WHUFC.com
Freddie Sears was the star of the show with all four goals in the reserves'
friendly win on Thursday
29.07.2010
Bishop's Stortford v West Ham United XI
Woodside Park
Friendly match
Thursday 29 July 2010
Full-time - Bishop's Stortford 0-4 West Ham United
90min - The referee blows the full-time whistle on what has been a
professional and clinical display from the Hammers. Freddie Sears was the
star of the show but there was plenty of attacking intent throughout the
side.
88min - Fry steps in again just as Antonine was ready to pounce. Brown then
tidies up with a header back to Kurucz, who has been largely untroubled. A
quick counterattack sees Montano slipped in by Edgar but he is flagged
offside.
86min - A sixty-yard pass from Lee gets Montano in behind. The Colombian
attacker hits it first time and produces a smart stop from Morgan. From the
resulting corner, Edgar plays in a speculative shot that actually hits the
post and rebounds to safety. Another corner, sees Fry head over.
85min - Fry does the job at the back again. He has stayed strong despite the
physical strength of the home strikers.
84min - It is all West Ham and Montano has just shown a lovely piece of
trickery on the halfway line to flick the ball to his team-mate while
looking the other way.
83min - Montano does well again and supplies Sears for the volley. The
striker gets a whack on the boot and is unable to connect.
81min - Montano is too hot to handle and he only just misses out on
supplying Hall.
80min - Free-kick West Ham in a menacing position on the corner of the area.
Montano was too tricky for his marker. Edgar takes but blasts it against the
wall.
77min - Well up Fry. He beat the imposing Antoine with ease. The defenders
have done their job tonight. On the counter, Montano tries to win a penalty
but the referee waves it away. Lette Jalow is off for Chi Ebreadu.
75min - Edgar does well to pick out Hall but he is crowded out. The ball
eventually finds its way to Sears but he misjudges it. When the play
eventually shifts to Spence, he has a go from range but it is well over.
Angus is off for Chris Sargent.
73min - Sears is the star of the show but there has been some strong
supporting performances. Abdulla has certainly weighed in.
72min - Kim Seok Beom is on for Kim Jin Gu as the hosts make another change.
70min - Robert Hall is on for Moncur. Hall is straight on the attack and
looks lively.
69min - Great play by Abdulla along the touchline and into the area. He
slips the ball into the six-yard box and Sears is on hand to flick the ball
nonchantly into the net.
69min - GOAL! Can you guess who?
68min - Moncur has been impressive. He must be one of the youngest players
on the pitch but has been dominant and shown a lovely range of passing.
67min - Unlucky Montano. He fires just wide of the goal after being picked
out at the back post by Abdulla. He hit with some force and the keeper was
worried.
64min - Deflected shot from Sears, He still wants a fourth it seems despite
having bagged three already.
62min - There are 464 fans here tonight and they will hope to see a few more
goals before the end.
61min - Cynical foul on Edgar. Substitution for Bishop's Stortford. Ted
Llewellyn is on for Querry.
60min - Fry heads away the danger. He has been given a testing evening by
Lai Mas Lette Jallow. Kurucz throws the ball 60 yards to Abdulla in
midfield. Impressive that.
58min - Home captain Matt Jones is off with Ritchie Jones on.
57min - Wasted ball there from Jin Gu, just as the hosts had worked their
way into the Hammers half. It just has not clicked for Bishop's Stortford in
the final third tonight.
55min - Sears fires in again but Morgan saves. The striker had played a
superb one-two with Spence before jinking past two defenders to find room
for the shot.
54min - Montano gets in behind again. His pull-back is not strong enough
though and Angus heads away.
52min - Some neat passing their from the home side. Another change here for
them with Scott Smith on for Prestedge.
51min - Sears just draws a few gasps from the crowd with a neat bit of skill
to beat his marker. He has not put a foot wrong.
50min - Another strong attack sees Montano just fail to connect with a ball
on the edge of the six-yard box. Again Brown was involved up the left wing.
48min - Brown is fouled tidying up at the back after a Fry foul had put the
hosts in a good position.
47min - Lovely raking pass from Eyjolfsson there picked out Brown up the
left wing. The Hammers win a throw-in and then play some good possession
football.
46min - Should have been 4-0 after 30 seconds of the second half. Edgar
played in Montano over the top, he picked out Lee in the middle but the
midfielder's first-time effort was mis-hit.
46min - West Ham get us under way. Peter Kurucz is on in goal for Stech.
HALF-TIME - There goes the half-time whistle. Well done Sears. The watching
Paul Groves will have been impressed with his poise and pace. Sears will
hope to figure again when the first team go to Ipswich Town on Saturday.
46min - Harsh scoreline this on Bishop's Stortford. Sears has been simply
devastating and his treble has underlined the great form he showed during
last week's first-team training camp in Germany.
44min - GOAL! - Sears is on fire. He finds himself clean through having run
from the halfway line and latched on to Abdulla's flick. Sears races into
the area, looks up and tucks it away splendidly for his hat-trick. What a
night for the striker.
43min - A long break for the restart as more treatment is given.
41min - GOAL! - Sears again. Lovely take and finish from a central position,
but it owed much to a superb run up the left wing from Brown. The left-back
cut in and found Sears, who did the rest despite being pressured by two
players.
41min - The Hammers have done well, despite their youthfulness. Still a
close contest, mind, and the home side are always looking a threat.
38min - Another stoppage in play, this time for treatment to Querry.
36min - Dyer is barking out the instructions during a lovely period of
passing possession from the Hammers. Must have been 20 passes by now. The
move breaks down with a weak cross from Brown.
35min - Montano shows lovely skill to trap a tricky pass. The teenager is
having a great game.
34min - End to end stuff. Edgar picks out Sears with a 40-yard pass. The
striker centres first time and Montano shoots for goal on the half-volley.
Never really troubled Morgan, though.
32min - Unlucky Chick after a determined restart from the home side. The
substitute meets a Tom Querry corner well and heads for goal. It needed a
great save from Stech to deny him. From another Jin Gu corner, Stech is less
comfortable but the Hammers clear.
31min - GOAL! - Sears steps up and strikes a lovely shot just inside
Morgan's right-hand post. The keeper was never saving that.
30min - Penalty! Montano goes down in the box after a lovely take and pass
from Abdulla.
28min - Abdulla fouls Stevland Angus, the former Academy defender and FA
Youth Cup-winning team-mate of Joe Cole, Michael Carrick and Co. Seconds
later, a quick counter sees Sears chip one forward but no one had read his
intentions.
26min - Eyjolfsson recovers well to break up an attack, having mis-placed a
pass previously to give the visitors a chance in the first place.
25min - More good build-up play, this time from Edgar and Brown. Another
dangerous cross from the left-back sees home keeper Nicky Morgan claim well.
23min - Dave Chick is on for the injured Shulton. The No10 had been
struggling for some time. Also on is Leon Antoine for the No9, Matt Judge.
21min - Lovely play from Sears to hold the ball up sees him feed Spence,
rushing up the right. The full-back cuts inside into the penalty area and
only just fails to pick put Sears who had raced into a forward position.
20min - A notable feature of the Hammers' play has been the good feet of
Moncur and Lee. Their dads John and Rob - both former Hammers' favourites -
would be proud.
18min - Formation wise, the Hammers are playing with three in midfield and
three in attack. Montano and Sears are right and left of Abdulla
respectively at the moment, but it is anything but rigid. Actually Sears has
just gone into the central role as the main striker.
17min - Late tackle by Spence is penalised. The free-kick is a quick one but
Fry is alert and heads back well to Stech just as Reece Prestedge looked
ready to pounce.
15min - Good spell this for the home side. Fry and Brown have to be alert to
clear after another attack.
14min - Stech spares Fry's blushes as Jin Gu pounced on a loose ball just in
front of the defender. The goalkeeper comes out quickly to claim and save
the day.
13min - Unlucky for Montano. He takes a shot first time and just sees it
flash past the post. The build-up involved Lee and Sears, with the former
producing a lovely turn to beat his man in midfield. Twenty seconds later,
Montano goes again. He races past his marker and tries to cross. Frightening
pace from the youngster.
12min - So nearly an opening goal for Eyjolfsson. George Moncur picked him
out at the back post with a weighted free-kick and only some last-ditch
defending blocked the Icelander's headed effort.
11min - Brown is finding his feet now and wins a corner after blasting the
ball off Korean winger Kim Jin Gu.
10min - Appeals for a penalty after Matt Judge blasts the ball at Spence in
the area. Would have been harsh had that been given, although the ball did
look to smash him in the arm. The Hammers try to counterattack but Bishop's
Stortford regroup well.
9min - A stoppage in play as a Bishop's Stortford player - I think it is
Shulton - is down for treatment.
8min - Jordan Brown gets forward for the first time at left-back and lofts
the ball into the area. Abdulla is unable to beat his marker and the hosts
clear the danger.
7min - First real attack for the Hammers. Olly Lee slides it through for
Cristian Montano to the left of the area. The Colombian attacker takes a
touch and then plays it across the area but Abdulla is just unable to get
there.
6min - A chance to break for Scott Shulton. He runs at Matt Fry but his
final ball is loose and it runs through to Marek Stech.
4min - Spence, in the right-back position, has had a lot of the ball early
on. Neither side has really got going, though.
3min - Foul on Holmar Eyjolfsson by Matt Judge. Jordan Spence takes the
free-kick and only just misses out on playing in Ahmed Abdulla behind the
back line.
2min - After the home side were crowded out, a quick burst from Anthony
Edgar sees him make 40 yards. He loses the ball midway through the Bishop's
Stortford half though.
1min - Bishop's Stortford get us under way. There are about 400 people here
tonight and everything is set up for a good contest.
KICK-OFF
7.10pm - The teams are in:
Bishop's Stortford: Nicky Morgan, Matt Jones (captain) (Ritchie Jones 57),
Aiden Palmer, Lai Mas Lette Jallow (Chi Ebreadu 77), Lynval Duncan, Stevland
Angus (Chris Sargent 75), Kim Jin Gu (Kim Seok Beom 72), Reece Prestedge
(Scott Smith 52), Matt Judge (Leon Antoine 23), Scott Shulton (Dave Chick
23), Tom Querry (Ted Llewellyn 61)
Subs: Ritchie Jones, Bert Greenwood, Ellis Remy
West Ham United: Marek Stech (Peter Kurucz 46), Jordan Spence (captain),
Holmar Eyjolfsson, Matt Fry, Jordan Brown, George Moncur (Robert Hall 70),
Olly Lee, Anthony Edgar, Ahmed Abdulla, Freddie Sears, Cristian Montano
Subs: Filip Modelski, Callum McNaughton, Sergio Sanchez, Devann Yao, Daniel
Subuola
6.50pm - Welcome to the home of Bishop's Stortford as Alex Dyer prepares to
lead his team through their second reserve-team friendly of the summer. The
young Hammers began their campaign with a 4-2 defeat against a strong Burton
Albion side last Saturday. Bishop's Stortford, on the Essex/Herts border,
play in the Conference South and have strong links with West Ham, having
regularly staged the club's fixtures in the Barclays Premier Reserve League
South.
Goalkeeping coach David Coles is already out on the pitch warming up with
Marek Stech and Peter Kurucz. The Hammers will also boast Jordan Spence,
Matthew Fry, Anthony Edgar, Cristian Montano and Freddie Sears who are
hoping to force their way into Avram Grant's first-team squad this season
having been part of the pre-season camp in Germany last week.
Also involved are Ahmed Abdulla and US triallist Devann Yao, who both scored
at League Two club Burton at the weekend, and both will be looking to
impress again as will the highly-rated Jordan Brown and Olly Lee. Alex
Dyer's team will begin their Barclays Premier Reserve League South campaign
at home to Manchester City on Tuesday 7 September, with kick-off at Little
Heath at 2pm.
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Gabbidon feeling good
WHUFC.com
Danny Gabbidon is fit and firing and enjoying a productive pre-season with
West Ham United
29.07.2010
Danny Gabbidon is feeling strong in body and mind ahead of the new Barclays
Premier League campaign. The Wales international hopes to put four years of
frustration behind him this season, looking back to his best this summer as
West Ham United have secured four wins from four so far. Gabbidon's latest
outing saw him help the Hammers keep their third clean sheet in succession
in defeating League One MK Dons 2-0 at stadium:mk on Wednesday evening.
There, the 30-year-old partnered returning England international Matthew
Upson during the opening 45 minutes, helping his side to shackle compatriot
Jermaine Easter and the lively Sam Baldock.
Following the victories at Peterborough United and over VfL Borussia
Monchengladbach and Panathinaikos during a successful training camp in
Germany, the 2005/06 Hammer of the Year believes things are coming together
nicely ahead of the big kick-off at Aston Villa on 14 August. "Another game,
another win," he said. "It was good, another good work-out as well. We had a
good trip to Germany last week and another couple of wins. We have come back
and it is a little bit different to play a League One team, it is a bit more
tempo to the game. I thought we played a lot better in the second half, we
were a bit sluggish and that. In the second half, we moved the ball a lot
quicker and got a couple of goals. It was good to get another win. "The
fitness, they were quite sharp in the first half and played good football.
It was a nice place to come and a nice stadium. They are a little bit ahead
of us but it was a good test for us and we playe them a coupel of years back
as well and I remember they gave us a good game then as well. "It was a good
test and nice to get a couple of goals in the second half and we are on to
Saturday's next game."
After enjoying an outstanding first season at the Boleyn Ground, Gabbidon
has been struck down by a succession of unfortunate injuries, causing him to
total just 47 first-team appearances over the past four years. Now he is
back in action and feeling good, the Cwmbran-born defender is targeting a
strong finish to his pre-season preparations and, with strong competition
for places in the shape of Upson, Manuel da Costa and James Tomkins, a place
in the starting XI at Villa Park. "I am pleased to get through the games. I
have been feeling pretty good. I felt a little bit sluggish at MK Dons but
we have trained quite hard the last couple of days. It was good to get
another 45 minutes. I am getting stronger and stronger, I had a decent
pre-season last season but it was in the season that I had a few little
niggles and that. Hopefully I can improve on that this season and my aim is
to be fit for the start and then take it from there. Ipswich are a
Championship team but we know they will be the same as MK Dons. They will
look to play good football and it will be a good test. We will recover from
this, get some training in on Friday and look to play well and do ourselves
justice. If we can continue winning, it is good for the confidence going
into the start of the season in two weeks' time."
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David Beckham denies any contact with West Ham
BBC.co.uk
David Beckham has "no interest" in leaving American team Los Angeles Galaxy
and has had no contact with West Ham, according to his spokesman. West Ham
co-owner David Gold claims to have held talks with the 35-year-old former
England captain's agent. But Beckham's spokesman said: "Whilst it's
flattering, there has been no contact with or offer from West Ham. David has
no interest in leaving."
The midfielder is recovering from an Achilles tendon injury. Gold reportedly
hoped that Beckham, who was born in Leytonstone, east London - close to West
Ham - would end his playing days with the club. The Hammers co-owner is also
said to have wanted the midfielder to help the club's attempts to move into
the Olympics Stadium in London after the 2012 Games. However, the player's
spokesman added: "David is happy at LA Galaxy and is looking forward to
returning to the team on 9 August."
Beckham tore his Achilles tendon in March and hopes to be fit enough to
return to action with the Los Angeles outfit in September. He joined Galaxy
from Real Madrid in 2007 but has since had two loan spells at AC Milan. The
former Manchester United trainee has 115 England caps and formed part of the
national team's backroom staff at the 2010 World Cup finals in South Africa.
He was unable to play in the tournament, which England exited in the second
round after a 4-1 defeat against Germany, because of his Achilles tendon
injury.
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Was Parker tapped up?
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 29th July 2010
By: Staff Writer
It has been revealed that Scott Parker spent part of his summer break on
holiday with Jamie Redkapp - son of Spurs manager Harry who was responsible
for a £7million bid yesterday. Earlier this month the Daily Mail printed
pictures of Redknapp Jnr, cousin Frank Lampard and Parker on hoiliday
together with their families in Sardinia - lending weight to rumours that
Parker had been 'tapped up' by the Redknapps.
Yesterday's derisory £7million offer from Tottenham for West Ham's
vice-captain was furiously rebuffed by United joint-chairman David Sullivan,
who slammed the north Londoners for having made the bid despite having
reportedly been informed previously that it would be unwelcome. It also led
to Avram Grant suggesting he will give Redknapp - who he followed as manager
at Portsmouth - a piece of his mind next time they meet. "I can tell you
that if I am disappointed with Harry I will tell him face to face," said
Grant following the Hammers' 2-0 win at MK Dons last night. "We want to
plan for the next few seasons and Scott Parker is a big part of this
process. He is a very good player and has a good influence on the young
players. He is a good professional and there will not be any news about him.
I'm sure if he was for sale that other teams would want him as well. "But
we are a team with ambition and we want to progress."
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Becks denies West Ham link
Veteran midfielder has 'no interest' in Hammers move
Last updated: 29th July 2010
SSN
David Beckham is happy at LA Galaxy and has had no contact with West Ham, a
spokesman for the former England captain has announced. Beckham has been
linked with a move to Upton Park, with Hammers co-owner David Gold revealing
he wants to sign the 35-year-old midfielder and that talks have taken place
with the player's agent. But a spokesman for Beckham has denied the rumours,
insisting the veteran will remain in the States. "Whilst it's flattering to
hear of interest there has been no contact with or offer from West Ham,"
said the spokesman. "David is happy at the Los Angeles Galaxy and has no
interest in leaving, and is looking forward to returning to the team on
August 9."
Beckham is still on the mend from the ruptured Achilles tendon that ruled
him out of the World Cup, but is hoping to be back in action before the end
of Galaxy's MLS season. He is targeting a comeback as early as September,
allowing him to make a possible return to European football in January after
playing for AC Milan for the second half of the season the last two years.
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Harry: 'I'm not dirty geddit?'
The Sun
By ANDREW DILLON
Published: Today
HARRY REDKNAPP has hit back at claims Spurs are using 'dirty tricks' to lure
Scott Parker from West Ham. A bitter row is brewing between the two London
rivals as Tottenham are ready to splash out up to £15million on the England
midfielder. The Hammers insist they have told Spurs that Parker, 29, is not
for sale at any price. But White Hart Lane boss Redknapp insisted: "We have
done nothing wrong. Our chairman spoke to West Ham's chairman and asked if
Scott is for sale. "If he's been told that he isn't then that's the end of
that. But as far as I'm concerned Tottenham have acted totally within the
rules. "Any club is perfectly entitled to make an inquiry about a player
from another club. "West Ham have been interested in Jamie O'Hara for some
time and I don't have a problem with that."
Parker is keen on Champions League football and could increase his current
£68,000-a-week wages by around £7k a week with Tottenham. Redknapp added:
"We get people ringing us up all the time asking about our players'
availability - it's how the whole business works. "This club has behaved
correctly. "We didn't go public on our interest in Scott, we approached West
Ham through the proper channels. If our chairman wants to improve the offer
that's up to him. But I like Scott, he's a good player."
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Green set for fans abuse
The Sun
By MARK IRWIN
Published: Today
ROBERT GREEN is braced for a season of abuse over his World Cup howler. West
Ham's keeper fluffed Clint Dempsey's tame shot in England's 1-1 draw with
USA in South Africa. And Hammers' French defender Julien Faubert admitted:
"Greenie knows what will probably happen in all our away games. "But I don't
think he will care about the abuse because he is such a strong character and
in training he is the same person - always happy and smiling. "For me,
Greenie is still the best goalkeeper in England. "It was all the great saves
he made last season that kept West Ham in the Premiership."
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West Ham stall on £5m deal for Argentine hitman
Published 20:24 29/07/10 By James Nursey
The Mirror
West Ham boss Avram Grant has asked for more time to assess Milton Caraglio
before committing to a £5million deal. The Argentine hitman, 22, has
travelled to England for a trial with a view to a transfer as revealed by
Mirrorsport. Caraglio, who holds an Italian passport, has had a medical at
Upton Park as he is being sold by his club Rosario Central. He played 64
minutes against MK Dons on Wednesday night in a friendly as the Hammers won
2-0. But Grant wants to study the 6ft 2in forward more closely before a
final decision.
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Redknapp hits back at West Ham and still hopes to land Parker
Published 23:16 29/07/10 By Darren Lewis
The Mirror
Harry Redknapp last night hit back at West Ham's claims of trying to
unsettle Scott Parker insisting: 'The Hammers made it public in the first
place!' West Ham have rejected Spurs' £9million bid for the 30-year-old
midfielder, insisting the Upton Park captain will not be sold. Furious
Sullivan blasts Spurs over Parker bid - Exclusive But Parker is understood
to be keen to play in the Champions League next season and Redknapp hinted
the Hammers ARE prepared to do a deal.
It is believed co-owners David Gold and David Sullivan are prepared to
accept Spurs midfielder Jamie O'Hara in exchange for Parker. Redknapp said:
"How is it unsettling? Who made it public? I'm sure the chairman must have
got some encouragement or he wouldn't have made an offer. "That is why he
would have done it. He's an outstanding player but if West Ham don't want to
sell him it's up to them. "If West Ham say they don't want him maybe it's
it. But we need a couple of experienced players at the club. "We did
fantastic last season but some need to go out on loan. I think we need to
strengthen in some areas. I think you need a few men in the team. "Two or
three would make a massive difference to us. Inter Milan won the Champions
League with men, they weren't kids. I think it's going to be important."
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Avram Grant insists Scott Parker is a big part of his West Ham plans
'We want to improve and Scott Parker is a big part of this'
Grant backs Robert Green to get over disastrous World Cup
guardian.co.uk, Thursday 29 July 2010 12.18 BST
Avram Grant has insisted the sought-after midfielder Scott Parker will
remain his West Ham United side's heartbeat, while also backing the England
internationals Robert Green and Matthew Upson to overcome their
disappointing World Cups. Tottenham yesterday had a bid worth a reported £7m
for the player swept angrily off the table by the West Ham co-chairman,
David Sullivan. Grant, the club's manager, said: "We want to plan to improve
for the next few seasons and Scott Parker is a big part of this process. He
is a very good player and has a good influence on the young players. I'm
sure if he was for sale that other teams would want him as well. But we are
a team with ambition and we want to progress."
Parker played alongside Green and Upson in West Ham's 2-0 pre-season victory
over MK Dons last night, secured with goals from Julien Faubert and Carlton
Cole.
Green was dropped by England after his mistake gifted the USA their
equaliser in the sides' drawn opening group match while Upson played in the
4-1 second-round defeat to Germany. "Robert is a good goalkeeper. He is
doing his job and he is training well," Grant said. "Also, Matthew Upson
played his first 45 minutes as well. It was good for them and for us.
"They are not children. They know disappointment is part of the game and
they need to recover very quickly because they are playing for the team.
What has happened has happened and we are looking forward. I have no worries
at all, it was business as usual and they know that."
Parker was the only player declared not for sale by Sullivan this summer,
with Green, Upson and Cole all linked with moves away from Upton Park. But
the West Ham vice-chairman, Karren Brady, stressed the club had turned down
bids for players and the focus is on improving, not dismantling, the squad.
West Ham have been chasing the defender Tal Ben Haim and the Nice striker
Loïc Rémy. Grant told the club's website: "We are looking for players. There
are good players in this team but we want to make the squad stronger and we
are looking for two or three players that can improve the team. I am happy
with what we have but I am always looking for a way of improving and making
things better."
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Harry Redknapp hits out at West Ham in Scott Parker dispute
Spurs manager rebuts allegations of unsettling midfielder
Redknapp no closer to resolution in bid for Bellamy
John Ashdown
guardian.co.uk, Friday 30 July 2010 01.06 BST
Harry Redknapp has hit back in the row over the future of West Ham's Scott
Parker. Redknapp and Spurs were this week accused of unsettling the player
with their £7m bid, the Hammers co-chairman David Sullivan saying he was
"very angry with Harry, Daniel [Levy, the Tottenham chairman] and Spurs".
But Redknapp argued that any damage to the players' peace of mind was the
fault of West Ham. "Who made it public that we made an offer?" he said last
night following Spurs' 4-1 friendly defeat against Villarreal.
"You can make an offer for a player if you want to. You can make an offer
for anybody. I'm sure the chairman must have got some encouragement or he
wouldn't have made an offer. So I'm not sure the full story has been told
about that one. The chairman wouldn't have made an offer unless he thought
there was a chance that they wanted to do something."
A deal for another target, Manchester City's Craig Bellamy, also seems no
closer to a resolution. "I like Craig Bellamy but I don't know if they would
sell him," said Redknapp. "The chairman deals with all the transfers. He
asks me what I want and I tell him. I don't know where he's at with Bellamy,
if anywhere."
Redknapp also revealed the motivation behind his attempts to sign two
players with a combined age of 60, with the reigning European champions
proving the inspiration. "If you're going to be really successful you need a
few men in your team, not lads that are learning," he said.
"We've got a good group of players but two or three players with experience
would make a massive difference to the team. You look at Inter Milan – they
won the Champions League with a team of men, they were all experienced
players. You need players with experience."
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N ouble, Daprela, Spence: ready or not?
Author: Jonny Abrams
Posted on:29 July 2010 - 13:48
Sport.co.uk
After a truly dreadful season which got Gianfranco Zola the sack, West Ham
United have the chance to start afresh under Avram Grant and, having spent
fairly modestly so far this summer, the forthcoming campaign could herald
the emergence of some talented next generation Hammers.
Every football fan loves to see home-grown talent coming through the ranks,
so join Sport.co.uk in looking at three West Ham United youngsters who could
be set to make a big impact at Upton Park this year.
Do you agree with our picks? Which other youngsters do you think West Ham
United fans should keep their eyes on? Can the Irons finish in the top ten?
Have your say in the comments section below…
Frank Nouble – Two goals for England U19s in their recent win over Austria
underlined the potential of 6'3 strike Nouble but, in light of the
difficulties suffered by fellow bright prospect James Tomkins last season,
Grant should be wary of exposing him to too much too soon. However, with
Messrs Mido, Ilan and Franco now out the picture, Freddie Sears not coming
along as hoped and Benni McCarthy showing few signs of returning to any kind
of form, Nouble could be a useful understudy to Carlton Cole and Frederic
Piquionne next season.
Fabio Daprela – Unless Herita Ilunga recaptures form and fitness this
season, West Ham's left-back options look worryingly limited to Jonathan
Spector. Step forward Daprela, a 19 year-old Swiss who has already made a
handful of first team appearances for the Hammers. With compatriot Valon
Behrami around to help him settle in, Daprela's natural left-footedness
could be more conducive to striking up a partnership on the left with the
frustrating-thus-far Alessandro Diamanti than Spector's
admirable-yet-square-peg-looking efforts last time around.
Jordan Spence – Having previously captained England U18s, the 20 year-old
defender made his West Ham debut in the 1-1 draw against Manchester City on
the final day of last season and has signed a one year extension to his
contract. As a home-grown talent, Spence has a decent chance of being
integrated before the new 25-man squad rule takes effect.
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West Ham chief Sullivan blasts Spurs over Parker offer - and Gudjohnsen
29.07.10 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has blasted Tottenham over their bid
for midfielder Scott Parker. He is fuming with Spurs' boss Harry Redknapp
and chairman Daniel Levy for bidding for Parker after being told their
interest is not welcome. And Sullivan is still sore striker Eidur
Gudjohnsen, 31, ended up joining Spurs on loan in January from Monaco after
agreeing to go to Upton Park. "I am very angry with Harry, Daniel and
Spurs," Sullivan told the Mirror. "They stole Gudjohnsen from us last season
and Parker is not for sale."
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Hamburg attacker Anis Ben-Hatira training with West Ham
29.07.10 | tribalfootball.com
Hamburg attacker Anis Ben-Hatira is training with West Ham United. Hamburger
Abendblatt says Ben-Hatira has been told by Hamburg management he is free to
find a new club and is now doing preseason with the Hammers. Midfielder
Ben-Hatira, 22, is a former Germany U19 international and played on-loan
last season with Duisburg.
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Ajax striker Miralem Sulejmani: Agent working on West Ham deal
29.07.10 | tribalfootball.com
Ajax striker Miralem Sulejmani is confident of getting his move to West Ham
United. The Serbia international has again declared his hope of sealing a
switch to Upton Park this summer. Sulejmani told De Telegraaf: "The clubs
and my agent are working on it. "The coach there (Avram Grant) believes in
me and wants me as part of his team."
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West Ham in contact with Rennes fullback Fanni
29.07.10 | tribalfootball.com
West Ham United are chasing Rennes fullback Rod Fanni. AS says Fanni has
rejected their overtures as he waits for a move to Atletico Madrid to be
rubberstamped. However, with Atletico stalling on negotiations, the door
remains open to West Ham to convince Fanni about a move to Upton Park for
the new season.
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