WHUFC.com
Swimming, football and ten-pin bowling were all on the agenda on the Hammers' pre-season tour
12.07.2011
It was a mixture of work and play for West Ham United's players as the squad continued their pre-season training camp in Switzerland. Having arrived back at the team hotel late on Monday evening following the 2-1 Uhren Cup defeat by BSC Young Boys in Grenchen, manager Sam Allardyce afforded his players and staff a rare lie-in on Tuesday. The players were still up for breakfast at 8am and heading to their respective training areas a little more than an hour later. Meanwhile, Allardyce and his backroom staff headed for a nearby lake for a welcome early-morning swim. The majority of the squad remained at the hotel to take part in a recovery session in the swimming pool, loosening up any muscles that may have tightened following the previous night's game. A small number of players cycled the two miles to the main training complex, where they were put through a series of technical drills by assistant manager Neil McDonald and first-team coach Wally Downes.
At the same time, the West Ham TV crew were out and about in the town where the Hammers have been based since last Friday. An exclusive feature will appear on the club's own television service on Wednesday. After a hearty lunch, the squad and management boarded the team coach for a short drive to a nearby ten-pin bowling alley for a team-bonding exercise. There, goalkeepers Robert Green, Ruud Boffin and Marek Stech were the stars, with all three stoppers recording scores of over 200 - the Belgian taking the plaudits with a high of 215. Following dinner, the players got together for a team presentation before heading for bed ahead of a day of double-training and Wednesday evening's Uhren Cup meeting with Swiss Super League champions FC Basel.
The official website will publish live text updates from Grenchen on Wednesday, with kick-off at 7.30pm local time (6.30pm UK time).
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Sam exclusive on West Ham TV
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce has been pleased with how things have gone on West Ham United's pre-season tour
12.07.2011
Sam Allardyce is a contented man. The West Ham United manager has been happy with the way his players have given their all during the club's pre-season training camp in Switzerland, including their committed performance in Monday's 2-1 friendly defeat by BSC Young Boys - his first match in charge. However, Allardyce has told West Ham TV that there is still plenty of work to be done in all areas before the Hammers take to the pitch against Cardiff City on 7 August, both in terms of supplementing the playing squad and improving the form and fitness of the players already at the club.
"I think in terms of a pre-season training camp it's been an outstanding venue from many different aspects," said Allardyce, speaking from the team's hotel in the central Swiss canton of Bern. "We're in a beautiful place, have a fantastic hotel who are attending to our needs and I think we're virtually the only people in the hotel at this time of year and that's a big help. "Down in the valley here, there is a 50-metre pool which has been very good for the morning starts. One or two of the lads are a bit miserable when they're getting up at 6.30 in the morning, but after the pool sessions they've been invigorated for their football training. "Later in the evenings we've been moving on with the strength and conditioning and sport science lads, so it's been a good exercise up to now. "There are a lot of young players who have travelled with us who want to make their mark and I think it's very important to get to know them as soon as possible and the senior players a little bit better not just as footballers but as people. "Hopefully we can pull all that together and by the time this pre-season has finished, I'll have a better overall view of the squad."
Allardyce got his first view of that squad in a competitive environment on Monday, when a young side were narrowly beaten by Swiss Super League side and UEFA Europa League qualifiers Young Boys. The players gave their all during the Uhren Cup tie in Grenchen, despite having got up for a swimming session at 7am and a full training session in the mid-morning. The boss singled out England Under-18 international Robert Hall and England Under-21 defender Jordan Spence for particular praise, with the former rattling the upright with a rasping 25-yard shot late on. "First and foremost, just for everybody concerned, we've been training every day since we've been here from 6.30am. We even trained on the day we played. "It's not the normal preparation for a game but we felt the lads needed to into the game slightly fatigued and we weren't going to play all of the players for the whole game - particularly the senior players who were given 45 minutes each. "It was effectively a training session rather than us going for the result. It was a competitive match against a very good side who had beaten Hertha Berlin 4-2 prior to playing ourselves, so the whole exercise was good from my learning curve point of view."
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Government lean on Spurs
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 13th July 2011
By: Staff Writer
The Minister for Sport has 'advised' Tottenham Hotspur to ditch plans to challenge the decision to award preferred bidder status to West Ham. Despite having admitted corporate subterfuge in their attempts to undermine both the OPLC voting committee and members of West Ham United's staff, Tottenham have maintained that they will seek legal recourse - despite having lost the vote to win tenancy of the £500million stadium by 14-0. However that could be set to change after the Conservative Minister Hugh Robertson warned the north London club that their plans to press on with legal action could destroy the capital's bid to host the 2017 World Athletics Championships. Speaking to the media yesterday, Robertson insisted that Tottenham should think very carefully before proceeding. "I would hope Tottenham would see the greater good to London; maybe it's a fond hope," he said. "The initial economic planning tells us it will be a £100million boost from hosting a World Athletics Championship. I hope anyone involved in sport would see the greater good, whatever their feelings about the stadium process. "I find it frustrating that having been through the process we are now being dragged through the High Court, having won the first round we have the appeal to come. "If we win that we will bid [to host the Championships], but I will not let the country bid if we have not got a locked-down secure venue, given the backdrop of previous bids."
Tottenham recently announced that they were seeking public funding after revealing plans to build a new stadium within their current borough of Haringey. Mr Robertson's warning could be seen as the first indication that should they refuse to play ball and back down over the Olympic Stadium issue, any such funding could be extremely unlikely to follow.
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Chelsea seek Parker loan deal
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 13th July 2011
By: Staff Writer
Chelsea are said to be looking to sign Scott Parker - but only on a temporary basis. Since the end of last season it's been a case of 'when' rather than 'if' the thrice-recognised Hammer of the Year leaves the Boleyn Ground. Tottenham had been strongly linked but the recent and very public Olympic Stadium row would appear to have put an end to any chance of that happening. In recent weeks both Aston Villa and Everton have expressed an interest - but fellow Londoners Chelsea are now said to have stepped in following the long-term injury sustained recently by defensive midfielder Michael Essien. With the Ghanaian facing at least six months on the sidelines, new Chelsea boss André Villas-Boas is said by today's (Wednesday's) Times to have contacted West Ham with view to a long-term loan deal for Parker, who will be 31 this October. Such an arrangement could prove beneficial to West Ham should Sam Allardyce mange to achieve an instant return to the Premier League.
However were United to fail to secure promotion this coming season, an aging Parker's value would take a substantial hit in the meantime - resulting in a smaller transfer fee should he then seek a permanent move away this time next year.
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It's a Gud'en
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 12th July 2011
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are hoping to finally secure the signature of Eidur Gudjohnsen - at the third time of asking. United's bid to take the the out-of-contract striker is the third occasion in the last four years that the club have shown major interest in signing the former Barcelona star. Back in 2007, Alan Curbishley was close to landing the Icelandic international after Gudjohnsen was told he was surplus to requirements at the Nou Camp. Following a long and protracted saga the 32-year-old opted instead to remain at Barcelona in order to fight for his first team place. A year later he was again linked with a move to east London but that proved to be little more than paper talk. However in January 2010 Gudjohnsen - by then at Monaco - was finally on his way to England to join Tottenham, not Gianfranco Zola's West Ham - despite having spent a week in the capital at United's expense. The snub proved especially disappointing to Zola, who admitted that he was "not the happiest man in the world about what happened", in reference to Gudjohnsen's 11th-hour switch to Spurs. But having rejected Curbishley and Zola, Gudjohnsen is now thought to favour a move to West Ham i norder to team up once again with Sam Allardyce, for whom he worked at Bolton in the late '90s/early '00s. * Sky Sports News claimed this afternoon that West Ham have held talks with Blackpool striker DJ Campbell. West Ham met the 29-year-old's minimum release fee some weeks ago but Campbell has been trying to secure a move to a Premier League club.
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Cole: fee agreed but move far from certain
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 12th July 2011
By: Staff Writer
Stoke City and West Ham United have agreed a fee for striker Carlton Cole. Stoke, who have been chasing the 27-year-old for some time finally had an offer accepted by West Ham this lunchtime folllowing a string of rejected bids. However the player himself - who recently signalled his desire to remain at the Boleyn - is yet to agree personal terms, with the two parties said to be some distance away from reaching agreement. Stoke Chairman Peter Coates, speaking this afternoon (Tuesday) told Sky Sports News: "We have agreed terms with West Ham, that's done. Now it's a case of can we agree terms with Carlton".
2011 Ins ...
Defence
Wayne Bridge* - loan; Abdoulaye Faye - free transfer.
Midfield
Gary O'Neil, £1.5million; Kevin Nolan - Newcastle, £4million.
Attack
Robbie Keane* - loan; Demba Ba* - £500,000.
... and Outs
Defence
Wayne Bridge - end of loan; Manuel Da Costa - Locomotiv Moscow, £1.5million; Danny Gabbidon - end of contract; Matthew Upson - end of contract; Lars Jacobsen - end of contract; Holmar Orn Eyjolfsson - released; Tal Ben Haim - end of contract; Filip Modelski - released.
Midfield
Kieron Dyer - end of contract; Thomas Hitzlsperger - activated release clause; Radoslav Kovac - FC Basel, £500,000; Benni McCarthy - mutual termination; Valon Behrami - Fiorentina, £2million; Jonathan Spector - end of contract.
Attack
Victor Obinna - end of loan; Robbie Keane - end of loan; Demba Ba - activated release clause; Anthony Edgar - released.
* Indicates player no longer at club
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Hammers target Gudjohnsen
Allardyce keen to work with former Bolton striker again
Last Updated: July 12, 2011 6:32pm
SSN
Skysports.com understands West Ham are poised to sign experienced striker Eidur Gudjohnsen. The Iceland international, who spent the second half of last season on loan with Fulham, is a free agent after his one-year deal with Stoke expired. The former Bolton, Chelsea and Barcelona player struggled to make any impact at the Britannia Stadium and failed to find the net during 10 appearances with the Cottagers. Hammers boss Sam Allardyce is keen to link up with Gudjohnsen again having worked with the forward during their time together at the Reebok Stadium. The 32-year-old is due to undergo a medical at Upton Park on Thursday and could then put pen to paper on a one-year deal. Allardyce is eager to bolster his striking options ahead of the new Championship season, particularly with Carlton Cole expected to depart for pastures new. Gudjohnsen came close to joining the East London club in January last year, but instead elected to spend a spell on loan with Tottenham from Monaco.
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Montano earns Hammers stay
Teenage forward hoping to force his way into Allardyce's plans
Last Updated: July 12, 2011 3:25pm
SSN
Cristian Montano has been handed a contract extension at West Ham and is now setting his sights on the first-team. The Colombia-born 19-year-old endured a frustrating 2010/11 campaign - his first as a professional at Upton Park. A succession of niggling knocks prevented him from forcing his way into contention during what proved to be a difficult season for the Hammers as a whole. The talented forward is ready and raring to go ahead of the new season, though, and hopes the award of a new contract is a sign of better times to come. Montano told the club's official website: "I'm very proud of this contract and I'm happy with myself as well. I have got my second contract which is the most important thing. "Hopefully I can keep going from here and make the next step, which is to make my first-team debut and hopefully become established. I want to prove myself."
Clean slate
Montano believes he could come into contention for the start of the new Championship season, with Sam Allardyce offering all of those at Upton Park a fresh start.
He added: "It's not impossible. I'm going to keep working hard and hopefully show the new manager that I can play and do well. "We're all in the same boat, a new manager and new staff, so we've all got to prove ourselves again, which is not an easy thing to do because we've all got to start from scratch."
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Hammers hold Campbell talks
West Ham have reportedly opened talks with Blackpool striker DJ Campbell as they prepare for Carlton Cole's Upton Park exit.
Football365
Last Updated: 12/07/11 at 17:29 Post Comment
The 29-year-old Campbell is reported to have attracted Premier League interest following the Seasiders' relegation out of the top flight last season. Sunderland were reported to be leading the chase early on, while Aston Villa have also been linked with an approach. Campbell plundered 13 goals in the top flight last season, proving he has what it takes to compete among England's elite. He could, however, be tempted to remain in the second tier and join West Ham's promotion push. The Hammers are looking to bounce back into the top flight at the first time of asking and Sam Allardyce is busy piecing together a squad capable of taking that step.
It is understood that he is keen to bring Campbell on board and discussions regarding a possible deal have begun. Striker Cole is expected to join Stoke City this week after the Hammers accepted a bid from the Potters for him.
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West Ham United targets Bolton Wanderers midfielder
by Pat McGatt. Published Tue 12 Jul 2011 15:15, Last updated: 2011-07-12
ClickLancashire.com
According to reports West Ham United are interested in Bolton Wanderers midfielder Joey O'Brien. It is understood that Hammers boss is eyeing his former charge.
O'Brien has been released by wanderers and knows Allardyce from their time together at the Reebok Stadium. The midfielder has joined West Ham's squad for their pre-season camp in Switzerland.
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Stoke City agree terms with West Ham United for striker Carlton Cole
By Telegraph staff and agencies6:17PM BST 12 Jul 2011Comment
Telegraph.co.uk
Stoke City have agreed a fee with relegated West Ham for striker Carlton Cole it has been confirmed. England forward Cole, 27, is currently in Switzerland with West Ham for a pre-season training camp but us due to hold talks with Stoke City manager Tony Pulis upon his return. Stoke chairman Peter Coates told Sky Sports: "We have agreed terms with West Ham, that's done. Now it's a case of can we agree terms with Carlton?" Cole joined West Ham from London rivals Chelsea in July 2006 and scored 42 goals in 165 appearances. But he managed just five league goals last season and is now set to leave Upton Park. The fee has been reported to be an initial £4 million with a possible £2 million in add-ons. Coates said Stoke had tried to sign Cole on previous occasions but was optimistic that this time the forward would make his way to the Midlands club, who lost in last season's FA Cup final to Manchester City. "We come from two different places. He has got an injury problem (Cole has had knee trouble) - he has always had that - and that is a risk you take so we have to factor that in," he said. "But he is a good player and Tony has always liked him. Manager's like different players but Tony has always liked him. "I think we've tried to sign him around three times over the past few years without succeeding so maybe we will get somewhere this year. "Now we've done a deal with the club it really needs his input with the player because he likes to talk to them and make sure they are on board, and he is on board and everything is ok from his point of view. "But we see that work in progress and hope that something can be done."
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O'Brien impresses West Ham boss Allardyce
London24
Dave Evans, West Ham Correspondent
Tuesday, July 12, 2011
4:10 PM
Hammers manager Sam Allardyce is keen to bring in former Bolton midfielder Joey O'Brien, if he can come through pre-season training unscathed. West Ham boss Sam Allardyce is keen to bring his former Bolton Wanderers midfielder Joey O'Brien to Upton Park – if he can prove his fitness. The 25-year-old played 45 minutes in Monday's opening pre-season friendly against Young Boys and Allardyce is convinced that he can be a useful player in their Championship campaign. "He is an outstanding player," the West Ham boss told the Recorder from Switzerland this week. "For someone to play 28 times in the Premier League at the age of 19 shows that he has a lot of talent and if he is fit then he could be a very good player for us."
Fitness is the key for O'Brien, who has three international caps for the Republic of Ireland. His recent career has been plagued by injury and he ended last season on loan at League One outfit Sheffield Wednesday. Allardyce is well aware of the risks. "He has to prove his fitness," he said. "He has had a very frustrating time with injuries over the last two and a half years because he was misdiagnosed and then didn't receive the right treatment. "But it was good to see him come through 45 minutes on Monday without any reaction and now we will just have to see how it goes with him. We have him until the end of pre-season before we have to make a decision."
Allardyce has spoken to the England internationals in the squad and he revealed that at least one of them could be persuaded to stay for the new season. Scott Parker, Robert Green and Carlton Cole are all on the tour of Switzerland, but are interesting a host of Premier League clubs. "We sat down and chatted and they said they were happy to do their pre-season training with us and see what happened," said the manager. "Obviously we are a business as well as a football club and if the right sort of bid comes in for a player then we would have to look at it and we would certainly keep the player aware of what is going on, but I am hopeful that they won't all be leaving."
Allardyce also confirmed that the club are talking to another of his Bolton old boys in Icelandic striker Eidur Gudjohnsen. "We are certainly interested in bringing him to West Ham," said the boss. "But negotiations on this one are at a very early stage." The West Ham squad are in Switzerland until tomorrow and the manager is convinced that it has done everyone a lot of good. "We are having three training sessions a day and also having plenty of time to do other things which will enable the team to bond – the old ones and the young ones," said Allardyce. "We are cut off from everything here and that means we can totally focus on ourselves and what we have to do for the coming season. "Everyone is working really hard, but I think they are also enjoying it."
West Ham play their final match on the tour today (Wednesday) against Basel with a 7.30pm kick-off. While this Saturday a Hammers XI will travel for a friendly at Bishop's Stortford.
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Wigan Athletic target West Ham United winger Pablo Barrera
by Jack Failsworth. Published Tue 12 Jul 2011 22:45, Last updated: 2011-07-12
ClickLancashire.com
Wigan Athletic are reportedly chasing West Ham United winger Pablo Barrera. The Daily Mail claims Latics boss Roberto Martinez is interested in the Mexican midfielder. The 24-year-old is believed to be eyeing a move to Spanish club Real Zaragoza. However, Martinez wants him to stay in the Premier League and is keen to strike a deal for a player who cost West Ham £3.5 million last summer.
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West Ham in talks with DJ Campbell and Eidur Gudjohnsen as Carlton Cole prepares for Stoke
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
Last updated at 11:00 PM on 12th July 2011
Daily Mail
West Ham have opened talks with Blackpool striker DJ Campbell, 29. Campbell's contract has a clause allowing him to leave for £1.25m. The Hammers are discussing a deal for Eidur Gudjohnsen, who will have a medical on Thursday and could sign a one-year deal. Carlton Cole will have to wait until the end of the week to complete his £6m move from West Ham to Stoke. Talks over personal terms are ongoing but Tony Pulis wants to speak to the striker and returns from Austria tomorrow.
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Fans get shirty after West Ham drop Bobby Moore Fund from junior kits
By LAURA WILLIAMSON
Last updated at 11:46 PM on 12th July 2011
Daily Mail
West Ham have provoked anger among fans by removing the Bobby Moore Fund from their junior replica shirts. For the past three years the logo of the Bobby Moore Fund, which raises funds for research into bowel cancer in memory of England and West Ham's World Cup-winnng captain, has adorned the club's boys' and girls' shirts. But the claret and blue shirts for 2011-12, priced from £29.99, now say 'Forever United' and show a logo of the Olympic Stadium. The Championship club were named as the preferred bidders for the Olympic Stadium in February. Fan Ian Morgan wrote on Twitter: 'Last year they dropped the Bobby Moore Cup for (the) Sbobet Cup - disrespectful to our greatest player and a great cause.' The club's 'formal three-year partnership' with the Bobby Moore Fund ended in July, but West Ham insist the charity will continue to play a 'prominent role' in its future. A West Ham statement said: 'The club's status along with Newham Council as recommended preferred bidder for the Olympic Stadium will mean heightened exposure for all connected with West Ham United - namely, from a charitable perspective, the Bobby Moore Fund and the Richard House Children's Hospice in Beckton.
'In addition to vast public and media awareness, the club has generated significant funds, with supporters digging deep time and time again as well to give generously to such a worthy cause. 'BMF-branded merchandise has also made an impact with the club donating more than £34,000 in royalties, and the club and Fund will continue to liaise on commercial and marketing opportunities to the benefit of all.'
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CHELSEA SEEK SCOTT PARKER LOAN
Daily Express
Wednesday July 13,2011
By Daily Express reporter
CHELSEA have approached West Ham about the possibility of signing Scott Parker on a season-long loan as cover for the injured Michael Essien. It is unclear whether the Hammers are interested in such a deal that would see Chelsea pay a small loan fee and cover Scott Parker's £70,000-a-week wages for a season. West Ham are asking for about £8million for a permanent deal for Scott Parker, but a loan would give them the option of taking the midfielder back if they return to the top flight.
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