and vice versa. Crossed fingers and hope everything goes well. There is optimism and once you get into the season, then you can really tell. "We are looking forward to it. You can't really tell until you get into the games and a little bit of pressure is involved. You see the true colours. Hopefully the new manager does well for the club."

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Hammers draw Oxford
WHUFC.com
The Carling Cup second-round draw has been made with all sides hoping to make it to Wembley
11.08.2010

West Ham United have been drawn at home against Oxford United after Wednesday night's Carling Cup second-round draw. The match against the League Two side will take place in the week commencing Monday 23 August. The teams last met in the Championship on 23 March 1993 when Oxford won 1-0 at home. Overall, West Ham have won eight and drawn two of the 14 meetings between the clubs. West Ham were one of 13th sides from the Barclays Premier League who were seeded, with all top-flight teams playing in Europe exempt from this round. The Hammers reached the third round last season. They were 3-1 winners against Millwall after extra time at this stage of the competition before being knocked out by the same scoreline over 120 minutes away to Bolton Wanderers. The 2010/11 final will be held at Wembley Stadium on 27 February 2011. West Ham have reached the League Cup final twice in their history, losing out on both occasions. West Bromwich Albion ran out 5-3 aggregate winners in 1965/66, while Liverpool earned a 2-1 replay victory at Villa Park in 1980/81 after the initial game at finished 1-1 at Wembley.

Carling Cup second draw

Accrington Stanley v Newcastle United
Portsmouth v Crystal Palace
Leeds United v Leicester City
Wolverhampton Wanderers v Southend United
Blackburn Rovers v Norwich City
MK Dons v Blackpool
Tranmere Rovers v Swansea City
Everton v Huddersfield Town
Peterborough United v Cardiff City
Reading v Northampton Town
Scunthorpe United v Sheffield Wednesday
Brentford v Hull City
Sunderland v Colchester United
Leyton Orient v West Bromwich Albion
Morecambe v Burnley
Birmingham City v Rochdale
Crewe Alexandra v Ipswich Town
Watford v Notts County
West Ham United v Oxford United
Southampton v Bolton Wanderers
Bradford City v Preston North End
Fulham v Port Vale
Millwall v Middlesbrough
Stoke City v Shrewsbury Town
Hartlepool United v Wigan Athletic

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Hitz off in Germany draw
WHUFC.com
Thomas Hitzlsperger was substituted with a possible muscle injury in the 2-2 draw with Denmark
11.08.2010

Thomas Hitzlsperger captained Germany as they drew 2-2 away to Denmark in Copenhagen on Wednesday night. The West Ham United midfielder was made skipper on his 52nd appearance for his country in Copenhagen as Germany let a two-goal lead slip at the hands of Denmark. Hitzlsperger set up Mario Gomez with a slide-rule pass through a crowded area for the opening goal. Patrick Helmes, on in the 66th minute for the West Ham man who had appeared to pick up a knock, doubled the advantage but, in the last 16 minutes, Dennis Rommedahl and Mads Junker secured a draw for the hosts.

Pablo Barrera came on at half-time of Mexico's 1-1 draw against Spain in Mexico City. Barrera replaced Manchester United forward Javier Hernandez, who had opened the scoring, and it looked like the North American side would seal a famous win against the world champions before a last-gasp equaliser from David Silva. Elsewhere, Valon Behrami and Carlton Cole were unused substitutes as Switzerland and England were 1-0 and 2-1 winners against Austria and Hungary respectively. On Tuesday night, Jonathan Spector played the full 90 minutes as the United States lost 2-0 to Brazil in New Jersey while Tal Ben Haim has been with Israel on a three-day training camp.

At Under-21 level, Fabio Daprela, still only 19, played 45 minutes at left-back as Switzerland lost an Under-21 friendly at home against Greece. Perhaps the most telling performance of the day from a Hammer was 20-year-old Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson playing the full 90 minutes as Iceland kept alive their 2011 UEFA European U21 Championship dreams with a 4-1 demolition of Germany that eliminated the holders.

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Club update on Sulejmani
WHUFC.com
West Ham United can confirm the club have reached agreement with AFC Ajax over Miralem Sulejmani
11.08.2010

West Ham United can confirm the club have reached agreement with AFC Ajax over the loan transfer of Miralem Sulejmani. The club have agreed terms with Ajax and also with the Serbian international forward but the 21-year-old's move from Amsterdam to London is subject to a work permit hearing. West Ham United will make no further comment on this matter until the result of that hearing is known.

West Ham United have been very active this summer, having already signed Thomas Hitzlsperger, Pablo Barrera, Frederic Piquionne, Tal Ben Haim and Winston Reid, as well as crucially retaining the services of key players like Robert Green and Scott Parker. With three weeks left until the transfer window shuts and more new signings possible, whufc.com will be the only place to hear all the official news first and fastest.

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U18s defeat Urchins
WHUFC.com
West Ham United U18s scored a fine 2-1 victory over Ryman League AFC Hornchurch
11.08.2010

West Ham United's Under-18s continued their preparations for the 2010/11 FA Premier Academy League season with an impressive 2-1 victory at AFC Hornchurch. Academy Director Tony Carr sent his youngsters out against the Ryman League Premier Division club's first team with the aim of getting them used to the physical nature of senior football. The U18s rose to the occasion in front of a 1,100-strong crowd at The Bridge, battling back from a goal down to secure a well-deserved win. Jack Werndly (pictured) and Kieran Sadlier were on target for the Hammers, cancelling out a 39th-minute strike from Urchins striker Jamie Richards. Prior to the opening goal, Sadlier had forced a fine save from Darren Behcet before Daniel Subuola fired an effort narrowly off-target.
At the other end, Richards shot against a post, while West Ham goalkeeper Sam Cowler had to be at his best to keep out Martin Tuohy's well-struck drive.
Into the second period and Sadlier was again denied before Werndly saw his shot take a big deflection and spin past the helpless Behcet on 53 minutes. With substitute Daniel Purdy pulling the strings in midfield, the Hammers went on the hunt for a winning goal and it duly arrived when Sadlier struck a low shot into the bottom corner. Having seen their advantage evaporate, Hornchurch launched a spirited fightback of their own, but Ross Hall and Paul Shave failed to trouble Cowler when well-placed. The U18s complete their pre-season schedule with a trip to Norwich City U18s on Saturday before kicking-off their FA Premier Academy League season on Saturday 21 August with a visit to West Bromwich Albion.

West Ham United U18: Cowler, Hurley, Craig, Sanchez, Powell, Hunt, Sadlier, Vose, Werndly, Subuola
Sub: Purdy

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West Ham agree loan terms for striker Miralem Sulejmani
BBC.co.uk

West Ham have reached agreement with Dutch giants Ajax over the loan signing of striker Miralem Sulejmani. The 21-year-old Serbian has agreed terms with the Hammers, but his move is now subject to a work permit hearing. "West Ham will make no further comment until the result of that hearing is known," read a club statement. Sulejmani joined Ajax from Heerenveen in the summer of 2008 for a fee of about £13.5m but failed to make an impact, scoring 12 goals in 68 games. Sulejmani, who missed out on a place in Serbia's World Cup squad, will work alongside countryman Zeljko Petrovic, who is manager Avram Grant's assistant at Upton Park. New West Ham boss Grant has already swooped for Thomas Hitzlesperger, Pablo Barrera, Frederic Piquionne, Tal Ben Haim and Winston Reid this summer. West Ham finished 17th last season, only one spot above the relegation places, and sacked former manager Gianfranco Zola in May

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West Ham keen to recruit David Beckham
BBC.co.uk
By Frank Keogh

West Ham co-chairman David Gold says there is an open invitation for David Beckham to join the club. England coach Fabio Capello has said he will not pick the 35-year-old for another competitive international. But Gold would like to take the former England captain, who is currently with Los Angeles Galaxy, on loan as a player or for him to be a club ambassador. "He's still a great player and it would be a fantastic statement if he came to West Ham," Gold told BBC Sport. Capello revealed in a TV interview before England's 2-1 friendly win over Hungary that he was ready to cast Beckham aside.

Asked if Beckham was in his plans, Capello said: "No, I need to change it. David is a fantastic player but I think we need new players for the future." Beckham, who is recovering from an Achilles tendon injury which ruled him out of the World Cup, has 115 England caps - more than any other outfield player. In July, a spokesman for the player, who was born in Leytonstone, east London, said there had been no talks with West Ham. "While it's flattering, there has been no contact or offer from West Ham. David has no interest in leaving," he said. Gold concedes there have been no direct talks with Beckham, but said an approach to his representatives had been made. "We showed interest at the end of the season and asked would he come and join us, maybe just for half a season on loan," said Gold, who took over West Ham with business partner David Sullivan in January. "Sadly, his commitments are such that this is probably not going to happen now. The January transfer window doesn't look possible, but we still have an open invitation to David to join us. "Our belief is that he is still a great player and it would be a fantastic statement if he came to West Ham. He's an East End boy and it would be a fitting end to his career. "I'm a little disappointed with what happened to David last night. It's not like he had a bad game, or he's declined as a player all of a sudden. He's just been dropped for his age. "If it is truly the end of his international career, I think it's a bit of a damp squib."

The Hammers believe Beckham could help as they seek to move from Upton Park to the new Olympic Stadium at Stratford after the 2012 Games. "We also had in mind his value as an ambassador to to help us with securing the Olympic Stadium," said Gold, who grew up close to West Ham's current ground. "He was an ambassador for the 2012 bid and is doing the same for the 2018 World Cup. "I see the value in David Beckham after his playing career is over. If he wasn't an east London boy, I wouldn't have the same enthusiasm. "I played over at Leyton a number of times as a lad in the Isthmian League and it's right in our territory. You can probably see David's old house from the new stadium."

Capello said Beckham could play once more for England at Wembley so fans could pay tribute to the ex-skipper. But Beckham's agent released a statement confirming the player's desire to carry on playing for England. It read: "For your information, there has been no discussion of retirement. He will always be available for his country, when fit and if needed he will be there."

Beckham was back in full training with United States side LA Galaxy on Wednesday and is hoping to return to Major League Soccer (MLS) action in September.
However, Italian club AC Milan have said he he is unlikely to have a third loan spell there after the MLS season ends in November. "There's a natural fit for us, were it to suit David Beckham," said Gold. "But the man's a superstar. Who knows what he's going to do? He could go into films and you'd never see him again in football. "Every day that passes makes it a less likely option that he would consider coming to us as a player." Beckham has previously said he is proud of his East End roots, although he was temporarily a hate figure among some West Ham fans after he was sent off for England against Argentina at the 1998 World Cup.

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New striker on the way?
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 12th August 2010
By: Staff Writer

Felipe Caicedo could be set to join West Ham after it was revealed that they player has been in talks with the club. The Ecuadorian striker, 25, is surplus to requirement at big-spending Manchester City and spent the beginning of the week locked in talks with Hammers representatives with regards to a season-long loan move to the Boleyn Ground. Caicedo made his name as a teenager with FC Basel in Switzerland before being snapped up by Mark Hughes on transfer deadline day 2008 for €7million. However he failed to hold down a regular starting berth at Eastlands and was allowed to join Sporting CP on a season-long loan prior to the start of the 2009/10 season. Unfortunately the move soon turned sour and in January 2010, after just seven starts, Caicedo - who was first linked with an £8million move to West Ham last summer - returned to Manchester City only halfway through his loan spell. Within a week he was off again; having rejected the chance to join (then) Premier League outfit Hull he joined Malaga on loan for the remainder of the campaign where he went on to score four times in 18 appearances.
In other news, it has been revealed that Jeremie Aliadiere - who spent several months at West Ham back in 2005 before having his (season-long) loan spell rfom Arsenal cut short after proving to be a huge disappointment - is training at Chadwell Heath having been released by Championship outfit Middlesbrough.
The former Arsenal trainee, now 27, made just one start for Alan Pardew's newly-promoted side before being sent packing by a far-from-impressed manager. 'He came, he got injured and he moaned about not being picked' is how KUMB.com described Aliadiere's spell at West Ham at the time.

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Hammers agree Sulejmani deal
Serbian forward set for one-year loan
Last updated: 11th August 2010
SSN

West Ham have confirmed that they have agreed a deal to sign Ajax forward Miralem Sulejmani on a season-long loan. The Serbian international, who can play in the centre or as a winger, is set to move to Upton Park should a work permit be arranged for the player. Sulejmani rose to stardom at Eredivisie side Heerenveen, scoring 15 goals in 34 games in the 2007-8 season and earned interest from some of Europes biggest clubs. The 21-year-old joined Ajax in a record £13million deal in the summer of 2008, but failed to live up to his price tag, scoring just three goals in 25 appearances for Martin Jol's side last season.
"The club have agreed terms with Ajax and also with the Serbian international forward but the 21-year-old's move from Amsterdam to London is subject to a work permit hearing. West Ham United will make no further comment on this matter until the result of that hearing is known," a statement read on the club's official website.

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Caicedo in Hammers talks
Grant lines up loan deal for City forward
Last updated: 12th August 2010
SSN

Skysports.com understands West Ham are in talks to sign Manchester City striker Felipe Caicedo. Hammers boss Avram Grant is keen to bolster his attacking options before the start of the season and he has lined up a season-long loan deal for Caicedo. Caicedo has dropped down the pecking order at City and spent spells out on loan at Sporting Lisbon and Malaga last season. The Ecuador international is thought to be keen on a move to West Ham as he looks to secure regular first-team football. Manchester City are understood to have given Caicedo permission to travel down to London to undergo a medical and discuss personal terms over a season-long deal at Upton Park. West Ham are also thought to have the option to sign Caicedo on a permanent basis if he impresses during his loan spell in East London. If Caicedo agrees a move to West Ham he will become Grant's sixth new signing of the summer as they prepare to face Aston Villa this weekend in their Premier League opener.

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Harry makes Remy check
Spurs step up striker chase
Last updated: 12th August 2010
SSN

Skysports.com understands Tottenham boss Harry Redknapp watched Loic Remy in action for France against Norway. Remy is one of the most sought-after players in this summer's transfer window with up to eight Premier League clubs chasing his signature. West Ham and Liverpool have both expressed an interest in Remy, while the young Frenchman also held talks with Stoke. However, Spurs are thought to be at the head of the queue for the 23-year-old as Redknapplooks to bring in some quality additions for the challenge of the UEFA Champions League. Redknapp made a personal check on Remy in Oslo as the striker played 45 minutes of France's 2-1 defeat to Norway. Along with Redknapp representatives from Everton, Aston Villa, Sunderland, West Ham, Liverpool and Chelsea were also thought to be in attendance to cast an eye over Remy. Nice are prepared to sell the forward for the right price and, despite interest from elsewhere, Remy is believed to be keen on a move to England.

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Hammers cool Yakubu interest
Sullivan valued striker at less than a quarter of £8m asking price
Last updated: 12th August 2010
SSN

West Ham co-owner David Sullivan has told Everton that they need to be 'more realistic' in their valuation of Yakubu Aiyegbeni and has confirmed that his club are now looking at different transfer targets. Sky Sports News revealed on Tuesday that the Hammers had bid for the Nigeria international as new manager Avram Grant seeks to increase his attacking options ahead of the new Premier League season. Everton would appear to be willing to listen to offers, but Sullivan was less than impressed with an £8m valuation and has implied that West Ham are looking elsewhere after stating that Yakubu should be worth between £1m and £2m. Sullivan said in the Daily Telegraph: "We have cooled on Yakubu. When you have a good, hard look at him, we want younger and quicker and better. "Everything has a price. You want to get Yakubu for £1-2m and they are quoting £8m and that is far too much. "They have to be more realistic. If they said £1-2m we might go back. We bid more at the start of the summer because we had more flexibility but, at this moment in time, having spent some of our money on other players we want him for £1-2m."

Meanwhile, West Ham have handed a trial to former Arsenal striker Jeremie Aliadiere. Aliadiere is available on a free transfer after leaving Middlesbrough at the end of last season. Hammers boss Avram Grant will cast an eye over the Frenchman before deciding whether or not to offer him a deal at Upton Park.
Nottingham Forest goalkeeper Paul Smith is also on trial at West Ham after being placed on the transfer list at the City Ground.

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Jem lands Upton trial
The Sun
Published: Today

JEREMIE ALIADIERE may land a shock deal back at West Ham after being handed a trial. The ex-Arsenal striker, 27, a free agent after leaving Middlesbrough, had a loan spell in 2005. Serbian hitman Miralem Sulejmani, 21, will join on loan from Ajax.

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Cole's yours for £20 million Kop
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today

LIVERPOOL will have to cough up £20million for Carlton Cole. West Ham are willing to sell but they want a top price as they would have little time before the new season kicks off to sign a replacement striker. Kop boss Roy Hodgson was instructed earlier this week to pay £15m up front with a further £5m fixed to appearances. A Hammers insider said: "It has to be a big price for Carlton. With just days to go before the season starts, the club don't want to be left in the lurch. "If things happened earlier, maybe the price could have been lower." Hammers have already turned down a Stoke bid of £9m plus £3m on appearances for Cole, 26. The frontman has been in fine pre-season form, scoring four goals in six games as he bids to add to his seven England caps.

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Hammering out Sulejmani deal
The Sun
Published: 11 Aug 2010

WEST HAM have agreed a loan deal with Ajax for Serbian forward Miralem Sulejmani. The mercurial 21-year-old has agreed terms with the Hammers and will join subject to a work permit being received. West Ham have not confirmed the length of the deal. A club statement said: "The club have agreed terms but his move from Amsterdam to London is subject to a work permit hearing. West Ham United will make no further comment on this matter until the result of that hearing is known." Ajax spent a record £13million on Sulejmani to take him to Amsterdam from Heerenveen in 2008. But the youngster, who can play off a striker or on the wing, failed to deliver on his potential and was criticised for his performances. Despite once being among Serbia's great hopes for the national team, Sulejmani missed out on a World Cup place while finding himself out in the cold in Amsterdam.

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Season's Prospects...
Alex V - Mon Aug 9 2010
West Ham Online

A new season, a new manager, a new regime in charge of the club, and some new signings to look at. If nothing else, the new season has plenty of novelty value. Let's round up the new signings and review the prospects for the coming season.

I'm no fan of Sullivan and Gold's 'unproject', but they'd have to be even duller than I imagine to drop the ball with the team just now. A group of players who underperformed last season but still have the potential to be mid-table, still lots of young talent about within the squad, a safe pair of hands appointed to guarantee a bit of safety - it's very hard to see West Ham failing to improve on last season's showing.

Avram Grant has experience - the way he went down with the ship at Portsmouth was impressive, though hardly the sort of skills that we'd be desperate to utilise at West Ham. For that reason the timing of his appointment seems slightly bizarre, but as a knee-jerk antidote to the naivety of Zola he seems to fit the bill. My only real concern is that over time we may suffer from Curbs syndrome once again - he may simply turn out too boring for many of us.

I'm amazed to see the manager publicly announcing our 4-3-3 formation for the new season - I'm not sure what purpose that serves. Should we start with a falter, the sight of Grant backtracking on his pronouncement will be demoralising. And lest we forget, Zola's great vision was a 4-3-3, but unfortunately Gianfranco couldn't get the ideas from his head out onto a Premiership pitch. Grant seems unaware of this. At the same time, any monkey can see that the days of two strikers up front are all but over, and everybody needs to get used to these adaptable formations with packed midfields. What West Ham need is the guidance to continue this transition, and the players to play it!

On the one hand like everybody else I'm excited to see players coming in - on the other I'm dismayed at the spending. Weren't we £100m in debt? Where's the cash for the new signings come from? Yet another bank loan? What worries me is that this new set of players may similarly command the 40k+ wages over several years that so crippled us in recent times. Obviously we haven't seen which players will leave the club yet - it's hard to judge anything too conclusively until the transfer window has closed. But I just want to introduce a hint of concern while everyone else does cartwheels over the thought of new players to watch - having committed a guesstimated £15m to players and their wages this Summer, who is going to be sold to cover this investment?

Hitzlsperger is the best of the 'ins' on paper - he fits the template of the sort of player who has done well at West Ham over the years. A pedigree player a little in the doldrums looking for a new challenge. You could argue Parker was in the same boat when he joined us. On a free it's a no-brainer, but I do dread to think what sort of wages we are paying to a player who would presumably have their choice of scores of clubs across Europe. But it's the one moment of the last six months when I have been wowed by the new regime at the club.

Piquionne is a good signing for the short-term. Playing for Portsmouth he reminded me a little of Kanoute - the sort of player who on his best day is unplayable, but on his worst is at least unpredicable and capable of the special moment you need to unlock opposition defences. The three-year contract however is another McCarthy-sized clanger from the club in my opinion, turning a welcome short-term measure into a £10m sinkhole for our oh-so-precious cash.

Barrera is a £4m gamble in my opinion - could be spectacular or could be a disaster. Like Jimenez or Diamanti last season, the player obviously has technical ability, but it's a massive gap between tricks on the training ground and being an effective part of a Premiership team. Especially as a creative attacking player. What Barrera does have on his side is age - at just 23 he will hopefully be given time to develop at the club. But I hope and pray that we don't expect heroics from him at the start - he was behind Dos Santos and Vela in the Mexico selection, and neither of those have quite hit premiership level yet. A bit of patience required perhaps.

Winston Reid absolutely fits the bill in terms of signings - he is only 22, probably extremely green but physically and technically able, and hopefully ready to improve. He won't be asking the world in wages, and he would be easily sellable if things don't come off for him at the club. You simply cannot lose with a signing like this. Another player who might not set the world alight in the short-term, but should hopefully start to put on pressure for a first-team place as time progresses.

And Ben Haim fills a gap in the squad very nicely, and as a short-term measure with no financial strings as well. Experienced, capable and versatile. You'd hope we wouldn't have to rely on him too much this season, but if we do I don't think he'll let anyone down. Maybe he will do better than just being a stop-gap - the manager must rate him to have gone to his old club to bring him on board, and the player is still only 28. Something about him seems uninspiring, yet he has played for five Premiership teams already including Chelsea and Man City - you're no mug if you manage that.

Who will leave? It's not easy to find obvious candidates for the chop. Kovac is the only one I would pick out. Obviously we would quietly shunt McCarthy out of the club if we could. I think Sullivan is hoping that as the close of the window approaches clubs become more desperate, and that perhaps we could sell players for more than they are worth. Not the worst business strategy imo. The club just has to be ready to plug the gaps quickly. I think that even if Parker left in a worst case scenario, we do have players to cover for that. I was worried in previous seasons that we were too reliant on Carlton Cole, but we have Piquionne and McCarthy now, and the impressive Nouble coming through. There's nobody we couldn't sell and recover from - a good position to be in imo.

But what does all this do to our chances this season? I come at this from the premise that West Ham seriously underperformed last season. We've still got the majority of the squads that got us 10th and 9th in the Premiership during that productive period, and I see no reason why we couldn't have a similar performances in the league coming up. And you've got that fantastic incentive where the players are acutely aware that they must perform or else suffer another embarrassing, undignified season near the bottom of the table.

I'm not sure exactly what the new signings bring to the table, but each gives us a chance to improve. It might be that only Hitzlsperger becomes an actual fixture in the side in the short-term, but that would be very welcome because I thought our midfield organisation got in a right old mess last season and needs re-energising. Some would be dismayed that we start a new season with the same back five from the last campaign, but this is a group a year wiser who presumably know each others' strengths and weaknesses well, and a fit Ilunga may be all the difference we need to rediscover some steel at the back.

The thing that excites me is seeing our talented players, and seeing how far they can go with us. Tomkins had a stinker last season at times, but for me he still has top-drawer potential. Behrami, a headless chicken at times last season, still has the commitment and bite in midfield that very few players find - I hope he stays and finds his best form again, because at his best I think he is fantastic. Cole looks set to once again lead the line for us, and there are few better at that lone role in the Premiership - I think we are incredibly lucky to have him. And if I had to pick an outlier to really push through it would be Stanislas - a clever young player whose natural role should perfectly fit Grant's proposed 4-5-1 system, and who could kick on from fringe player to essential component over the next few months if given the right encouragement.

I see the prospects very much in the same terms as the last campaign. Probably just too much in the squad to ever actually get relegated, but you never say never. Probably just not enough to push too far into the top half, but you never say never. As I think is beginning to become clear as the Premiership matures, the difference between success and failure can be a rub of the green, an injury or two, a refereeing decision, a moment of madness. Anything under 50 points and you are breathing a sigh of relief when you survive, but at our best we've only managed 57 points in a Premiership season, and we were fifth when we did so.

We're basically talking about the very slightest of margins, the rub of the green in a match or three, that make the difference between success and failure for West Ham. We'd do well to remember that over the ups and downs of every season.

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West Ham: Becks can help us move house
Published 13:43 12/08/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror

Fabio Capello may no longer have any use for David Beckham but West Ham have sent the former England captain an open invitation to join the club. Capello announced last night that Beckham, who has won 115 caps, does not form part of his plans as England head into their Euro 2012 qualification campaign. West Ham co-chairman David Gold first approached Beckham's representatives at the end of last season about taking the 35-year-old on loan. While Gold admitted a playing move is unlikely, West Ham want to use Beckham as ambassador to help them secure a move into the new London Olympic Stadium. "We showed interest at the end of the season and asked would he come and join us, maybe just for half a season on loan," Gold told BBC Sport. "Sadly, his commitments are such that this is probably not going to happen now. The January transfer window doesn't look possible, but we still have an open invitation to David to join us. "Our belief is that he is still a great player and it would be a fantastic statement if he came to West Ham. He's an east end boy and it would be a fitting end to his career. "We also had in mind his value as an ambassador to help us with securing the Olympic Stadium. "He was an ambassador for the 2012 bid and is doing the same for the 2018 World Cup. "I see the value in David Beckham after his playing career is over. If he wasn't an east London boy, I wouldn't have the same enthusiasm." Beckham said recently he had no interest in leaving the Los Angeles Galaxy and he insisted after Capello's announcement last night that he had not retired from international football.

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Blackpool make Marlon Harewood fifth signing of the day
Published 22:59 11/08/10 By Football Spy
The Mirror

Blackpool have announced striker Marlon Harewood as their fifth new signing of the day. Former West Ham and Aston Villa frontman Harewood, 30, has put pen to paper on a two-year-deal with the Seasiders following a successful trial. The club earlier confirmed the quadruple capture of Craig Cathcart from Manchester United, Ludovic Sylvestre from Czech side Mlada Boleslav, Elliot Grandin from Bulgarian outfit CSKA Sofia and Malaury Martin from Monaco.

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Spurs offered Crouch to West Ham as part of Parker deal
Published 22:45 11/08/10 By Alan Nixon
The Mirror

Tottenham are looking to offload striker Peter Crouch - and it has now emerged that the England hit man was offered to West Ham as part of a proposed swap deal for Scott Parker. Liverpool and Everton are also interested in Crouch but only if the value is right. Both Roy Hodgson and David Moyes admire the front-runner but the fee would have to be realistic because his wages are so high.

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Hammers confirm deal for Ajax starlet
Published 17:50 11/08/10 By MirrorFootball
The Mirror

West Ham are set to capture Serbian forward Miralem Sulejmani on loan after agreeing a deal with Ajax. The mercurial 21-year-old has agreed terms with the Hammers and will join subject to a work permit being received. West Ham have not confirmed the length of the deal, which is thought to be for the upcoming season, but a club statement read: "West Ham can confirm the club have reached agreement with AFC Ajax over the loan transfer of Miralem Sulejmani.
"The club have agreed terms with Ajax and also with the Serbian international forward but the 21-year-old's move from Amsterdam to London is subject to a work permit hearing. West Ham United will make no further comment on this matter until the result of that hearing is known." Ajax spent a record £13million on Sulejmani to take him to Amsterdam from Heerenveen in 2008. However, the hugely talented youngster, who can play off a striker or on the wing, failed to deliver on his potential and was criticised for his performances throughout his spell with the club. Despite once being among Serbia's great hopes for the national team, Sulejmani missed out on a World Cup place while finding himself out in the cold in Amsterdam.

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Sulli's Yak attack
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 12th August 2010
By: Staff Writer

David Sullivan has blasted Everton for their valuation of striker Yakubu. Sullivan, speaking in the wake of yet another rejected bid for the 27-year-old Nigerian international insisted that the player was worth no more than '£1-2million' after Everton set their price at £8million. "Everything has a price. They are quoting £8 million and that is far too much. They have to be more realistic," he told the Telegraph. " If they said £1-2million we might go back. We bid more at the start of the summer because we had more flexibility but, at this moment in time, having spent some of our money on other players we want him for £1-2m."
Unted - who are thought to have lodged a bid of around £6million earlier in the summer - remain keen on the striker, with new boss Avram Grant admitting privately this week that Yakubu remains very much on his radar.

* Having finally confirmed that a deal is in place with Ajax, West Ham are hopeful that Miralem Sulejmani's appeal for a work permit will be ratified within the next 24 hours.

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Kurucz crocked, der Hammer hamstrung
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 12th August 2010
By: Staff Writer

West Ham's search for a goalkeeper will intensify following the news that reserve 'keeper Peter Kurucz could miss most of next season. Kurucz is reported to have suffered a 'freak injury' whilst playing for Alex Dyer's reserve squad at Ipswich last weekend and will be out of action until the new year, at least, after it was revealed that he had sustained cruciate ligament damage. The 22-year-old stopper arrived at West Ham in February last year and moved ahead of Marek Stech as the club's recognised number two. He made his first team debut as a late substitute in the 4-0 home defeat against Manchester United at the back end of last year and has featured extensively in the club's pre-season programme.

West Ham have been linked with a number of goalkeepers during pre-season including Piet Velthuizen (Vitesse), Alexander Doni (Roma), Chris Weale (Leicester) and Rais M'Bolhi (Slavia Sofia). Stefan Wessels (Basel) played in the reserve team's recent 4-2 defeat at Burton whilst Paul Smith (Nottingham Forest) is currently on trial at Chadwell Heath.

In other injury news, new signing Thomas Hitzsperger is reported to be a doubt for Saturday's trip to Villa Park after pulling a hamstring in Germany's 2-2 draw with Denmark earlier this week. "I hope it's not that bad," Hitzlsperger told the German media, "as I want to be included this weekend for the start of the season."

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Gold admits defeat
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 12th August 2010
By: Staff Writer

David Gold has admitted that David Beckham is unlikely to join West Ham. The United Chairman, talking on Talksport this afternoon, revealed that the chances of 35-year-old Beckham - who currently plays for LA Galaxy - joining the club were almost nil. "We suggested that he came and joined the football club in the January window because the American season is offset to ours," said Gold. "We thought it could be good for us and also we see the added value in that as an ambassador he could have helped with getting West Ham into the Olympic Stadium - a not dissimilar job to that he's doing with the 2018 World Cup bid. "For a moment we actually thought that there was a possibiility but sadly, with other commitments - and whether he really wanted to do that or not - sadly I think it's slipped away and now it's a 10/1 shot at best. "I don't think he is coming to the end of his career and I think he's still got great value as an ambassador; that's one area where we see he can work with us. If he chooses to spend more time here with the England 2018 bid he could link it with joining us in a similar capacity."

A representative of Beckham's recently denied that the former England captain has been in discussions with the Hammers over a possible move although Beckham is yet to comment personally.

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premier League preview No18: West Ham United
Since Avram Grant took over from Gianfranco Zola as manager of the Hammers, everyone is hoping for a calmer season

Guardian writers' prediction: 14th (NB: this is not necessarily Jamie's prediction, but the average of our writers' tips)
Last season's position: 17th
Odds to win the league: 1,250-1

Compared to last season's incessant lurch between farce and fire-fight at Fratton Park, Avram Grant is right to expect a calmer year in charge of West Ham as he takes charge of his first competitive game on Saturday at Aston Villa.

But any serenity drawn from having escaped the madness of Portsmouth will not extend to the expectations of David Gold and David Sullivan, the co-owners, and fans after West Ham finished a place above the relegation zone in May.

This is how Grant wants it. All he desires is to be able to concentrate on football matters and be judged on them. The Israeli was frustrated and ended his tenure on the south coast exhausted by the constant demands of non-playing issues.

So far Grant has only been a success at Upton Park. Appointed by the two Davids in June, the 55-year-old has yet to be beaten as West Ham manager, closing a seven-match pre-season streak on Saturday by winning something named the SBOBET Cup at Upton Park 5-3 on penalties against Deportivo La Coruña.

He then discussed his side's form. He told the club's website: "This was my first trophy as West Ham manager and of course I hope to win more. It was a good game but we must remember it was a friendly and the last game of preparation for the season. We saw good things and some things we could improve. We defend well and as a team but the attacking side can be better.

"We needed to play more quickly. The first half we weren't very quick but it was not a typical English opponent. They passed the ball a lot but not in our area. We couldn't press them. We are improving all the time. The players are in better condition. It is OK for this period for the team but the most important thing is we need to improve for the first [league] game."

Grant has recruited the New Zealand defender Winston Reid, Tal Ben Haim (on loan) and Frédéric Piquionne, both of whom he managed at Portsmouth, Pablo Barrera, a £4m Mexico forward, and Thomas Hitzlsperger, the German midfielder with 51 caps who is still only 28 and spent five years playing at Aston Villa.

Yet, like all managers, Grant is keen to strengthen his squad further. "I don't know if there will be new signings before the first game but there is time in the transfer window," he said. "We have signed good players and we want to change the mentality of the team. We want to do different things. We want to bring more players in, we want the squad to be stronger."

Neither Piquionne, who is 31, nor the 23-year-old Barerra are prolific scorers and despite being a regular in the England squad Carlton Cole managed only 10 goals last season, so Grant's reported interest in Everton's Yakubu Aiyegbeni illustrates he is searching for a reliable finisher.

Expectations in east London will be high this year. But that 17th-place finish means there is ample scope for improvement. And Grant's experience at Portsmouth and with Chelsea, plus his devotion to detail, suggests West Ham can hope to finish at least five or six places higher by the end of the season.

"The problem is that to deal with football you need to deal with many things," he told the Observer earlier this year. "In football I like to plan – long term, short term. At end of day, you know there are many problems, injuries, red, yellow cards, players not in good shape, players better than you expect. For a manager this is a good thing because you always need to think – you can never be happy. If you win you need to win the next game. And if you lose you need to recover."

Grant has his first chance to impress on Saturday.

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West Ham still interested in offering role to David Beckham
David Gold admits a loan signing for Beckham is unlikely
West Ham hope to use Beckham in ambassadorial role
Press Association
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 12 August 2010 13.08 BST

West Ham United have reiterated their desire to sign David Beckham in the wake of Fabio Capello's admission that he feels the 35-year-old is too old to play for England duty in the Euro 2012 qualifying campaign. The West Ham co-chairman David Gold first approached Beckham's representatives at the end of last season about taking the him on loan. While Gold admitted a playing move is now highly unlikely, West Ham want to use Beckham as ambassador to help them secure a move into the new London Olympic Stadium. "We showed interest at the end of the season and asked would he come and join us, maybe just for half a season on loan," Gold told BBC Sport. "Sadly, his commitments are such that this is probably not going to happen now. The January transfer window doesn't look possible, but we still have an open invitation to David to join us. "Our belief is that he is still a great player and it would be a fantastic statement if he came to West Ham. He's an East End boy and it would be a fitting end to his career. We also had in mind his value as an ambassador to help us with securing the Olympic Stadium. He was an ambassador for the 2012 bid and is doing the same for the 2018 World Cup. "I see the value in David Beckham after his playing career is over. If he wasn't an east London boy, I wouldn't have the same enthusiasm."

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West Ham and Everton £6m apart in Yak valuation
By Soccernet staff
August 12, 2010
Espn

West Ham have "cooled" their interest in Yakubu with co-owner David Sullivan saying the club are only prepared to pay a quarter of Everton's valuation of the striker. The Hammers have identified Yakubu as a possible signing and Everton are prepared to let the Nigeria international depart after he made only nine Premier League starts last season. But at present the clubs have very different opinions regarding a fair price for the former Middlesbrough and Portsmouth striker. "We have cooled on Yakubu," Sullivan told the Daily Telegraph. "When you have a good, hard look at him, we want younger and quicker and better.
"Everything has a price. You want to get Yakubu for £1-2 million and they are quoting £8 million and that is far too much. "They have to be more realistic. If they said £1-2 milion we might go back. We bid more at the start of the summer because we had more flexibility but, at this moment in time, having spent some of our money on other players we want him for £1-2 million."

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Manchester City outcast Felipe Caicedo prepares for loan move to West Ham
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 1:12 PM on 12th August 2010
Daily Mail

West Ham's hunt for a new striker has continued with an approach for out-of-favour Manchester City man Felipe Caicedo. The Ecuador international is way down the pecking order at Eastlands and has already spent time on loan in Portugal with Sporting Lisbon and Spain with Malaga. New Hammers boss Avram Grant is keen to bolster his attacking options before the start of the season but has already been rebuffed in his attempts to bring in Loic Remy, Yakubu and Neymar. City have welcomed the move for a player who failed to live up to the hype since he was signed by Sven Goran Erikkson in 2008. According to report Caicedo will travel down to London to undergo a medical and discuss personal terms over a season-long deal at Upton Park. West Ham want to negotiate a clause which allows them first refusal to sign the 21-year-old on a permanent basis if he impresses during his loan spell in East London. If the move goes through, Caicedo will become Grant's sixth new signing of the summer. Manchester City still want to tie up the deal for Inter Milan striker Mario Balotelli before they let too many forwards leave. Craig Bellamy is already on his way out.

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West Ham set to sign Serbian forward Miralem Sulejmani on loan from Ajax
West Ham are set to capture Serbian forward Miralem Sulejmani after confirming a loan deal has been agreed with Ajax.
Telegraph
By Telegraph staff and agencies
Published: 5:29PM BST 11 Aug 2010

The mercurial 21 year-old has agreed terms with West Ham and will join subject to a work permit being received. West Ham have not confirmed the length of the deal, which is thought to be for the upcoming season. A club statement said: "West Ham can confirm the club have reached agreement with AFC Ajax over the loan transfer of Miralem Sulejmani. "The club have agreed terms with Ajax and also with the Serbian international forward but the 21 year-old's move from Amsterdam to London is subject to a work permit hearing. West Ham United will make no further comment on this matter until the result of that hearing is known."
Ajax spent a record £13 million on Sulejmani to take him to Amsterdam from Heerenveen in 2008. However, the hugely talented youngster, who can play off a striker or on the wing, failed to deliver on his potential and was criticised for his performances throughout his spell with the club. Despite once being among Serbia's great hopes for the national team, Sulejmani missed out on a World Cup place while finding himself out in the cold in Amsterdam.

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Everton striker Yakubu not worth £8m says West Ham chairman David Sullivan
West Ham United have cooled their interest in striker Yakubu after valuing him at less than a quarter of the £8 million fee being quoted by Everton.
Telegraph
By Jason Burt
Published: 7:04PM BST 11 Aug 2010

Chairman David Sullivan said on Wednesday night: "We have cooled on Yakubu. When you have a good hard look at him, we want younger and quicker and better. "Everything has a price. You want to get Yakubu for £1-2 million and they are quoting £8 million and that is far too much. "They have to be more realistic. If they said £1-2m we might go back. We bid more at the start of the summer because we had more flexibility but, at this moment in time, having spent some of our money on other players we want him for £1-2m." Everton manager David Moyes is highly unlikely to agree to such a dramatic drop in the player's valuation even though he is prepared to sell the Nigerian who moved to Goodison Park in August 2007 for £11.25 million from Middlesbrough. West Ham are understood to have bid closer to Everton's valuation earlier this summer - around £6 million - but have now lowered what they are prepared to spend for the 27-year-old who has suffered a series of injuries. West Ham will today hope to acquire a work permit for the Serbian striker Miralem Sulejmani. A season-long loan deal has been agreed with Ajax for the 21-year-old but West Ham, who hope to sell Radoslav Kovac to Stoke City for around £1.5 million, with the midfielder travelling north last night for talks, have to appeal for a permit.

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