Macca pleased with workout
WHUFC.com
Neil McDonald was happy to see the players come through another tough
pre-season workout
12.07.2012
West Ham United assistant manager Neil McDonald was pleased with what he
deemed as another good workout for the Hammers in the 1-1 draw at Boreham
Wood on Tuesday night. Sam Baldock scored for the second consecutive
pre-season friendly to put Hammers ahead before the home side equalised just
after the break.
"It was a good work-out," said McDonald. "Although it would have been nice
to have won, it is not about results, it is about building up the fitness,
building up the endurance as well, something which we have been working hard
on for the last week and a half. "I thought it was a really, really good 45
minutes for the first-team boys and now we move on to more training for the
rest of the week and look forward to getting another game under our belts on
Saturday against Southend."
The Hammers played a different XI for each half to allow the senior players
a good run-out, as well letting younger players grab a chance including
former Wood player Pelly Ruddock, who captained the side for the first 45
minutes against his former club. With Southend United up next for the
Hammers on Saturday, followed by matches at Oxford United and Colchester
United within the next ten days, preparation for the new season is already
in full flow. "We have come back a bit earlier than others. We had a fairly
good break and we wanted to come back and make sure that every player hits
the ground running. You can space it all the sessions out nicely and no one
gets stale. "We want to come in, work them hard, give them a little bit of
rest and then work them again. Let's hope the strategy works in the first
game against Aston Villa."
McDonald was pleased to also be able to offer some game time to next
generation of Hammers stars. Ruddock was joined in the first half by Jake
Larkins, George Moncur, Matthias Fanimo and Callum Driver. "It was great to
give some of the younger boys some game time. Pelly came from Boreham Wood
last year and he has settled down at the club well. It was good experience
for him to captain the side in the first half against the club he used to
play for."
James Tomkins and new signing Mohamed Diame were two of the absentees due to
the pair being called up to represent Great Britain and Senegal respectively
at the London 2012 Olympic Games. Although not available for the Hammers
during that time, McDonald is happy that both players will be up to speed
before the start of the season. "It is okay them both being there - they are
going to be playing quality games in a quality competition. They will be
playing in front of huge crowds. It is not as if they are away and not
training so pre-season will be good for them and I think it will be a
feel-good factor for everybody when they come back. "No matter how they get
on, the other players will be asking them about the whole experience. That
feeling will re-bound and will energise everyone and be good for when we
start."
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Maynard out to impress
Hammers striker has no regrets about January switch
Last Updated: July 12, 2012 12:42pm
SSN
Nicky Maynard says his decision to move to West Ham has been justified by
their promotion to the Premier League. The striker was criticised for
leaving Bristol City in January as some suggested his reasons for switching
were money-motivated. Maynard stressed at the time that he had opted to head
to Upton Park because he was convinced they would give him the opportunity
to play at the highest level. He is now gearing up for the new season and is
determined to help West Ham retain their top-flight status. "It is every
English footballer's dream to play in the Premier League and that is the
main reason I left Bristol City," the 25-year-old told London 24.
Self-belief
"I wanted to play in the Premier League as quickly as possible. West Ham
came in for me, who were in the Championship at the time, but I knew that
they would go into the Premier League. "I am here now and it is down to me
to produce and stay in the top flight with West Ham." Maynard hit three
goals for the Hammers as they clinched promotion via the play-offs, and he
is confident he can hold down a regular starting berth next season. "I
believe in my ability and I believe I can do the job," he stated. "The
gaffer has got so many strikers he can choose from, so it is down to us to
catch the eye in pre-season and try and win a place for the opening game."
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Is the Guti Deal a Goner?
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
According to Talk Sport, trialist Guti has failed to agree terms with the
club on a short-term contract. Hence, the former Real Madrid midfielder has
now allegedly moved to announce his retirement as a player. And it would
seem that a new coaching role at Real beckons! This has only come from one
media source, but if accurate, one must question the wisdom of the move in
the first place. Still, nothing ventured, nothing gained I suppose? That is
the name of the trialist game.
Elsewhere in the media, the focus is almost exclusively on the Andy Carroll
to West Ham story. Apparently Carroll is due for showdown talks with Brendan
Rogers before a decisision on a loan or permanent is made. There is a lot of
talk around whether, given the right circumstances, Liverpool would prefer a
loan or permanent transfer? Some sources seem to believe that the latter
course of action is Liverpool's preference and that Fulham may steal a march
by agreeing a part-exchange deal involving Clint Dempsey. Personally, even
allowing for Dempsey's valuation, I would not see Fulham as a club that
would spend that kind of transfer fee. Although, some would also say that
same about West Ham and an alleged permanent transfer fee, one year hence,
of £15m!
You really cannot blame supporters for being cynical, afterall we have been
here quite a few times in the past with the likes of Beckham and Tevez. But
it does make sense if you look at it from the board's perspective. The right
loan deal would see us secure a current England international, for the
duration of the forthcoming season, for little more than his c.£70,000
salary costs, and there is even a suggestion that Liverpool might contribute
to that. Alternatively, it is being suggested that Liverpool may be seeking
a season long loan fee. Whatever the case, an alleged West ham insider has
been quoted as stating that the deal has about a 10% chance of being
completed. Attach whatever importance that you will to that quote. There are
obvious links between Carroll and the club, in the form of Allardyce and
Nolan, but we shall have to wait and see whether they might be a significant
factor?
Amidst the Carroll media feeding frenzy, Clint Dempsey's potential
availability has been largely mentioned as an addendum to the big story.
Dempsey is a player that many fans would like to see at Upton Park. It is
one of those 'in the last year of his contract' scenarios, so whoever
entices Fulham to sell will undoubtedly get a good value deal. Still, if
Liverpool are actually interested, then it is likely to be a done deal,
whether part of a move for Carroll or separate from it.
This is turning out to be a frustrating transfer window, even though it is
early and there is still plenty of time left for further deals. Often a big
deal provides the financial catalyst that sets off a number of subsiduary
moves in the transfer market. As always, all we can do is monitor the
situation and hope that we get some more quality additions to the squad.
SJ. Chandos.
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Ain't about the cha-ching, cha-ching: West Ham balk at "crazy" £11m price
tag on Wolves winger Jarvis
The Mirror
Wanderers boss Stale Solbakken has admitted he'd be prepared to sell both
Jarvis and striker Steven Fletcher. Wolves have been told by West Ham they
have no chance of getting the £11million they want for winger Matt Jarvis.
Wanderers boss Stale Solbakken has admitted he'd be prepared to sell both
Jarvis and striker Steven Fletcher. Stoke are also keen on 26-year-old
Jarvis but the amount of money sought by the Molineux club has been
described as 'crazy'. West Ham have already bid £4m for the made it clear to
Wolves that they have no intention of increasing their bid to anywhere near
double figures.
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Unhappy Hammer: Ricardo Vaz Te ready to quit West Ham over wage demands
The Mirror
The former Barnsley striker feels he deserves similar cash to their other
star men like Team GB defender James Tomkins on around £35,000-a-week .
Ricardo Vaz Te is considering quitting West Ham after being turned down for
a second mega wage rise by club chiefs. Portuguese forward Vaz Te was a
revelation at Upton Park last season after a bargain £500,000 January switch
from Barnsley. The marksman ended up bagging 24 goals, with 12 for the
Hammers including their play-off winner against Blackpool at Wembley. That
got him hugs and kisses from Sam Allardyce. But their next meeting might not
be so cordial after Vaz Te's nasty surprise for his gaffer. MirrorSport has
learned that the 24-year-old is weighing up a future away from the London
club. He wants a team to challenge for a top-10 Premier League finish and is
not encouraged by West Ham's transfer activity so far.
Vaz Te also feels after his heroics last season, he deserves parity with the
club's top earners – some of whom are on nearly double his wages. Vaz Te has
held recent talks with Allardyce but remains unhappy with his terms. His pay
has virtually doubled to £20,000 a week thanks to a clause in his contract
after the Hammers reached the top flight. But he feels he should pocket as
much as other stars, such as Team GB defender James Tomkins, who is on
£35,000 a week. Now Vaz Te is considering his options and may even slap in a
transfer request. That would be bad news for those Hammers fans who have
been hero-worshipping him.
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Olympic Stadium: West Ham and Leyton Orient Both Want To Move In
LBC
Thursday 12th July 2012
LBC 97.3 can reveal both West Ham Utd and Leyton Orient football clubs are
bidding to move into the Olympic Stadium after London 2012. The London
Legacy Development Corporation has confirmed it received four official bids
by this lunchtime's latest deadline. It's the third time the bidding process
has been run, after the LLDC re-opened the process in May and the Hammers
were thwarted with taking over of the stadium last year because of legal
challenges. Whoever is chosen will be 'concessionaries' or tenants sharing
the stadium along with UK Athletics. The 2017 World Athletics Championships
will also be staged in Stratford.
A decision isn't expected til September at the earliest with the aim of
using the Stadium in 2014. A spokesperson for the London Legacy Development
Corporation said "The London Legacy Development Corporation has received
four bids from parties interested in becoming concessionaires of the Stadium
after the Games. The Legacy Corporation will assess the bid submissions to
determine the winning concessionaires to occupy the Stadium alongside
athletics."
But our Olympics Correspondent John Cushing's understands both West Ham Utd
and Leyton Orient are definitely 2 of the 4. It's believed the Premier
League newboys see their long term future away from Upton Park and in the
Olympic Park with the aim of creating a long term legacy for the Stadium.
The O's have also re-entered the process with a source telling us it would
be a 'dream' to move in but admits it would be a gamble too. Both clubs are
restricted from talking about it officially because of confidentially
clauses.
But the University of East London has confirmed to LBC 97.3 its withdrawn
its bid, in partnership with Essex Cricket Club, for the latest process. A
University of East London spokesperson said "The University of East London
has decided that it will not be proceeding with its submission in relation
to the Olympic Stadium. As a university, we continue to have a strong
interest in ensuring students and staff can gain full benefit from the
world-class facilities within the Olympic Park, as well as contributing to
the overall legacy of the London 2012 Games."
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Is West Ham start easy or fixtures fraught with danger?
London 24
Dave Evans, West Ham Correspondent
Thursday, July 12, 2012
12:50 PM
West Ham's opening six games avoid any of the big Premier League teams, but
does that mean it is a soft start?
There must have been many West Ham fans jumping for joy when the fixture
list came out last month. Not only were the Hammers back in the Premier
League, they had also been given the sort of fixtures in the first six games
that they could only have dreamed about. One man who was certainly pleased
with the fixtures was manager Sam Allardyce, according to striker Nicky
Maynard. "The gaffer has already said to us that when you look at the first
few games, they could have been a lot harder," revealed Maynard after
Tuesday night's 1-1 friendly draw at Boreham Wood. "But it is still down to
us to get off to a great start and the better start we have, the better
chance of staying in the league. "If we can do that, then come Christmas
time we can start enjoying our football a lot more without the worry of
relegation."
It sounds idyllic, but there were words of caution from experienced and wise
head Matt Taylor who is not taken in by the idea of easy games. "For me,
every game in the Premier League is not an easy game," insisted Taylor. "I
have never played in an easy game in the Premier League and this season will
be the same. A lot of teams might go into a game against Manchester United
in a different mindset to a game against a lesser team, which I think is
wrong. "We're going into every game this season believing we can win,
because if you don't have that winning mentality, then I don't think there
is any point in playing."
One thing is for certain, although as Taylor says, there are no easy games
in the top flight, there are certainly some that are easier than others.
Looking at West Ham's clashes against the likes of Swansea City, Norwich
City, Sunderland and QPR, they will certainly be looking to take advantage
and post some early points.
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Moore will be expected from West Ham's James Tomkins as he goes for gold
The Evening Standard
Simon Johnson
12 July 2012
Not for the first time in his career, James Tomkins is trying to ignore talk
that he can emulate West Ham legend Bobby Moore. Ever since he progressed
through the Upton Park academy, where he started out as a forward before
becoming a centre-half, Moore's name has been consistently linked with his
own. Unsurprisingly, the 23-year-old has always regarded England's World
Cup-winning captain as a source of inspiration but trying to follow in his
footsteps has proved a heavy burden. Tomkins has not had a chance to make an
impression in the senior England team yet, although he has appeared at all
levels from Under-16s to Under-21s.
However, Tomkins is in Stuart Pearce's Great Britain squad for the Olympics
and hopes to win a gold medal in the final on August 11 at Wembley, where
Moore lifted football's greatest prize in 1966. Naturally, the chance to
follow in Moore's footsteps has stirred up more comparisons with his hero
but, as Tomkins prepares for a warm-up friendly against Brazil on July 20,
he is doing his best not to let it distract him from achieving his goals.
Asked if was feeling the weight of expectations on his shoulders, Tomkins
said: "Yeah, of course. I feel as though I'm representing West Ham as I'm
the only player here, it's a big honour. "In terms of what Bobby Moore
achieved, I don't try to think about that too much. His achievements were
unbelievable and to get anywhere near that would be massive but I just take
each game as it comes and try to get in the team. "The Olympics is going to
be an incredible experience for all of us, we've just got to try to take it
all in. I'm looking forward to the Games, taking part for Great Britain.
"It's going to be unbelievable being in London as well — the Olympic Park is
so local to me. "I've seen so much building work going on there over the
years, I've seen it develop and it's a massive place. "I've been travelling
past it every day for years now and it's going to be incredible for the
whole country."
One of Moore's most famous games for England was when he starred against the
Brazil side that boasted Pele, Rivelino and Tostao at the 1970 World Cup.
Now Tomkins is hoping to get the chance to shine against the latest
generation of Brazilian stars such as Neymar, Hulk, Lucas Moura and Oscar at
Middlesbrough next Friday. He said: "You know what to expect when it comes
to Brazil. They are technically very good and we'll have periods of the game
where we might not have too much of the ball, so we'll have to be very
disciplined as a team. "I've watched Brazil so many times over the years and
you know they bring up the young lads the exact same way. I'm looking
forward to it as an experience of another country I've not played before and
hopefully I can be part of the match."
Tomkins is one of 13 English players named in coach Pearce's 18-man squad,
with the rest of the contingent, including captain Ryan Giggs, coming from
Wales.
It is still early days but Tomkins insists things have been progressing well
at the squad's training camp at Loughborough University. He said: "All the
lads here are familiar faces, there are a few Welsh lads here who I've
either played against or who have been at West Ham in the past. All the lads
seem to be getting on well, there's a good atmosphere this early on. "It's
early doors but we're just training and working to get to know each other.
It's a very talented group, so the lads don't need much training to get into
the swing of things."
Great Britain begin their Olympic campaign against Senegal on July 26,
before facing United Arab Emirates and Uruguay in their other group games.
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West Ham fail to agree terms with Guti
By talkSPORT | Thursday, July 12, 2012
West Ham's hopes of making a sensational swoop for former Real Madrid star
Guti have been ended after the midfielder announced he is set to retire
instead.
The 35-year-old had been training at Upton Park and was a free agent having
been released by Turkish side Besiktas. The Hammers were hopeful of agreeing
a deal for the playmaker, who is regarded as a legend and one of the
original Galacticos at Real, having spent 15 years at the club where he made
more than 500 appearances. But Guti was unable to agree terms with West Ham
and has now told Spanish newspaper AS that he will stop playing and take a
coaching course at Real's Valdebebas training ground instead.
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Gale: Carroll an Ideal Fit for Hammers
Tony Gale believes Andy Carroll would be a perfect fit for West Ham United
should Liverpool make him available for loan
By NICK HOWSON: Subscribe to Nick's RSS feed
July 12, 2012 10:41 AM GMT
Ibtimes.co.uk
Former West Ham United defender Tony Gale believes Andy Carroll would be an
ideal signing for The Hammers should Liverpool make him available for a
loan.
Reds manager Brendan Rodgers has admitted he is considering allowing Carroll
to spend the coming season on loan, and co-owner David Gold says the club
would be open to a move for the England international. And Gale, who made
300 appearances for West Ham between 1984 and 1994, is adamant that given
how Rodgers' footballing philosophy conflicts with Carroll physic, the
Liverpool forward would be at home with Sam Allardyce's side. Carroll scored
nine goals in his first full season for Liverpool. "With the links to Sam
[Allardyce] and Kevin Nolan, it could fit," Gale said. "You don't move for
friendships' sake but Kevin had a big influence on him at Newcastle and
tried to help him when he had a few wild times." "I don't think Carroll
will fit into Brendan Rodgers' style of play at Liverpool, with the way the
ball is moved about," he added. "If Liverpool play that way, which they
will, you'd think it will have to be [Luis] Suarez up front, so you wonder
where Andy would fit in.
"Brendan is pretty set in the way he wants to play and he's going to stick
to that philosophy - three in midfield, two out wide, one up front - but the
movement and the way they interchange won't suit Andy. "If you've got a
centre-forward like Andy Carroll you have to play to his strengths.
Rodgers earned a reputation for preferring a cautious passing game during
his time at Reading and Swansea City, rather than the direct style Liverpool
have often employed during Carroll's 18-month Reds career. While wholesale
changes aren't expected ahead of the new campaign, having finished a
disappointing eighth in the Premier League last season, and missed out on
qualification for the Champions League for a third successive year, Rodgers
is expected to adopt his own style at Anfield.
Meanwhile, West Ham, who earned promotion via the Championship play offs
last season, have already brought in goalkeeping pair Stephen Henderson and
Jussi Jaaskelainen, as well as George McCartney and Mohamed Diame. Gale
believes the addition of Carroll would play into the style of play manager
Allardyce has adopted at Upton Park. "The style would be different at West
Ham. I'm not saying it would be all long ball, but if you get wide and get
crosses in that's when he's at his best," he added. "He's still raw, he's
not got a lot of experience, and he needs game time. But when he's at his
best, and you saw that at Newcastle, he's a handful - a proper,
old-fashioned handful - and they're a rare breed. "Strikers are the
difference between staying in the Premier League and going out of it. And if
someone like Carroll becomes available you've got to get him in. Staying in
the Premier League is vital."
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Vaz Te a happy Hammer
KUMb.com
Filed: Thursday, 12th July 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham's play-off hero Ricardo Vaz Te says he is happy with life at West
Ham as he prepares to return to the Premier League for the first time in
nearly four years. The last time the 25-year-old forward, who scored the
winning goal against Blackpool in May's Championship play-off Final,
featured in the English top flight was back in September 2008 when he played
in Bolton's 2-0 defeat against Manchester United at Old Trafford. And it has
been more than SIX years since he last scored a Premier League goal, with
his last coming on the final day of the 2005/06 season when he scored the
only goal of the game in a 1-0 win over Birmingham.
And whilst he expressed his delight at being part of Sam Allardyce's latest
squad, Vaz Te admitted that he still harbours ambitions to play in his home
country at some stage, for the first time in his career. "I have another two
years on my contract and I'm happy at West Ham," he told a tabloid
newspaper. "But if something came up I'd analyse it. "I've never had the
chance to play in Portugal; if I did, of course I'd sit down with people and
study the offer."
Having represented his country at under 17, under 19, under 20, under 21 and
under 23 level Vaz Te - who moved to West Ham from Barnsley in the last
transfer window for just £500,000 - felt he had an outside chance of making
the Portuguese squad for the recent Euro 2012 Finals. That call failed to
arrive despite his outstanding form at West Ham in the final few months of
the 2011/12 campaign; something that RVT expressed his disappointment at.
"Without devaluing the players who were called up, I think I deserved to be
named," he insisted. More Sharing ServicesShare| Share on facebook Share on
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Hammer time for Modibo: Big Sam set to seal £4.5m deal for Maiga, but pulls
out of move for Gallas
The Mirror
Sam Allardyce is poised to take Sochaux striker Modibo Maiga to West Ham for
£4.5million. But the Hammers have pulled OUT of a move for veteran Spurs
defender William Gallas. It had been believed Frenchman Gallas would be keen
to cut his losses with new signing Jan Vertonghen poised to take his place
at White Hart Lane.
But the exorbitant wage demands of Gallas are proving too much for Hammers
who have decided to look elsewhere. Malian forward Maiga, 24, can also play
as a winger and has also been chased by Reading. But Allardyce has moved
quickly to strike a deal for the player on Thursday. The Hammers are now
confident of completing Maiga's signing over the next few days.
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West Ham defender Tomkins relishing chance to go for gold at the Olympics
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 00:23, 13 July 2012 | UPDATED: 01:31, 13 July 2012
Daily Mail
Local boy James Tomkins is struggling to take in how close he is to becoming
an Olympian. The Basildon-born defender has been at West Ham since he was
seven.
Almost every day since he heard London were going to host the Games in 2005,
he has travelled past the site upon which Usain Bolt will lead the charge
for glory in the 100m final on August 5. Yet never did Tomkins realistically
feel he had a chance of being involved until the countdown began to Stuart
Pearce announcing his Team GB squad.
Now Tomkins knows he will be a central figure, first at Old Trafford on July
26 when Great Britain open their campaign against Senegal, and then at
Wembley three days later when Group A outsiders UAE are the visitors. 'I
never expected it,' said the 23-year-old. 'All the years since we knew it
was coming to London, you never once thought you'd be taking part in it.
'I've seen so much building work going on over the years. I've been
travelling past it everyday. 'It's going to be incredible for the whole
country. We can't wait for it to begin.' It marks the next stage of what has
already turned out to be a year to remember for Tomkins following West Ham's
return to the Premier League. Although the Hammers have been more synonymous
with struggle for far too long now, their history is littered with stardust,
none more so than England's World Cup-winning skipper Bobby Moore, whose
feats on the international stage provide Tomkins with a pretty stiff target
to aim at. 'I feel like I'm representing West Ham as I'm the only player
here," said Tomkins. It's a big honour. I don't try to think of what Bobby
Moore achieved too much.
'What he did was unbelievable. To get anywhere near that would be massive.'
Tomkins is trying to soak everything in, which includes learning preparation
techniques from the likes of Ryan Giggs and Craig Bellamy during the present
training camp in Spain. It is the infusion of Welshmen that has made this
tournament such a unique experience, with the Football Association refusing
to state whether they will now consider participation in further Olympics.
'It feels weird saying I am taking part for Great Britain having represented
England all these years,' Tomkins said.
'But it's something I know I'll look back on in years to come and be very
proud and honoured to have been part of.'
Once they return from their training camp, Team GB will have just one
opportunity to work on their team patterns in a proper game, when Brazil
visit the Riverside Stadium as part of a double-header on July 20 that also
includes Hope Powell's women's outfit in action against Sweden. Any mention
of Brazil, at any age group, attracts special attention and this group in
particular look to be worth watching given the presence of
superstar-in-waiting Neymar, plus Manchester United defender Rafael and
much-touted Porto striker Hulk, one of three overage players. 'I've watched
Brazil so many times,' said Tomkins. 'They bring up their young lads in
exactly the same way. 'Thinking about it Middlesbrough had a few Brazilians
over the years. 'We know what to expect. Technically they will be very good
and we'll have periods of the game where we might not have too much of the
ball, so we'll have to be very disciplined.'
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Friday, July 13
Thursday, July 12
Daily WHUFC News - 12th July 2012
Boleyn Ground open day
WHUFC.com
The Boleyn Ground will be open to potential Season Ticket holders this
Saturday
11.07.2012
Fans wanting to buy or renew their Season Ticket for West Ham United's
return to the Barclays Premier League can get an exclusive preview of their
view of the action at a special open day at the Boleyn Ground this Saturday
14 July. The Stadium will be open to Hammers fans from 9am to 1pm to enable
them to view their potential seat for the forthcoming Barclays Premier
League season. To take part, simply visit the Alpari Stand ticket office
from 9am and a steward will direct you to your preferred seat.
West Ham United have received a huge number of renewals and new applications
prior to the renewal deadline and some areas of the ground are almost sold
out. To get the best available seats it is recommend you apply as soon as
Season Tickets go on general sale this Friday 13 July or visit the stadium
on Saturday to choose your seat.
With a Season Ticket you guarantee your seat for all 19 Barclays Premier
League home matches, make huge savings compared to matchday prices and get
rewarded with exclusive benefits. You can apply to pay for your season
ticket in simple monthly instalments through Zebra Finance. Options include
an INTEREST FREE four month plan or an interest bearing ten month plan.
Download a Finance application form here.
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Taylor happy to be back
WHUFC.com
Matt Taylor is enjoying pre-season training and cannot wait for the new
season to start
11.07.2012
The experienced Matt Taylor has been around long enough to know exactly what
to expect from pre-season training. West Ham United's No14 is starting his
15th season as a professional, but the 30-year-old is still enjoying the
hard work as much as he did as a 17-year-old breaking through at Luton Town
back in 1999. Speaking to West Ham TV after Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Blue
Square Bet South side Boreham Wood, Taylor talked about the return to action
and his aspirations for the forthcoming Barclays Premier League campaign.
How did you assess Tuesday night's game at Boreham Wood and how pre-season
training has gone so far?
MT - "It was pretty usual for a pre-season match - rip-roaring at the start.
I think the main thing with pre-season games, and it's no disrespect to
Boreham Wood, is that we come through injury-free and we seem to have done
that. That's the most important thing. "We've been training hard and been in
Austria for a week as well, so the lads were a little tired, but I'm not
making any excuses because I thought Boreham Wood played well. "It's been
pretty standard to be honest. I prefer going away for pre-season to be
honest, because you have time to focus on nothing other than football and,
for me, that's the best way forward "We've got a couple more trips planned
[to Germany and Portugal] as well. Pre-season has been going well. It's
getting harder, the older I'm getting, but I'm not going to complain!"
You only had seven weeks off between the Play-Off final and returning to
pre-season. Did you have a long enough summer break?
MT - "I think it was long enough, yes. The whole point of last season was to
get back to the Premier League and we've started earlier than the other
teams because we want to hit the ground running. Hopefully we can do that
and we can have a long summer next year."
What is the target in the Barclays Premier League? A lot of people talk
about 'consolidation' but what does that mean?
MT - "From previous experience, when you get promoted or are a team that has
less financial resources than the top teams in the league, you want to stay
up first and foremost. That will be the first aim, as it will be for the
teams not in the top six this season. "We want to make sure we get to that
magical 40 points as soon as possible and, if you look at the teams who came
up last season like Swansea and Norwich, then you see that anything is
possible. "We don't want to talk too much about where we want to finish next
year - obviously we want to stay in the Premier League and if we can achieve
that as quickly as possible then that would be a good season."
Are you pleased to avoid the so-called 'Big Four' in the opening six matches
of the new Barclays Premier League season?
MT - "There are no easy games in the Premier League. A lot of teams might go
into a game against Manchester United in a different mindset to a game
against a lesser team, which I personally think is wrong. "We're going to go
into every game this season believing we can win, because if you don't have
that winning mentality then I don't think there is any point in playing.
"For me, every game in the Premier League is not an easy game. I've never
played in an easy game in the Premier League and this season will be the
same."
*Matt Taylor also discussed the need to strengthen the playing squad, the
need for a mix of youth and experience and the feelgood factor in the East
End ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games. To watch his West Ham TV
interview in full, click on the link below.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dev Squad head for Russia
WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon's side are jetting to Moscow to take part in the VTB Lev Yashin
Cup
11.07.2012
West Ham United's Development Squad will ramp up their pre-season
preparations when they take part in the VTB Lev Yashin Cup in Moscow this
weekend.
Ian Hendon's squad will fly to the Russian capital on Wednesday before
attending the opening ceremony at the Luzhniki Olympic Complex and taking on
German side Freiburg the following day. Friday will see West Ham return to
the same venue for a clash with host club Dynamo Moscow. The other group
comprises Spanish club Malaga, Turkish side Besiktas and the Mexico Under-19
national team. Depending on their results in two group-stage matches, the
Hammers will compete in the final or a play-off for third or fifth place on
Sunday before returning to London on Monday.
The Development Squad that will be travelling to Moscow will contain a
mixture of young professionals and second-year scholars, with Callum Driver,
Eoin Wearen and George Moncur the only three players with Football League
experience. Meanwhile, Sebastian Lletget spent last week training with the
first team in Austria and played the full 90 minutes in Saturday's 3-1
defeat by FK Austria Wien.
Development Squad: Jake Larkins, Sam Baxter, Callum Driver, Eoin Wearen,
George Moncur, Sebastian Lletget, Paul McCallum, Blair Turgott, Matthias
Fanimo, Dominic Vose, Pelly Ruddock, Jack Powell, Kenzer Lee, Declan Hunt,
Nigel Seidu, Cheye Alexander, Kieran Sadlier, Taylor Miles, Frazer Shaw, Leo
Chambers.
West Ham have never played a competitive fixture in Russia, but the Hammers
did visit the old Soviet Union twice for UEFA Cup Winners' Cup fixtures,
transferring in Moscow en route to Ararat Yerevan in Armenia and Dinamo
Tbilisi in Georgia in 1975/76 and 1980/81 respectively.
For more information about the 2012 VTB Lev Yashin Cup, click here.
2012 VTB Lev Yashin Cup schedule
Thursday 12 July
6pm-6.45pm - Opening ceremony, Luzhniki Olympic Complex
7pm - West Ham United v Freiburg, Luzhniki Olympic Complex
Friday 13 July
6pm - Dynamo Moscow v West Ham United, Luzhniki Olympic Complex
Sunday 15 July
3pm - Fifth/sixth-place match, Luzhniki Olympic Complex
3pm -Third/fourth-place match, Yantar Stadium
6pm - Final, Yantar Stadium
8pm - Closing ceremony
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Liverpool's Andy Carroll 'would interest West Ham'
BBC.co.uk
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer, BBC Sport
West Ham co-owner David Gold says the club would be interested in
Liverpool's Andy Carroll if he became available but that no talks have taken
place. The Hammers have been linked with a move for Carroll, 23, after new
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers said they could loan the forward out. And
Gold told BBC Sport: "I am not aware of any talks between ourselves or
Liverpool over Andy Carroll.
Andy Carroll career stats
Newcastle (2006-11): 91 games, 33 goals
Preston (loan Aug 2007-08): 12 appearances, 1 goal
Liverpool (2011-present): 56 appearances, 11 goals
England (2010-present): 7 appearances, 2 goals
"But that's not to say we don't have an interest should he become
available." Carroll left Newcastle for Liverpool in January 2011 for a
club-record £35m and has scored 11 goals in 56 appearances. He scored in
both the FA Cup semi-final and final at Wembley under Liverpool's former
manager Kenny Dalglish. West Ham were promoted to the Premier League via the
play-offs in May, having been relegated the previous season. Carroll remains
close friends with Hammers' captain Kevin Nolan from their time together on
Tyneside
As well as Rodgers's hint about Carroll, the Northern Irishman is keen for
Uruguayan Luis Suarez to a sign new deal at Anfield and is also hoping to
sign Roma's Fabio Borini.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Is Nolan key in Carroll deal?
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 11th July 2012
By: Staff Writer
Kevin Nolan could provide the necessary leverage to see England striker Andy
Carroll move to West Ham on a surprise loan deal. The Liverpool forward, who
moved to Merseyside for an astonishing £35million fee on transfer deadline
day in January 2011 has been linked with a move away from Liverpool since
new manager Brendan Rodgers arrived at the club. Within the last 12 hours,
West Ham have admitted that they are looking at the possibility of brining
the former Newcastle United man to Upton Park on loan for the 2012/13
season. Assistant manager Neil McDonald, when asked if there was any
interest in Carroll told a radio station last night: "Of course, he's a very
good player. "I very much doubt he will be available, he's a Liverpool
player - but the manager and the board are working very hard to bring new
players in to liven everything up."
Meanwhile an unnamed source told ESPN's Harry Harris: "We're rating their
chances of getting Carroll on loan as low as 10%, but you never know."
Although sources said to be close to the 23-year-old are reported to have
told a tabloid newspaper that, "there is no chance of Andy leaving
Liverpool, he is staying put", West Ham will no doubt be seeking to exploit
the close personal relationship that exists between captain Kevin Nolan and
Carroll to influence a possible deal. Back in 2010, when both players were
employed by Newcastle, Carroll temporarily moved in with Nolan and his
family after being bailed following an assault charge.
Speaking at the time, West Ham's current captain said: "Andy is a great lad
to be around. He's always happy and smiling. He's had his fair share of
trouble but didn't we all when we were that young?" Since then, the two have
remained great friends. Interestingly perhaps, Carroll's embittered former
agent Peter Harrison suggested back in March that should West Ham win
promotion from the Championship, the Gateshead-born striker - who is
currently represented by Mark Curtis, the controversial agent who recently
took both James Tomkins and Jack Collison under his wing - would end up at
West Ham. Speaking via his Twitter feed at the time, Harrison said: "When I
represented Andy Carroll before he was pinched by Mark Curtis, he was always
wanting a transfer. If WHUFC get promoted they will take AC. "His agent,
Mark Curtis is also [Kevin] Nolan and Sam Allardyce's agent. Lovely and cozy
and plenty of money."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Taylor's West Ham survival aim
First target is 40 points, says experienced left-sided player
Last Updated: July 11, 2012 12:56pm
SSN
Matt Taylor believes West Ham's first priority for the coming season must be
to stay in the Premier League. Taylor played 28 league games for the Hammers
in their Championship promotion campaign and expectations will be high on
their return to the top flight. But the 30-year-old left-sided player knows
how difficult the league can be and is cautious about making grand
predictions for the coming campaign. He told the club's official website:
"From previous experience, when you get promoted or are a team that has less
financial resources than the top teams in the league, you want to stay up
first and foremost. "That will be the first aim, as it will be for the teams
not in the top six this season. "We want to make sure we get to that magical
40 points as soon as possible and, if you look at the teams who came up last
season like Swansea and Norwich, then you see that anything is possible. "We
don't want to talk too much about where we want to finish next year -
obviously we want to stay in the Premier League and if we can achieve that
as quickly as possible then that would be a good season. "There are no easy
games in the Premier League. "A lot of teams might go into a game against
Manchester United in a different mindset to a game against a lesser team,
which I personally think is wrong. "We're going to go into every game this
season believing we can win, because if you don't have that winning
mentality then I don't think there is any point in playing. "For me, every
game in the Premier League is not an easy game. I've never played in an easy
game in the Premier League and this season will be the same."
Pre-season
Sam Allardyce's side were promoted through the play-offs last season but
were still back in training early for the challenge of the new campaign.
Taylor admits that has been hard work but believes it could pay off for the
Upton Park side. He added: "We've got a couple more trips planned (to
Germany and Portugal) as well. Pre-season has been going well. It's getting
harder, the older I'm getting, but I'm not going to complain! "The whole
point of last season was to get back to the Premier League and we've started
earlier than the other teams because we want to hit the ground running.
"Hopefully we can do that and we can have a long summer next year."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gold confirms Carroll interest
Hammers not in talks with Liverpool but keeping tabs on situation
Last Updated: July 11, 2012 4:57pm
SSN
David Gold is not aware of any talks having taken place with Liverpool over
Andy Carroll but admits West Ham would be interested if the striker became
available.
The Hammers have been strongly linked with a move for Carroll since new Reds
manager Brendan Rodgers admitted on Tuesday that he could be allowed out on
loan. Asked about West Ham's interest in signing Carroll, co-owner Gold
opted not to distance himself from the suggestion. "I am not aware of any
talks between ourselves or Liverpool over Andy Carroll. But that's not to
say we don't have an interest should he become available. "
Gold says no approach has been made for the England international and the
Hammers will wait to see what Rodgers decides before taking the matter
further.
"I am not aware of any talks between ourselves or Liverpool over Andy
Carroll," said Gold. "But that's not to say we don't have an interest should
he become available." Carroll has struggled since his club-record £35million
switch to Liverpool from Newcastle in January 2011, but improved towards the
end of last season and was included in England's squad for Euro 2012.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam ups Andy bid
The Sun
By PHIL THOMAS
Published: 11th July 2012
WEST HAM'S bid to sign Andy Carroll moved a step closer last night. Hammers
co-owner David Sullivan gave boss Sam Allardyce the green light to start
talks about landing the Liverpool striker on a season-long loan. That could
lead to Carroll making a £15million switch in 12 months' time. Now the whole
deal is likely to rest on the outcome of face-to-face talks with Kop boss
Brendan Rodgers as the £35million frontman seeks to discover exactly where —
or if — he features in Liverpool's plans. Rodgers' refusal this week to rule
out Carroll leaving Anfield after 18 months will hardly have filled him with
hope. That immediately alerted West Ham, who are desperate to strengthen
ahead of their return to the top flight, although Carroll is said to be keen
to stay and fight for his Reds place. If Carroll does head south, the
Hammers would have an option of turning the loan into a full-time deal
should they stay up. Any loan deal would mean Liverpool having to wait a
year before they could bank a transfer fee. But the removal of some — or all
— of Carroll's £80,000 wage packet would appeal to Rodgers.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carroll demands showdown talks with Rodgers as Newcastle enter race for £35m
striker
By COLIN YOUNG and DOMINIC KING
PUBLISHED: 23:18, 11 July 2012 | UPDATED: 23:18, 11 July 2012
Daily Mail
Andy Carroll will seek talks with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers as
Newcastle joined West Ham in the race to sign the forward. Hammers boss Sam
Allardyce was given the green light to begin talks with Liverpool after
co-chairman David Gold confirmed the club's interest in signing Carroll,
initially on a 12-month loan.
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew also stated his admiration for the man he sold to
Liverpool for £35million last year. Pardew, who faces a fight to keep Demba
Ba, said: 'One thing about this club is you never assume anything. All those
players talked about, if they are quality players, I would like to think we
are involved. 'Andy did a terrific job here. I have always supported him,
even while he has been at Liverpool, when others weren't. I think he got a
bit of a raw deal, not by Liverpool but from the media in general. He is
going to be a great player. Where he treads the boards, we will have to
see.' Carroll, though, has not suggested he wants to leave and is keen to
meet new boss Rodgers before he makes a decision. The 23-year-old, who has
also been linked with AC Milan, is expected back from holiday next week, as
are all those involved in the latter stages of Euro 2012. Rodgers refused to
provide assurances when asked whether he would allow him to leave on loan.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Liverpool's Andy Carroll interests Fulham, Aston Villa and West Ham United
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt
9:17PM BST 11 Jul 201226 Comments
At present, Fulham are the only club prepared to make an offer to buy -
rather than loan - Carroll, with Liverpool having already decided to contact
clubs to see if they are interested in signing the England international. It
had been thought that Liverpool were seeking a loan for Carroll, whose
future has been publicly questioned by new manager Brendan Rodgers, but it
is understood they are interested in a sale. That would, as things stand,
make Fulham the favourites if the player can be persuaded to leave. West Ham
chairman David Sullivan is due to meet Carroll's agent, Mark Curtis, on
Thursday but sources at the newly-promoted Premier League club still rate
the chances of success at little more than "10 per cent".
Nevertheless West Ham are keen to make a 'marquee' signing and will continue
to push for Carroll. Even if the 23 year-old did go out only on loan, it
would be an expensive deal with Liverpool expected to demand a big loan fee
and a high portion, if not all, of his wages being covered. Fulham want to
acquire a powerful striker having missed out on Russia international Pavel
Pogrebnyak, who was on loan last season but has since agreed a permanent
deal with Reading. With Fulham having sold Bobby Zamora to Queens Park
Rangers in January and Andy Johnson leaving to join the same club this
summer, they are short of strikers.
Fulham are also acutely aware of Liverpool's interest in Clint Dempsey, who
has just one more year left on his contract at Craven Cottage and would like
to leave, ideally in search of Champions League football. Liverpool cannot
offer that to the American but are undoubtedly a bigger club although they
are resisting the £7 million plus being asked for by Fulham for a player who
is 29. Liverpool are understood to have made an offer, however, and talks
are ongoing. Fulham would like to investigate the possibility of agreeing a
deal of Dempsey plus cash for Carroll – who is believed to now only be
valued at around £15 million – although the club will also have to evaluate
the player's character.
Liverpool are expected to tomorrow announce the signing of Fabio Borini from
Roma for around £11 million, which will raise further questions over
Carroll's chances of regular first-team football this season. Liverpool
could rationalise his sale, and the loss of £20 million in his fee, by
claiming they would still remain in profit given he was signed following the
£45 million recouped from Fernando Torres's departure to Chelsea in January
last year. Carroll has insisted that he would like to stay at Liverpool and
fight for his place but if Rodgers makes it clear he is not part of his
plans then it could lead to a rethink, especially if the former Newcastle
striker is determined to pursue his England career. Carroll would not appear
to fit the fluid 4-3-3 formation favoured by Rodgers, who had Borini on loan
at Swansea and has tracked his progress in Serie A. Tottenham have turned
down the chance to make an offer, after being contacted on Tuesday by
Liverpool, who were in contact with a number of clubs, although Villa have
registered an interest through new manager, Paul Lambert. However, it is
understood that Carroll does not want to join Villa and might prefer a move
to London if he is made to leave Anfield. Milan's interest is thought to be
genuine but may be contingent on Ibrahimovic leaving the Italian club. PSG
want to sign the striker and Brazilian defender Thiago Motta and a
double-bid could be made this week. Ibrahimovic's agent Mino Raiola, who
also represents Mario Balotelli, held talks with Milan on Wednesday and the
Swede's future is understood to have been discussed given the interest of
the cash-rich and highly-ambitious PSG.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
The Boleyn Ground will be open to potential Season Ticket holders this
Saturday
11.07.2012
Fans wanting to buy or renew their Season Ticket for West Ham United's
return to the Barclays Premier League can get an exclusive preview of their
view of the action at a special open day at the Boleyn Ground this Saturday
14 July. The Stadium will be open to Hammers fans from 9am to 1pm to enable
them to view their potential seat for the forthcoming Barclays Premier
League season. To take part, simply visit the Alpari Stand ticket office
from 9am and a steward will direct you to your preferred seat.
West Ham United have received a huge number of renewals and new applications
prior to the renewal deadline and some areas of the ground are almost sold
out. To get the best available seats it is recommend you apply as soon as
Season Tickets go on general sale this Friday 13 July or visit the stadium
on Saturday to choose your seat.
With a Season Ticket you guarantee your seat for all 19 Barclays Premier
League home matches, make huge savings compared to matchday prices and get
rewarded with exclusive benefits. You can apply to pay for your season
ticket in simple monthly instalments through Zebra Finance. Options include
an INTEREST FREE four month plan or an interest bearing ten month plan.
Download a Finance application form here.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Taylor happy to be back
WHUFC.com
Matt Taylor is enjoying pre-season training and cannot wait for the new
season to start
11.07.2012
The experienced Matt Taylor has been around long enough to know exactly what
to expect from pre-season training. West Ham United's No14 is starting his
15th season as a professional, but the 30-year-old is still enjoying the
hard work as much as he did as a 17-year-old breaking through at Luton Town
back in 1999. Speaking to West Ham TV after Tuesday's 1-1 draw at Blue
Square Bet South side Boreham Wood, Taylor talked about the return to action
and his aspirations for the forthcoming Barclays Premier League campaign.
How did you assess Tuesday night's game at Boreham Wood and how pre-season
training has gone so far?
MT - "It was pretty usual for a pre-season match - rip-roaring at the start.
I think the main thing with pre-season games, and it's no disrespect to
Boreham Wood, is that we come through injury-free and we seem to have done
that. That's the most important thing. "We've been training hard and been in
Austria for a week as well, so the lads were a little tired, but I'm not
making any excuses because I thought Boreham Wood played well. "It's been
pretty standard to be honest. I prefer going away for pre-season to be
honest, because you have time to focus on nothing other than football and,
for me, that's the best way forward "We've got a couple more trips planned
[to Germany and Portugal] as well. Pre-season has been going well. It's
getting harder, the older I'm getting, but I'm not going to complain!"
You only had seven weeks off between the Play-Off final and returning to
pre-season. Did you have a long enough summer break?
MT - "I think it was long enough, yes. The whole point of last season was to
get back to the Premier League and we've started earlier than the other
teams because we want to hit the ground running. Hopefully we can do that
and we can have a long summer next year."
What is the target in the Barclays Premier League? A lot of people talk
about 'consolidation' but what does that mean?
MT - "From previous experience, when you get promoted or are a team that has
less financial resources than the top teams in the league, you want to stay
up first and foremost. That will be the first aim, as it will be for the
teams not in the top six this season. "We want to make sure we get to that
magical 40 points as soon as possible and, if you look at the teams who came
up last season like Swansea and Norwich, then you see that anything is
possible. "We don't want to talk too much about where we want to finish next
year - obviously we want to stay in the Premier League and if we can achieve
that as quickly as possible then that would be a good season."
Are you pleased to avoid the so-called 'Big Four' in the opening six matches
of the new Barclays Premier League season?
MT - "There are no easy games in the Premier League. A lot of teams might go
into a game against Manchester United in a different mindset to a game
against a lesser team, which I personally think is wrong. "We're going to go
into every game this season believing we can win, because if you don't have
that winning mentality then I don't think there is any point in playing.
"For me, every game in the Premier League is not an easy game. I've never
played in an easy game in the Premier League and this season will be the
same."
*Matt Taylor also discussed the need to strengthen the playing squad, the
need for a mix of youth and experience and the feelgood factor in the East
End ahead of the London 2012 Olympic Games. To watch his West Ham TV
interview in full, click on the link below.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Dev Squad head for Russia
WHUFC.com
Ian Hendon's side are jetting to Moscow to take part in the VTB Lev Yashin
Cup
11.07.2012
West Ham United's Development Squad will ramp up their pre-season
preparations when they take part in the VTB Lev Yashin Cup in Moscow this
weekend.
Ian Hendon's squad will fly to the Russian capital on Wednesday before
attending the opening ceremony at the Luzhniki Olympic Complex and taking on
German side Freiburg the following day. Friday will see West Ham return to
the same venue for a clash with host club Dynamo Moscow. The other group
comprises Spanish club Malaga, Turkish side Besiktas and the Mexico Under-19
national team. Depending on their results in two group-stage matches, the
Hammers will compete in the final or a play-off for third or fifth place on
Sunday before returning to London on Monday.
The Development Squad that will be travelling to Moscow will contain a
mixture of young professionals and second-year scholars, with Callum Driver,
Eoin Wearen and George Moncur the only three players with Football League
experience. Meanwhile, Sebastian Lletget spent last week training with the
first team in Austria and played the full 90 minutes in Saturday's 3-1
defeat by FK Austria Wien.
Development Squad: Jake Larkins, Sam Baxter, Callum Driver, Eoin Wearen,
George Moncur, Sebastian Lletget, Paul McCallum, Blair Turgott, Matthias
Fanimo, Dominic Vose, Pelly Ruddock, Jack Powell, Kenzer Lee, Declan Hunt,
Nigel Seidu, Cheye Alexander, Kieran Sadlier, Taylor Miles, Frazer Shaw, Leo
Chambers.
West Ham have never played a competitive fixture in Russia, but the Hammers
did visit the old Soviet Union twice for UEFA Cup Winners' Cup fixtures,
transferring in Moscow en route to Ararat Yerevan in Armenia and Dinamo
Tbilisi in Georgia in 1975/76 and 1980/81 respectively.
For more information about the 2012 VTB Lev Yashin Cup, click here.
2012 VTB Lev Yashin Cup schedule
Thursday 12 July
6pm-6.45pm - Opening ceremony, Luzhniki Olympic Complex
7pm - West Ham United v Freiburg, Luzhniki Olympic Complex
Friday 13 July
6pm - Dynamo Moscow v West Ham United, Luzhniki Olympic Complex
Sunday 15 July
3pm - Fifth/sixth-place match, Luzhniki Olympic Complex
3pm -Third/fourth-place match, Yantar Stadium
6pm - Final, Yantar Stadium
8pm - Closing ceremony
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Liverpool's Andy Carroll 'would interest West Ham'
BBC.co.uk
By Phil McNulty
Chief football writer, BBC Sport
West Ham co-owner David Gold says the club would be interested in
Liverpool's Andy Carroll if he became available but that no talks have taken
place. The Hammers have been linked with a move for Carroll, 23, after new
Liverpool boss Brendan Rodgers said they could loan the forward out. And
Gold told BBC Sport: "I am not aware of any talks between ourselves or
Liverpool over Andy Carroll.
Andy Carroll career stats
Newcastle (2006-11): 91 games, 33 goals
Preston (loan Aug 2007-08): 12 appearances, 1 goal
Liverpool (2011-present): 56 appearances, 11 goals
England (2010-present): 7 appearances, 2 goals
"But that's not to say we don't have an interest should he become
available." Carroll left Newcastle for Liverpool in January 2011 for a
club-record £35m and has scored 11 goals in 56 appearances. He scored in
both the FA Cup semi-final and final at Wembley under Liverpool's former
manager Kenny Dalglish. West Ham were promoted to the Premier League via the
play-offs in May, having been relegated the previous season. Carroll remains
close friends with Hammers' captain Kevin Nolan from their time together on
Tyneside
As well as Rodgers's hint about Carroll, the Northern Irishman is keen for
Uruguayan Luis Suarez to a sign new deal at Anfield and is also hoping to
sign Roma's Fabio Borini.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Is Nolan key in Carroll deal?
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 11th July 2012
By: Staff Writer
Kevin Nolan could provide the necessary leverage to see England striker Andy
Carroll move to West Ham on a surprise loan deal. The Liverpool forward, who
moved to Merseyside for an astonishing £35million fee on transfer deadline
day in January 2011 has been linked with a move away from Liverpool since
new manager Brendan Rodgers arrived at the club. Within the last 12 hours,
West Ham have admitted that they are looking at the possibility of brining
the former Newcastle United man to Upton Park on loan for the 2012/13
season. Assistant manager Neil McDonald, when asked if there was any
interest in Carroll told a radio station last night: "Of course, he's a very
good player. "I very much doubt he will be available, he's a Liverpool
player - but the manager and the board are working very hard to bring new
players in to liven everything up."
Meanwhile an unnamed source told ESPN's Harry Harris: "We're rating their
chances of getting Carroll on loan as low as 10%, but you never know."
Although sources said to be close to the 23-year-old are reported to have
told a tabloid newspaper that, "there is no chance of Andy leaving
Liverpool, he is staying put", West Ham will no doubt be seeking to exploit
the close personal relationship that exists between captain Kevin Nolan and
Carroll to influence a possible deal. Back in 2010, when both players were
employed by Newcastle, Carroll temporarily moved in with Nolan and his
family after being bailed following an assault charge.
Speaking at the time, West Ham's current captain said: "Andy is a great lad
to be around. He's always happy and smiling. He's had his fair share of
trouble but didn't we all when we were that young?" Since then, the two have
remained great friends. Interestingly perhaps, Carroll's embittered former
agent Peter Harrison suggested back in March that should West Ham win
promotion from the Championship, the Gateshead-born striker - who is
currently represented by Mark Curtis, the controversial agent who recently
took both James Tomkins and Jack Collison under his wing - would end up at
West Ham. Speaking via his Twitter feed at the time, Harrison said: "When I
represented Andy Carroll before he was pinched by Mark Curtis, he was always
wanting a transfer. If WHUFC get promoted they will take AC. "His agent,
Mark Curtis is also [Kevin] Nolan and Sam Allardyce's agent. Lovely and cozy
and plenty of money."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Taylor's West Ham survival aim
First target is 40 points, says experienced left-sided player
Last Updated: July 11, 2012 12:56pm
SSN
Matt Taylor believes West Ham's first priority for the coming season must be
to stay in the Premier League. Taylor played 28 league games for the Hammers
in their Championship promotion campaign and expectations will be high on
their return to the top flight. But the 30-year-old left-sided player knows
how difficult the league can be and is cautious about making grand
predictions for the coming campaign. He told the club's official website:
"From previous experience, when you get promoted or are a team that has less
financial resources than the top teams in the league, you want to stay up
first and foremost. "That will be the first aim, as it will be for the teams
not in the top six this season. "We want to make sure we get to that magical
40 points as soon as possible and, if you look at the teams who came up last
season like Swansea and Norwich, then you see that anything is possible. "We
don't want to talk too much about where we want to finish next year -
obviously we want to stay in the Premier League and if we can achieve that
as quickly as possible then that would be a good season. "There are no easy
games in the Premier League. "A lot of teams might go into a game against
Manchester United in a different mindset to a game against a lesser team,
which I personally think is wrong. "We're going to go into every game this
season believing we can win, because if you don't have that winning
mentality then I don't think there is any point in playing. "For me, every
game in the Premier League is not an easy game. I've never played in an easy
game in the Premier League and this season will be the same."
Pre-season
Sam Allardyce's side were promoted through the play-offs last season but
were still back in training early for the challenge of the new campaign.
Taylor admits that has been hard work but believes it could pay off for the
Upton Park side. He added: "We've got a couple more trips planned (to
Germany and Portugal) as well. Pre-season has been going well. It's getting
harder, the older I'm getting, but I'm not going to complain! "The whole
point of last season was to get back to the Premier League and we've started
earlier than the other teams because we want to hit the ground running.
"Hopefully we can do that and we can have a long summer next year."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Gold confirms Carroll interest
Hammers not in talks with Liverpool but keeping tabs on situation
Last Updated: July 11, 2012 4:57pm
SSN
David Gold is not aware of any talks having taken place with Liverpool over
Andy Carroll but admits West Ham would be interested if the striker became
available.
The Hammers have been strongly linked with a move for Carroll since new Reds
manager Brendan Rodgers admitted on Tuesday that he could be allowed out on
loan. Asked about West Ham's interest in signing Carroll, co-owner Gold
opted not to distance himself from the suggestion. "I am not aware of any
talks between ourselves or Liverpool over Andy Carroll. But that's not to
say we don't have an interest should he become available. "
Gold says no approach has been made for the England international and the
Hammers will wait to see what Rodgers decides before taking the matter
further.
"I am not aware of any talks between ourselves or Liverpool over Andy
Carroll," said Gold. "But that's not to say we don't have an interest should
he become available." Carroll has struggled since his club-record £35million
switch to Liverpool from Newcastle in January 2011, but improved towards the
end of last season and was included in England's squad for Euro 2012.
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Sam ups Andy bid
The Sun
By PHIL THOMAS
Published: 11th July 2012
WEST HAM'S bid to sign Andy Carroll moved a step closer last night. Hammers
co-owner David Sullivan gave boss Sam Allardyce the green light to start
talks about landing the Liverpool striker on a season-long loan. That could
lead to Carroll making a £15million switch in 12 months' time. Now the whole
deal is likely to rest on the outcome of face-to-face talks with Kop boss
Brendan Rodgers as the £35million frontman seeks to discover exactly where —
or if — he features in Liverpool's plans. Rodgers' refusal this week to rule
out Carroll leaving Anfield after 18 months will hardly have filled him with
hope. That immediately alerted West Ham, who are desperate to strengthen
ahead of their return to the top flight, although Carroll is said to be keen
to stay and fight for his Reds place. If Carroll does head south, the
Hammers would have an option of turning the loan into a full-time deal
should they stay up. Any loan deal would mean Liverpool having to wait a
year before they could bank a transfer fee. But the removal of some — or all
— of Carroll's £80,000 wage packet would appeal to Rodgers.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Carroll demands showdown talks with Rodgers as Newcastle enter race for £35m
striker
By COLIN YOUNG and DOMINIC KING
PUBLISHED: 23:18, 11 July 2012 | UPDATED: 23:18, 11 July 2012
Daily Mail
Andy Carroll will seek talks with Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers as
Newcastle joined West Ham in the race to sign the forward. Hammers boss Sam
Allardyce was given the green light to begin talks with Liverpool after
co-chairman David Gold confirmed the club's interest in signing Carroll,
initially on a 12-month loan.
Newcastle boss Alan Pardew also stated his admiration for the man he sold to
Liverpool for £35million last year. Pardew, who faces a fight to keep Demba
Ba, said: 'One thing about this club is you never assume anything. All those
players talked about, if they are quality players, I would like to think we
are involved. 'Andy did a terrific job here. I have always supported him,
even while he has been at Liverpool, when others weren't. I think he got a
bit of a raw deal, not by Liverpool but from the media in general. He is
going to be a great player. Where he treads the boards, we will have to
see.' Carroll, though, has not suggested he wants to leave and is keen to
meet new boss Rodgers before he makes a decision. The 23-year-old, who has
also been linked with AC Milan, is expected back from holiday next week, as
are all those involved in the latter stages of Euro 2012. Rodgers refused to
provide assurances when asked whether he would allow him to leave on loan.
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Liverpool's Andy Carroll interests Fulham, Aston Villa and West Ham United
Telegraph.co.uk
By Jason Burt
9:17PM BST 11 Jul 201226 Comments
At present, Fulham are the only club prepared to make an offer to buy -
rather than loan - Carroll, with Liverpool having already decided to contact
clubs to see if they are interested in signing the England international. It
had been thought that Liverpool were seeking a loan for Carroll, whose
future has been publicly questioned by new manager Brendan Rodgers, but it
is understood they are interested in a sale. That would, as things stand,
make Fulham the favourites if the player can be persuaded to leave. West Ham
chairman David Sullivan is due to meet Carroll's agent, Mark Curtis, on
Thursday but sources at the newly-promoted Premier League club still rate
the chances of success at little more than "10 per cent".
Nevertheless West Ham are keen to make a 'marquee' signing and will continue
to push for Carroll. Even if the 23 year-old did go out only on loan, it
would be an expensive deal with Liverpool expected to demand a big loan fee
and a high portion, if not all, of his wages being covered. Fulham want to
acquire a powerful striker having missed out on Russia international Pavel
Pogrebnyak, who was on loan last season but has since agreed a permanent
deal with Reading. With Fulham having sold Bobby Zamora to Queens Park
Rangers in January and Andy Johnson leaving to join the same club this
summer, they are short of strikers.
Fulham are also acutely aware of Liverpool's interest in Clint Dempsey, who
has just one more year left on his contract at Craven Cottage and would like
to leave, ideally in search of Champions League football. Liverpool cannot
offer that to the American but are undoubtedly a bigger club although they
are resisting the £7 million plus being asked for by Fulham for a player who
is 29. Liverpool are understood to have made an offer, however, and talks
are ongoing. Fulham would like to investigate the possibility of agreeing a
deal of Dempsey plus cash for Carroll – who is believed to now only be
valued at around £15 million – although the club will also have to evaluate
the player's character.
Liverpool are expected to tomorrow announce the signing of Fabio Borini from
Roma for around £11 million, which will raise further questions over
Carroll's chances of regular first-team football this season. Liverpool
could rationalise his sale, and the loss of £20 million in his fee, by
claiming they would still remain in profit given he was signed following the
£45 million recouped from Fernando Torres's departure to Chelsea in January
last year. Carroll has insisted that he would like to stay at Liverpool and
fight for his place but if Rodgers makes it clear he is not part of his
plans then it could lead to a rethink, especially if the former Newcastle
striker is determined to pursue his England career. Carroll would not appear
to fit the fluid 4-3-3 formation favoured by Rodgers, who had Borini on loan
at Swansea and has tracked his progress in Serie A. Tottenham have turned
down the chance to make an offer, after being contacted on Tuesday by
Liverpool, who were in contact with a number of clubs, although Villa have
registered an interest through new manager, Paul Lambert. However, it is
understood that Carroll does not want to join Villa and might prefer a move
to London if he is made to leave Anfield. Milan's interest is thought to be
genuine but may be contingent on Ibrahimovic leaving the Italian club. PSG
want to sign the striker and Brazilian defender Thiago Motta and a
double-bid could be made this week. Ibrahimovic's agent Mino Raiola, who
also represents Mario Balotelli, held talks with Milan on Wednesday and the
Swede's future is understood to have been discussed given the interest of
the cash-rich and highly-ambitious PSG.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Wednesday, July 11
Daily WHUFC News - 11th July 2012
Boreham Wood 1-1 West Ham United FT
WHUFC.com
Sam Baldock scores again as the Hammers are held at Meadow Park
10.07.2012
Boreham Wood v West Ham United
Pre-season match
Meadow Park
Tuesday 10 July
Kick-off: 7.30pm
Facebook I Twitter I Online Store I Season Tickets
Final score - Boreham Wood 1-1 West Ham United
92 mins - There is the chance, and Maynard misses it. Morrison works Russell
low to his left with a rasping drive. The goalkeeper cannot hold on and the
ball pops out to Maynard, but the No8 cannot hit the target and his
left-foot shot flies wide. The final whistle is blown as the goal kick is
pumped upfield. The PA announcer wishes West Ham luck in the Premier League
this season. Very nice of him. Well, result-wise it's not ideal, but it's
more gametime in the players' legs and they'll go forward to Southend United
on Saturday. See you there!
91 mins - Reid picks out Potts with a crossfield pass, but his cross is cut
out.
90 mins - Into the final minute. A Boreham Wood player is down and needs the
physio on. We are going to have just one extra minute, so it's going to need
something special, and fast!
88 mins - It's been a good workout for West Ham. They've been pushed hard by
Boreham Wood tonight and it's looking like they will be settling for a draw
unless they can conjure a winner late on.
86 mins - So close to a superb winner for the Hammers! Brilliant football
involving Turgott, Morrison and Potts before Taylor swings over an
inch-perfect cross for Nolan. The No4 usually buries them, but instead his
header bounces down off the underside of the crossbar, the inside of the
post and out! Chambers tries to convert the rebound, but his acrobatic
effort flies over.
84 mins - The ball drops to Effiong in the box and he swings his left foot
at it, but the shot goes out of the ground. Groans from the home fans, who
could see his eyes lighting up and a shock win for the hosts!
83 mins - The home coaching staff are sensing a bit of an upset here and are
barking out instructions to their players. Wearen has to make a strong
challenge on the edge of his own penalty area before a shot takes a
deflection and loops high into the air before being caught by Larkins.
82 mins - Reynolds is replaced by Sam Doolan.
81 mins - Into the final ten minutes. Can West Ham find a winner? Nolan
tries to pick out the run of Maynard, but Russell is out quickly to clear
into the stand.
79 mins - West Ham break and Maynard's shot is deflected wide, but the
corner is easily headed clear.
78 mins - Chambers defends well this time, blocking Hutton's cross behind.
The corner comes over and Nolan heads clear. The ball comes back in and
Larkins makes a fine and brave stop to block Reynolds' shot. The follow-up
effort is screwed wide.
76 mins - Of the West Ham players on show since the break, Chambers and
Turgott have combined well down the right. Nolan has put himself about, too.
75 mins - It's Hastings on for home skipper Mario Noto.
74 mins - Potts gets to the byline, but he was at full pelt and his
first-time cross is a bit deep. Nolan makes something of it with his head,
but the ball loops into the arms of the goalkeeper. Another Wood sub will be
on shortly...
73 mins - West Ham are back in charge, but they are not working Russell as
hard as they would like, I'm sure.
70 mins - Turgott is getting involved more and more, but his first two
crosses are too close to Russell before he is stopped trying to dribble
through the middle of the home defence. Check out an exclusive photo gallery
from tonight's game here.
65 mins - Action at both ends! First, Larkins is out smartly to defy Effiong
before the Hammers break and Russell makes a decent save with his feet to
deny Maynard. From the resulting corner, the cross is just in front of
Wearen at the far post.
61 mins - Scott-Morris and Close are on for Nunn and Riza.
59 mins - Boreham Wood are preparing substitutes Lee Close and Harvey
Scott-Morris.
58 mins - Better. Morrison, Potts and Nolan are all involved before O'Neil
finds Turgott, whose cross is blocked. Meanwhile, Vaz Te has a crowd around
him on the touchline as he signs autographs.
57 mins - While it is pre-season, West Ham will want to win this game for
their pride, more than anything. Captain Nolan is shouting out instructions
to his colleagues.
55 mins - O'Neil is penalised for an aerial challenge. Hutton swings the
free-kick in and West Ham scramble the ball away. The non-league side are on
the front foot.
54 mins - You can see the goal has given the Wood a confidence boost, as it
always seem to when a side score. The nature of the goal was the most
annoying aspect, as it was avoidable. Effiong did finish it well, though.
51 mins - GOAL! Effiong scores. Wearen's backpass is easily cut out by Riza
and he draws Reid before finding the unmarked Effiong, who confidently slams
the ball past Larkins and into the net.
50 mins - Morrison is seeing plenty of the ball already. He swings a pass
out right to Chambers, whose cross is won in the air by Nolan, but the
header loops wide.
48 mins - Wearen makes a sliding challenge on Effiong and West Ham break.
Morrison turns and makes 25 yards before trying to slide in Maynard, but the
striker is eased out by Garrard. Goal kick.
47 mins - This will be a real test for the Blue Square Bet South side
against a totally fresh Hammers XI. The fresh Wood player, Effiong, is HUGE!
He must be 6'4 tall at least.
46 mins - West Ham nearly double their lead straight away as Nolan gets in
behind. He prods the ball past the goalkeeper, but Maynard cannot get there
in time to finish and the hosts clear.
The hosts also make a change, with Buchanan being replaced by Inih Effiong.
So, after half-time we'll see the likes of Nolan, Maynard Taylor and O'Neil,
but it's a big evening for goalkeeper Jake Larkins, defender Leo Chambers
and Blair Turgott. Fitness coach Eamon Swift is out there putting the
Second-half XI through their warm-up...
Half-time score - Boreham Wood 0-1 West Ham United
46 mins - Into the one minute of added time... A promising West Ham attack
peters out after superb defensive play from Ruddock and the half-time
whistle is blown to warm applause from, among others, the local Mayor!
45 mins - Noble rolls the free-kick sideways to Vaz Te, but he is closed
down quickly and his shot lacks power.
44 mins - First-half positives are the goal from Baldock, the lively
wingplay from Fanimo - who has just won another free-kick - and assured
displays from a predominantly young back four. Ruddock has also caught the
eye at times on his big night.
43 mins - Half-time is nearly upon us and the hordes of West Ham
replacements are out warming up on the touchline. Boreham Wood are probing
again. Buchanan loses his marker with a neat bit of trickery, but his shot
takes a nick and rolls harmlessly through to Jaaskelainen.
41 mins - Vaz Te runs at Nunn again before finding Baldock. He elects to
shoot but his attempted curler is off-target. Goal kick.
40 mins - A slight break in play as Pelly Ruddock has the physio on. He's
soon back on, is the captain.
38 mins - Jaaskelainen in action again! This time, the No22 dives low to his
left to push aside a drive from left-back Mark Jones. The ball falls to a
West Ham player and the Hammers break. Fanimo beats one man before shooting
a couple of yards over the top.
36 mins - Shows how much I know! Montgomery lets fly from the corner of the
penalty area and Jaaskelainen makes a decent stop. West Ham break but Vaz Te
is run out of it by Nunn. The right-back has really stuck to his task
against the Wembley hero.
34 mins - The Hammers have taken the upper hand since the goal. They win
another free-kick, but Noble's delivery is too close to Russell, who catches
well down low.
32 mins - There he goes again, running on to Noble's short, low free-kick
and seeing his shot blocked behind. Noble's corner is headed clear. The No16
gets another go and Luke Garrard is there to head clear.
31 mins - Baldock never stops moving. If you watch him, he is constantly
running along the opposition back four looking for space and an area to spin
into to receive a through ball. Defender Reynolds decides the best way to
stop this is to trip him up. Free-kick to West Ham...
27 mins - GOAL! Baldock has his goal now! Vaz Te is sent clear down the
middle and looks favourite to shoot himself. Instead, he cuts inside on to
his right foot and slides the ball sideways for the unmarked Baldock. The
No7 shoots and his effort takes a slight deflection off a defender on its
way past Russell. Two in two for Baldock!
24 mins - Good battling work from Moncur to win the ball back in midfield.
He pokes it forward to Vaz Te, who dribbles before finding Baldock on the
edge of the box. The striker adjusts well to hit the shot first-time and it
beats Russell but cannons away off the left-hand post! So close to a second
pre-season goal in two games for Baldock. Ruddock tries to keep the attack
going but is crowded out.
22 mins - Another attack from the hosts and this time Kenzer Lee heads clear
from inside his own penalty area. The young Hammers just need to settle down
and be a little more careful in possession. You can hear the likes of Noble
encouraging them to do just that.
21 mins - And they arguably should be ahead. The corner finds centre-back
Callum Reynolds completely unmarked about 12 yards out. He rises, cranes his
neck and powers the header a yard over the top. Good chance to at least work
Jaaskelainen, that...
20 mins - Vaz Te has the physio on for a knock on the head, but it's nothing
serious and he's back on after some magic sponge treatment. Boreham Wood win
another corner. They've more than held their own so far.
17 mins - Vaz Te tries to run right-back Nunn, but the defender sticks to
his task well and nicks possession. Good battle, that. It was Fanimo again
with the through ball. Playing on the right, the left-footed England U18
winger looks a real threat.
14 mins - Fantastic chance for Ruddock on his big night. Fanimo curls over a
superb cross and the No15 is all alone in the middle of the penalty area. He
elects to volley instead of controlling and gets it a bit wrong. The Wood
clear. Shame for Ruddock.
12 mins - Hutton picks up a loose ball in midfield, brings it forward 20
yards and shoots, but Spence and Lee combine to make the block.
11 mins - The dugout is not quite big enough for the Hammers, who are lined
up along the touchline in front of me. Kevin Nolan is smiling as he signs
some autographs and poses for photos with fans. Fanimo crosses low, but the
ball is cleared at the near post.
9 mins - The sun is now shining. You couldn't make this weather up!
7 mins - Now the Wood have a corner as Riza's shot is deflected well wide.
The corner is fired in low by Montgomery but the shot is high and over the
crossbar and out of the stadium from midfielder Isaac.
6 mins - Oooh! McCartney gets forward down the left, draws a defender and
finds Vaz Te. He does a few step-overs before laying the ball back for
Moncur to strike first-time. It's curling slightly away from Russell, but
the keeper dives to his left to push the ball away. Good strike, good save.
The hosts clear.
5 mins - That's smart work from the goalkeeper. Spence is challenged by Riza
in the air and the ball drops down behind the defender, but Jaaskelainen is
out fast to dive on the wet turf and make the catch before the striker can
pounce on it.
3 mins - A first attack from Boreham Wood ends with an overhit through ball
that Jaaskelainen is out to collect low down. It's a first West Ham start
for the Finn after he appeared as a substitute at FK Austria Wien on
Saturday.
2 mins - Vaz Te wins a corner. Noble curls the ball over to the near post
where Vaz Te slides in and helps the ball on. Kenzer Lee attacks the ball at
the far post but his effort on the stretch is wide. Unlucky for the
youngster.
1 min - West Ham will want to get through the game with no injuries and Vaz
Te doesn't look happy as he is felled by right-back Nunn. Free-kick.
7.30pm - Boreham Wood get the game underway...
7.29pm - Pelly Ruddock has a big smile on his face as he shakes hands with
his ex-team-mates. It's a proud night for the teenager.
7.26pm - Assistant manager for the day Rob Burgess-Allen is in the Away
dugout with Neil McDonald, Big Sam and Martyn Margetson. Here come the two
teams...
7.23pm - The two West Ham teams have headed back inside, but a small number
of players have joined Joint Chairman David Gold in parading the Play-Off
trophy around the pitch. Dan Potts, Winston Reid, Matt Taylor and Nicky
Maynard are there with Mr Gold as the rain has, thankfully, relented.
7.15pm - The plan is for the Second half XI to parade the npower
Championship Play-Off trophy before kick-off. If that remains the plan, it
might get a bit wet!
7.05pm - It was sunny when we got here. It is now absolutely bucketing down,
as you can see from the pictures in our official Facebook site gallery here.
6.50pm - Pelly Ruddock, who joined West Ham from Boreham Wood midway through
last season, has the honour of captaining the Hammers tonight. Nice touch
from Big Sam. Kevin Nolan will skipper the side after half-time.
6.45pm - OK, we have the teams. West Ham United will again field two
different XIs in each half.
First half XI: Jaaskelainen, Driver, McCartney, Spence, K.Lee, Noble,
Moncur, Ruddock, Fanimo, Vaz Te, Baldock
Second half XI: Larkins, Chambers, Wearen, Reid, Potts, Morrison, O'Neil,
Turgott, Taylor, Nolan, Maynard
Subs: Baxter, Shaw, Powell
6.05pm - Many of the West Ham players have already arrived at Meadow Park.
The likes of Mark Noble, Ricardo Vaz Te and Jussi Jaaskelainen are here, as
are Sam Baldock, Jordan Spence and Nicky Maynard, who have been out for a
stroll on what looks to be an immaculate playing surface.
Good evening and welcome to Hertfordshire for West Ham United's second
pre-season fixture ahead of the 2012/13 Barclays Premier League campaign.
The Hammers will take on Blue Square Bet South side Boreham Wood tonight,
with a bumper crowd expected at Meadow Park for the Club's first pre-season
game on British soil.
On Saturday, West Ham completed their first week back in training by facing
Austrian Bundesliga side FK Austria Wien in Vienna, going down to a 3-1
defeat despite Sam Baldock's fourth-minute goal giving them the lead. In the
end, having been back in training themselves for three weeks, the hosts'
superior fitness shone through.
Tonight, manager Sam Allardyce will be back in the dugout after spending
last week working on bringing in new recruits. Just as Neil McDonald did in
Vienna, Big Sam is expected to experiment this evening while giving his
players more valuable game time in the run up to the big kick-off at home to
Aston Villa on 18 August.
Joining Big Sam and McDonald will be Rob Burgess-Allen, the lucky supporter
who successfully bid to become Assistant Manager for the Day at last
season's Awards Dinner. Burgess-Allen has been with the squad all day at
Chadwell Heath, travelled with the squad on the team coach and is in the
dressing room pre and post-match.
Among the players in West Ham's squad tonight is midfielder Pelly Ruddock.
The teenager joined the Hammers from Boreham Wood last winter after coming
through the non-league club's PASE (Programme for Academic and Sporting
Excellence) scheme.
Boreham Wood, for their part, finished eighth in the Blue Square Bet South
table last season. The most recognisable name in the hosts' squad is Omer
Riza, a midfielder who spent two-and-a-half years with West Ham between 1999
and 2002 but did not make a first-team appearance for the Club.
Formed in 1948, the Wood have spent the majority of their existence in the
Isthmian League, gaining promotion to Blue Square Bet South via the Isthmian
League Premier Division Play-Offs in 2010.
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Big Sam welcomes new assistant
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce is preparing for his first game in charge this season with
some help from an unusual source
10.07.2012
Sam Allardyce is excited about taking charge of his first West Ham United
game this pre-season against Boreham Wood tonight as he welcomes a new
assistant manager to his coaching team. Rob Burgess-Allen won the right to
be Big Sam's right-hand man for the day during the auction at the Player
Awards back in May and arrived at Chadwell Heath early on Tuesday in a
chauffeur-driven Bentley to prepare for the game with the squad. Regular
assistant manager Neil McDonald will be on hand to offer some words of
wisdom to Rob, whose new boss thinks it will offer a good taste of what goes
on behind-the-scenes on a matchday. "Rob can get a bit of insight and be
close to the way we prepare and do things at this stage of the season, which
is a lot more relaxed than later on in the season when the games are coming
thick and fast," Allardyce said. "I'm looking for him to be a good
communicator and introduce himself to the lads. He should just enjoy himself
and enjoy the fact that he's helping the Academy by bidding for the prize
and I hope he get value from what he has done. We'll welcome him and
hopefully give him a good day to remember. "I'm looking forward to seeing
Rob arrive in his chauffeur-driven Bentley to see the look on Neil
McDonald's face to say 'Why do I never get treated like that?'"
The match has been arranged as part of the transfer of Development Squad
midfielder Pelly Ruddock from The Wood to West Ham in December. As such, it
is expected that Big Sam will start with a strong team at Meadow Park,
before introducing some younger players such Ruddock, Kenzer Lee, Leo
Chambers and Blair Turgott later on in the game. "It's going to be a good
day as we got one of their young players in and part of the deal was to play
a pre-season game. As early as this is, it's good for the first-team squad
to get in another 45 minutes. It helps Boreham Wood and it helps our lads in
their preparation."
With the Hammers' trip to Austria last week focusing on intensive training
work, Big Sam stayed in the UK to focus on securing more new faces for West
Ham's Barclays Premier League return. He was in regular contact with
McDonald and the coaching staff and was pleased with the progress the team
made while they were there. "Everyone seems to be moving along quite well.
There was a small incident with Guy Demel got caught in the eye but he
should be back in a couple of days.
"Right now, our main is to improve the quality of the squad and get some new
faces in as quickly as possible. That has been the most difficult task of
the summer."
West Ham United have been allocated 2,250 tickets for tonight's game, which
kicks-off at 7.30pm. Tickets are available on the gate from £16 for adults
and £10 concessions. Please see whufc.com's ticket news page for more
information.
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Boreham Wood 1 West Ham Utd 1
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 10th July 2012
By: Staff Writer
Little Sam once again staked a claim for a place in Big Sam'a first team
plans for next season when he grabbed a second goal inside a week at Meadow
Park tonight.
The former MK Dons striker, who endured a frustrating second half of last
season after he was constantly overlooked followed up his goal against
Austria Wien on Saturday with another against the Conference South side
tonight. However Baldock's goal still wasn't enough to produce a win as West
Ham stuttered against the plucky non-leaguers, who were unlucky not to grab
a surprise win from the game. In the end the home side had to settle for a
draw despite looking more the more likely to grab a winner, after Inih
Effiong capitalised on a mistake by Eoin Wearen to score the home side's
goal just six minutes into the second half.
We'll have more details from Meadow Park for you shortly...
West Ham Utd: Jaaskelainen (Larkins 46), Driver (Chambers 46), McCartney
(Potts 46), Spence (Reid 46), K.Lee (Wearen 46), Noble (Taylor 46), Moncur
(O'Neil 46), Ruddock (Morrison 46), Fanimo (Turgott 46), Vaz Te (Nolan 46),
Baldock (Maynard 46).
Subs not used: Baxter, Shaw, Powell.
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CK-R on trial
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 10th July 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have taken former Sheffield United striker Colin Kazim-Richards on
trial. The Leytonstone-born forward, a former Arsenal youth team player has
joined the Hammers at Chadwell Heath this week in order that Sam Allarcye
may run the rule over him. Now 25, Kazim-Ricards has been playing abroad for
the last five years having moved from Sheffield United to Fenerbahce in
2007. Having spent three-and-a-half mostly successful years in Turkey he was
shipped off to French club Toulouse on loan in January 2010, having fallen
out with then-Fenerbahce boss Cristoph Daum following a much-publicised car
accident. After returning to Turkey, Kazim-Richards spent the first half of
the 2010/11 campaign back with Fenerbahce before they terminated his
contract - upon which, he moved to fellow Turkish club Galatasaray. However
after just half a season with Gala - during which he scored against his
former club - he moved to Greece in order to join Olympiakos on loan for the
second half of the 2011/12 campaign. Despite having the option to make the
dela pemanent this summer Kazim-Richards was not retained by the
Piraeus-based club and has since returned to Turkey, since when he has been
invited to West Ham for a trial. Whilst he is not expected to feature at
Boreham Wood tonight, Kazim-Richards could make an appearance for the
Hammers when they travel to Southend this weekend.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Allardyce: my 'difficult' transfer window
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 10th July 2012
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce has admitted that his search for new players this summer has
been a frustrating experience. The West Ham boss, who takes his team for the
first time in pre-season this evening when they visit non-league Boreham
Wood told whufc.com that he had endured a 'difficult' time trying to make
additions to the squad that won a return to the top flight via the play-off
Final in May. Having been linked with a whole host of potential signings
since the beginning of June, Allardyce, who remained in the UK last week
whilst the first team squad travelled to Austria, has managed to bag four
players - not one of whom has commanded anything more than a nominal
transfer fee. Goalkeepers Stephen Henderson and Jussi Jaaskelainen, former
loanee George McCartney and ex-Wigan midfielder Momo Diame have all joined
the squad for next season, however Allardyce readily admits that his squad
still requires further improvement. "Right now, our main aim is to improve
the quality of the squad and get some new faces in as quickly as possible,"
he said. "That has been the most difficult task of the summer."
Looking ahead to tonight's game, which was arranged as part of the deal that
took young midfielder Pelly Ruddock from Boreham Wood to West Ham last
winter, Allardyce believes that the match will be a good exercise for his
players who only returned from their midsummer break ten days ago. "As early
as this is, it's good for the first-team squad to get in another 45
minutes," said Allardyce, who will be taking a full-strength squad to Meadow
Park tonight. "It helps Boreham Wood and it helps our lads in their
preparation. It's going to be a good day."
* Guy Demel, who travelled with the squad to Austria last week but didn't
feature against Austria Wien on Saturday missed out as the result of a minor
injury. "There was a small incident with Guy [who] got caught in the eye,
but he should be back in a couple of days," revealed Allardyce.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam eyes more additions
Boss still working on 'improving quality' of Hammers squad
Last Updated: July 10, 2012 5:27pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce is keen to add more new faces to his West Ham squad 'as
quickly as possible' as they prepare for their return to the Premier League.
The Hammers have already brought in four fresh signings with the captures of
goalkeepers Jussi Jaaskelainen and Stephen Henderson, midfielder Mohamed
Diame and defender George McCartney. But manager Allardyce says he has not
finished bolstering his squad, with several out-of-contract players having
already left. He told the club's official website: "Right now, our main
(aim) is to improve the quality of the squad and get some new faces in as
quickly as possible. "That has been the most difficult task of the summer."
West Ham have been linked with a host of targets ahead of their return to
the top-flight following promotion last season, including Inter Milan
veteran Dejan Stankovic and Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Can You Imagine Andy Carroll in Claret & Blue?
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die
The rumours have been circulating all evening, and tomorrow's Daily Mail has
the story that West Ham are trying to secure the services of England striker
Andy Carroll on a year long loan. Yes, you read that right. It will no doubt
be seen by some as the owners giving us all hope that a star player is about
to be signed, only for it to come to nowt, but according to Lee Clayton, a
football journalist and Hammers fan, they are deadly serious.
As it happens, I am quite a fan of Carroll. He has had a torrid time at
Liverpool. mainly because he was never played in the right position. His
record at Newcastle shows what he is capable of. OK, many of his goals were
in the Championship, but he scored 14 in 33 Premier League appearances for
Newcastle, which is a good record. Six in 42 for Liverpool is not so
impressive. But to balance that, he's scored 6 in 18 England games at all
levels and 2 in 7 full internationals.
After the season he had last year, his performances at Euro 2012 were highly
creditable and it was obvious to see that no defender relished playing
against him.
Do I think he would come to West Ham? In all honesty, no I don't. But
stranger things have happened. I suspect much might depend on what kind of
relationship he enjoyed with Sam Allardyce when he was at Newcastle.
Allardyce picked him 4 times but then packed him off on loan to Preston
where he only scored 1 goal in 11 games. And then of course, we should
remember that Kevin Nolan is his best mate.
* There are also rumours that a deal for a foreign striker has been agreed.
No idea who.
* Sam Baldock scored in the 1-1 draw at Borehamwood earlier - his second
goal in two games.
UPDATE: Here's an extract from the Mail piece...
West Ham are set to launch an ambitious bid for England striker Andy
Carroll. Sam Allardyce wants to make a marquee signing ahead of his club's
return to the Barclays Premier League and West Ham's owners are prepared to
break their budget for the Liverpool No 9. However, they face stiff
competition from Fulham, who are prepared to offer Clint Dempsey plus cash
as part of any deal, while there is also interest from Italy. West Ham are
proposing an initial loan with a view to buying Carroll for around
£15million. That would represent a huge loss for Liverpool, who signed the
forward for £35m in January 2011.
But Carroll, 23, is facing an uncertain future at Anfield after Liverpool
manager Brendan Rodgers refused to dismiss the idea he could leave on loan.
Significantly, Rodgers would not give any assurances about Carroll's future
when presented with the opportunity on Monday and a switch to Upton Park
could prove enticing. Allardyce's style of play would suit Carroll, while he
would also link up with close friend and former Newcastle captain Kevin
Nolan.
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Colin Kazim-Richards on Trial, as the Joselu Speculation Resurfaces!
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
Kumb have reported that West Ham have taken former Sheffield United forward
Colin Kazim-Richards on trial. Kazim-Richards has been playing abroad for
the last five years, having moved from Sheffield United to Fenerbahce in
2007. Still only 25 years of age, the Leytonstone born forward has been
invited to the club's Chadwell Heath training base so that West Ham can
assess the player's fitness and form. Finally, the Joselu from Real Madrid
speculation has resurfaced. Allegedly, the club are prepared to go up to £6m
in order to capture the German born centre-forward. Originally, Real Madrid
wanted £7m, but it is reported that West Ham are trying to cut a deal with
the Spanish giants. I think it is a case of believing it when we see it
happen!
SJ. Chandos.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam's a Carr dealer
The Sun
By PHIL THOMAS
Last Updated: 11th July 2012
ANDY CARROLL is a sensational transfer target for West Ham's Sam Allardyce.
But the £35million hitman insisted last night he aims to stay at Liverpool
to fight for his place. Boss Brendan Rodgers had revealed he is ready to
loan out the Anfield record buy. Italian giants AC Milan are keen, but
Hammers owner David Sullivan believes it would be the perfect opportunity to
reunite the Geordie hitman with ex-Newcastle manager Allardyce. Sullivan is
backing a season-long loan even though they may have to pay his
£80,000-a-week wages. However, the Hammers will hope they can strike a deal
similar to Manchester City's arrangement with Spurs over Emmanuel Adebayor
last season. Another key player in the deal will be West Ham skipper Kevin
Nolan, who is Carroll's best mate from their Newcastle days. But last night
a close friend of Carroll's revealed: "There is no chance of Andy leaving
Liverpool. He is staying put. "So AC Milan can forget it and he won't be
going back to Newcastle or joining West Ham either — on loan or otherwise."
Carroll, 23, has failed to make a big impact on Merseyside and scored only
four goals last season. Rodgers said on Monday: "A loan is something I would
have to look at. It can benefit the club in the long term." Roma have
confirmed Liverpool are interested in Italy striker Fabio Borini. The ace,
21, worked with Rodgers at Chelsea's Academy and Swansea. Roma director
Walter Sabatini said: "There is a real interest from Liverpool."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Clyne to fly from Eagles
The Sun
Published: 10th July 2012
CRYSTAL PALACE have admitted defeat in their bid to keep Nathaniel Clyne and
are ready to offload the wantaway defender. The right-back, 21, is out of
contract at Selhurst Park but the Eagles will still receive a compensation
fee due to his age. Manchester United, Newcastle and West Ham have all been
linked with the England Under-21 star. Palace chairman Steve Parish said:
"We need to do a deal with Clyne. "There is a bit of action in the
background and we know there is a lot of interest. "It is just about sorting
out who it is best to go to and who will put the right money on the table.
We're all working to get an outcome. "Clubs don't want to go down the
tribunal route. It is a game of cat and mouse on the fee — we've just got to
let that play out."
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Cockney Carroll! West Ham plotting shock one-year loan swoop for big Andy
The Mirror
Andy Carroll is ready to fight for his Anfield future...despite becoming a
sensational target for West Ham. The London club have joined the chase to
capture the England striker, and believe they have a trump card over AC
Milan, who have also expressed their admiration for the Liverpool forward.
Route one natural: Carroll could stick his head on it for Big Sam at West
Ham Carroll's best mate and mentor is Hammers midfielder Kevin Nolan, and
boss Sam Allardyce believes that relationship could tip the balance in his
favour. Senior figures at West Ham confirmed they are ready to approach
Liverpool with a proposal for a year-long loan deal for a player who played
under Allardyce at Newcastle. The stumbling block would be money, with West
Ham unlikely to be able to afford wages that are around the £80,000 a week
mark - a figure that would present few problems for Milan. New Reds manager
Brendan Rodgers has admitted he will assess whether Carroll can fit into his
plans over the coming pre-season weeks, and prove he can operate in the new
system that will be adopted at Anfield.
Rodgers revealed earlier this week he could be persuaded to let the centre
forward go out on loan, with Milan the most likely destination given their
ability to pay the full amount of the striker's wages. Yet Carroll himself
has responded to suggestions his future at Liverpool is again under
pressure, by insisting he is prepared to fight for the right to be there
once more. The striker spent much of last year battling against the
skepticism of then manager Kenny Dalglish, who - according to Manchester
City - tried to arrange a swap deal involving Carlos Tevez last winter. That
arrangement fell through, and Carroll responded with some fine end of the
season form to not only revive his Anfield fortunes, but also force himself
into the England squad to play a role at Euro 2012. An impressive goal
against Sweden seemed to have settled his Reds future, but apparently cut
little ice with Rodgers, who wants to move away from a 4-4-2 formation, and
introduce a free-flowing three man forward line, without a traditional
centre forward.
The Liverpool boss is close to pulling off a deal to bring exciting young
Italian forward Fabio Borini to Anfield, and is also interested in Chelsea
striker Daniel Sturridge. While that suggests there is little chance of
regular games for Carroll at Anfield, sources close to the player have
insisted he will not leave without a fight, and is ready to scrap for the
chance show his new manager what he can do. The player has spoken at length
with Rodgers already, and expressed his desire to stay, even though the
manager made clear his preference for a progression towards a different
style at Anfield. Milan have confirmed their interest and already
investigated the prospect of a loan deal, but there is no enthusiasm from
within the Carroll camp for a move to Italy, and that could offer West Ham
some hope, given the player's close relationship with Nolan. Liverpool would
be more comfortable with letting Carroll go to a foreign club, reducing the
prospect of him returning to haunt them in the Premier League. They already
have a relationship with AC after agreeing a year long loan deal for Alberto
Aquilani last season.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Jaaskelainen makes bow for West Ham as Big Sam's side draw at Boreham Wood
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 02:54, 11 July 2012 | UPDATED: 02:55, 11 July 2012
Daily Mail
Jussi Jaaskelainen made his West Ham bow as Sam Allardyce's side were held
to a 1-1 draw in a pre-season friendly at Boreham Wood. Sam Baldock followed
up his goal in the 3-1 defeat to Austria Vienna with the opening strike
after 27 minutes, finishing off some fine work from the lively Ricardo Va
Te. Despite being in control for much for the game, the Hammers - who
fielded two different sides for each half - were pegged back after the break
with Inih Effiong punishing some lacklustre defending.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Sam Allardyce wants to sign Liverpool's Andy Carroll for West Ham
• West Ham believed to want England striker on loan
• Permanent transfer for £15m could follow
Share 38
Staff and agencies
The Guardian, Wednesday 11 July 2012
Sam Allardyce is believed to be about to make a bid for Liverpool's England
striker Andy Carroll. West Ham are proposing an initial loan with a view to
buying the 23-year-old for around £15m who signed from Newcastle United for
£35m in January, 2011. West Ham, returning to the Premier League after their
relegation last year, may face opposition for Carroll from a number of other
clubs after reports emerged suggesting Liverpool had let it be known that
they were willing to listen to offers for the player.
Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool manager, said on Monday that the possibility
of loaning Carroll is "something I would have to look at" although he did
indicate that he would give the forward time to see if he would fit into his
plans at Anfield.
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Now Hammers want Liverpool's Carroll! Big Sam seeks loan deal for Kop misfit
By SIMON JONES and DOMINIC KING
PUBLISHED: 22:50, 10 July 2012 | UPDATED: 22:50, 10 July 2012
Daily Mail
West Ham are set to launch an ambitious bid for England striker Andy
Carroll. Sam Allardyce wants to make a marquee signing ahead of his club's
return to the Barclays Premier League and West Ham's owners are prepared to
break their budget for the Liverpool No 9. However, they face stiff
competition from Fulham, who are prepared to offer Clint Dempsey plus cash
as part of any deal, while there is also interest from Italy. West Ham are
proposing an initial loan with a view to buying Carroll for around
£15million. That would represent a huge loss for Liverpool, who signed the
forward for £35m in January 2011. But Carroll, 23, is facing an uncertain
future at Anfield after Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers refused to
dismiss the idea he could leave on loan. Fulham could yet hold a trump card
with Dempsey as Rodgers is a confirmed admirer of the USA forward, who is in
the final 12 months of his contract at Craven Cottage. The interest from
Italy in Carroll, who is on holiday, is not just from AC Milan but it is
debatable whether a move to Serie A would appeal to him. Carroll, who has
scored 11 goals in 59 appearances for Liverpool, has not given any
indication he wants to leave Merseyside but may struggle for regular starts
in Rodgers' new regime.
Significantly, Rodgers would not give any assurances about Carroll's future
when presented with the opportunity on Monday and a switch to Upton Park
could prove enticing. Allardyce's style of play would suit Carroll, while he
would also link up with close friend and former Newcastle captain Kevin
Nolan. Rodgers is expected to make Fabio Borini his first signing in a £10m
deal after Roma confirmed Liverpool's interest. The new Kop boss is just as
keen on tying down Luis Suarez, whose deal runs to June 2016. Liverpool want
to extend his contract and increase his £80,000-a-week pay to be in line
with the club's highest earners. When asked if the club were any closer to
announcing Suarez's new deal, Rodgers said: 'We hope so. He has really
bought into what we are trying to do. He was really excited about how we
played at Swansea last year.'
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
*********NOT STRICTLY WEST HAM RELATED ***************
Prem captains accused in betting scam
Saints legend Lundekvam reveals 'fraud'
The Sun
By DAN KING, Sport Uncovered
Last Updated: 11th July 2012
A SENSATIONAL betting scandal rocked the Premier League last night. Former
Southampton captain Claus Lundekvam has blown the lid on systematic fraud by
top-flight players. The stars made thousands of pounds by spot-fixing — just
like the three jailed Pakistan cricketers. Lundekvam, 39, insists other
Premier League skippers colluded with the betting scam. In a series of
startling interviews in his native Norway, Lundekvam claimed that he and
fellow Saints aces raked in thousands betting on their own games — for a
spell, doing it 'almost every week'. He alleged they used club staff to put
big stakes on incidents like the first throw-in or corner, that they
conspired with captains from opposing teams to ensure the bets came off and
that the problem was rife in a Premier League where players lived in a
'bubble'.
Lundekvam, who played for Saints from 1996 to 2008 and won 40 Norway caps,
said: "It's not something I'm proud of. "For a while we did this almost
every week. We made a fair bit of money. We could make deals with the
opposing captain about, for example, betting on the first throw, the first
corner, who started with the ball, a yellow card or a penalty. "Those were
the sorts of thing we had influence over."
But Lundekvam insisted he and his team-mates had never doctored the result
of a game. He added: "The results were never on the agenda. That is
something I would never have done. We were professional competitors. Even
though what we did, of course, was illegal, it was just a fun thing." The
English and global football authorities, not to mention the police and the
Premier League's millions of fans worldwide, are unlikely to take the same
view. Betting on penalties, in particular, would take the fixing into new
territory since the outcome of matches would clearly be affected if a goal
was scored. And Lundekvam, who fell into cocaine and alcohol abuse after
retiring in 2008, insists it was not just Saints players who were breaking
the law and FA rules. He declared: "I know it happened at other clubs as
well. "We footballers live in a bubble. It was part of the lifestyle and the
excitement. Whatever we could bet on, we bet on."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
We made deals with opposing captains every single week
The Sun
By DAN KING, Sport Uncovered
Last Updated: 11th July 2012
WHEN Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier claimed he had taken part in a
failed betting coup, some in English football treated it as a bit of a joke.
Good old Le Tiss, they thought. A God on the pitch but he could not even
pull off a simple scam with a throw-in. But no one should be laughing any
more. Because the alleged incident in 1995 against Wimbledon was not a
one-off. It now appears spot-fixing was rife. Not only at Southampton, but
throughout the Premier League. And with the continuing expansion in legal
and illegal betting markets all over the world, the suspicion must be that
it is still going on. And that all the football folk who slammed cricket
corruption when the News of the World exposed the Pakistan cheats need to
take a long, hard look at their own game. Claus Lundekvam became a
Southampton hero having arrived at The Dell to play alongside Le Tissier a
year after the Wimbledon match. Now he may be remembered as the man who
exposed another of English football's dirty little secrets. And one of the
most shocking things about his account of spot-fixing is... how easy it all
was. The former Norway international said: "It's something I was involved in
for a number of years in England. "I bet on my own matches. There were often
several players who put money in the pot — several hundred pounds each,
sometimes a thousand each. "We would then give the money to one of the staff
who would put the money on for us, so we didn't have to do it ourselves and
so create suspicion. We would bet for example on the first throw-in. "We
would have an agreement with the opposing team that whoever had the kick-off
would pass the ball back to a defender who would then play it forward down
the channel where an opposing defender would kick the ball out for a
throw-in. "It's a pretty normal start to a game, no one would have suspected
and it was very easy for us to control the little things like that. "We
could make deals with the opposing captain in relating to betting on the
first throw, the first corner, who started with the ball, a yellow card, a
penalty. "For a while we did this almost every week." His claims of
conspiracy with players on other teams imply widespread corruption. And
Lundekvam is adamant that Southampton players were not the only ones
breaking FA rules and the law of the land by betting on matches in which
they were involved. He added: "I'm not proud of being part of this. "We were
far from alone in this but that doesn't help. I know it happened at other
clubs. It was accepted... in matches at the end of the 1990s. "The bookies
were open to betting on these kind of things and it was easy for us to
manipulate. "I do not think it was sporting or morally right for us to do
what we did. But we had a chance to do it then, and that's just how it was.
"Even though what we did was illegal, it was quite fun to be part of. "We
made a fair amount of money on this. I can't really remember how much. But
we made money on it even though the odds weren't always high. "Even when the
odds weren't high, they were safe bets." But were the players not earning
enough money as players in one of the richest leagues in the world?
Lundekvam, now 39, said: "Yes, absolutely. We footballers live in a bubble.
"We are betting all the time when we are together, whether it's card games
on the bus or something else. "It's part of our lifestyle, the adrenalin and
the excitement. Whatever we could bet on, we bet on it." Stories of players
like Steve Claridge losing hundreds of thousands on the horses and rows
between England stars over card schools have long been public knowledge. But
apart from Le Tissier's sort-of-confession, this is the first-time a Premier
League player has admitted doing exactly what Pakistan cricketers Salman
Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were found guilty of. In recent years,
there has been greater concern about lower league matches being corrupted by
betting.
In 2009, the FA handed down bans to three Accrington Stanley players and one
from Bury who had bet on a League Two clash in 2008 between the two clubs. A
number of games in the old Football Conference — a competition now sponsored
by betting firm Blue Square — have also come under suspicion. And earlier
this month Kettering chairman George Rolls was banned from football for five
years after more than 3,000 breaches of betting regulations between 2007-10
— when he had been chairman at Cambridge United and Weymouth — and for
misconduct relating to the investigation. But the Premier League has
remained pretty much undisturbed by betting scandals since the 1990s. Former
Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobelaar and ex-Wimbledon players John Fashanu
and Hans Segers were all cleared of allegations of match-fixing. No players
were implicated in the bizarre case of Far Eastern betting syndicates trying
to rig games by interfering with floodlights. Lundekvam's allegations raise
fresh doubts about the English game. Although the FA rules on betting were
less strict back in the late 1990s, he knew that what he and his fellow
stars were doing was in breach of those regulations and of the law. The
Premier League said last night that betting was an issue for the FA.
Rolls was charged under the Rule E8 of current FA regulations which make it
very clear that any 'participant' — from a board member to a player to a tea
lady — is forbidden from betting on any competition in which their club is
involved. They are also forbidden from passing on any information which they
know or suspect will be used for gambling.
An FA spokesman declined to comment on Lundekvam's claims but said:
"Participants are consistently reminded they cannot bet on any competition
in which they are involved. "The FA has strict policies on this and our
sanctions are wide-ranging. "All participants also have a duty to report any
such activity. "Football works closely with the gambling industry to monitor
all markets and activity and we have a unit focused on maintaining the
integrity of the sport."
Of course, there is a distinction between breaking rules on betting and
match-fixing. But the fans who pay big money to watch Premier League matches
and the hundreds of millions of armchair supporters who watch the game on TV
will now be less certain whether they can trust what they are seeing.
Lundekvam's allegations came as a result of a betting scandal unfolding in
Norway. He said it would be naive to think that such things did not go on in
Norwegian football.
The same could now be said of the English game.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Sam Baldock scores again as the Hammers are held at Meadow Park
10.07.2012
Boreham Wood v West Ham United
Pre-season match
Meadow Park
Tuesday 10 July
Kick-off: 7.30pm
Facebook I Twitter I Online Store I Season Tickets
Final score - Boreham Wood 1-1 West Ham United
92 mins - There is the chance, and Maynard misses it. Morrison works Russell
low to his left with a rasping drive. The goalkeeper cannot hold on and the
ball pops out to Maynard, but the No8 cannot hit the target and his
left-foot shot flies wide. The final whistle is blown as the goal kick is
pumped upfield. The PA announcer wishes West Ham luck in the Premier League
this season. Very nice of him. Well, result-wise it's not ideal, but it's
more gametime in the players' legs and they'll go forward to Southend United
on Saturday. See you there!
91 mins - Reid picks out Potts with a crossfield pass, but his cross is cut
out.
90 mins - Into the final minute. A Boreham Wood player is down and needs the
physio on. We are going to have just one extra minute, so it's going to need
something special, and fast!
88 mins - It's been a good workout for West Ham. They've been pushed hard by
Boreham Wood tonight and it's looking like they will be settling for a draw
unless they can conjure a winner late on.
86 mins - So close to a superb winner for the Hammers! Brilliant football
involving Turgott, Morrison and Potts before Taylor swings over an
inch-perfect cross for Nolan. The No4 usually buries them, but instead his
header bounces down off the underside of the crossbar, the inside of the
post and out! Chambers tries to convert the rebound, but his acrobatic
effort flies over.
84 mins - The ball drops to Effiong in the box and he swings his left foot
at it, but the shot goes out of the ground. Groans from the home fans, who
could see his eyes lighting up and a shock win for the hosts!
83 mins - The home coaching staff are sensing a bit of an upset here and are
barking out instructions to their players. Wearen has to make a strong
challenge on the edge of his own penalty area before a shot takes a
deflection and loops high into the air before being caught by Larkins.
82 mins - Reynolds is replaced by Sam Doolan.
81 mins - Into the final ten minutes. Can West Ham find a winner? Nolan
tries to pick out the run of Maynard, but Russell is out quickly to clear
into the stand.
79 mins - West Ham break and Maynard's shot is deflected wide, but the
corner is easily headed clear.
78 mins - Chambers defends well this time, blocking Hutton's cross behind.
The corner comes over and Nolan heads clear. The ball comes back in and
Larkins makes a fine and brave stop to block Reynolds' shot. The follow-up
effort is screwed wide.
76 mins - Of the West Ham players on show since the break, Chambers and
Turgott have combined well down the right. Nolan has put himself about, too.
75 mins - It's Hastings on for home skipper Mario Noto.
74 mins - Potts gets to the byline, but he was at full pelt and his
first-time cross is a bit deep. Nolan makes something of it with his head,
but the ball loops into the arms of the goalkeeper. Another Wood sub will be
on shortly...
73 mins - West Ham are back in charge, but they are not working Russell as
hard as they would like, I'm sure.
70 mins - Turgott is getting involved more and more, but his first two
crosses are too close to Russell before he is stopped trying to dribble
through the middle of the home defence. Check out an exclusive photo gallery
from tonight's game here.
65 mins - Action at both ends! First, Larkins is out smartly to defy Effiong
before the Hammers break and Russell makes a decent save with his feet to
deny Maynard. From the resulting corner, the cross is just in front of
Wearen at the far post.
61 mins - Scott-Morris and Close are on for Nunn and Riza.
59 mins - Boreham Wood are preparing substitutes Lee Close and Harvey
Scott-Morris.
58 mins - Better. Morrison, Potts and Nolan are all involved before O'Neil
finds Turgott, whose cross is blocked. Meanwhile, Vaz Te has a crowd around
him on the touchline as he signs autographs.
57 mins - While it is pre-season, West Ham will want to win this game for
their pride, more than anything. Captain Nolan is shouting out instructions
to his colleagues.
55 mins - O'Neil is penalised for an aerial challenge. Hutton swings the
free-kick in and West Ham scramble the ball away. The non-league side are on
the front foot.
54 mins - You can see the goal has given the Wood a confidence boost, as it
always seem to when a side score. The nature of the goal was the most
annoying aspect, as it was avoidable. Effiong did finish it well, though.
51 mins - GOAL! Effiong scores. Wearen's backpass is easily cut out by Riza
and he draws Reid before finding the unmarked Effiong, who confidently slams
the ball past Larkins and into the net.
50 mins - Morrison is seeing plenty of the ball already. He swings a pass
out right to Chambers, whose cross is won in the air by Nolan, but the
header loops wide.
48 mins - Wearen makes a sliding challenge on Effiong and West Ham break.
Morrison turns and makes 25 yards before trying to slide in Maynard, but the
striker is eased out by Garrard. Goal kick.
47 mins - This will be a real test for the Blue Square Bet South side
against a totally fresh Hammers XI. The fresh Wood player, Effiong, is HUGE!
He must be 6'4 tall at least.
46 mins - West Ham nearly double their lead straight away as Nolan gets in
behind. He prods the ball past the goalkeeper, but Maynard cannot get there
in time to finish and the hosts clear.
The hosts also make a change, with Buchanan being replaced by Inih Effiong.
So, after half-time we'll see the likes of Nolan, Maynard Taylor and O'Neil,
but it's a big evening for goalkeeper Jake Larkins, defender Leo Chambers
and Blair Turgott. Fitness coach Eamon Swift is out there putting the
Second-half XI through their warm-up...
Half-time score - Boreham Wood 0-1 West Ham United
46 mins - Into the one minute of added time... A promising West Ham attack
peters out after superb defensive play from Ruddock and the half-time
whistle is blown to warm applause from, among others, the local Mayor!
45 mins - Noble rolls the free-kick sideways to Vaz Te, but he is closed
down quickly and his shot lacks power.
44 mins - First-half positives are the goal from Baldock, the lively
wingplay from Fanimo - who has just won another free-kick - and assured
displays from a predominantly young back four. Ruddock has also caught the
eye at times on his big night.
43 mins - Half-time is nearly upon us and the hordes of West Ham
replacements are out warming up on the touchline. Boreham Wood are probing
again. Buchanan loses his marker with a neat bit of trickery, but his shot
takes a nick and rolls harmlessly through to Jaaskelainen.
41 mins - Vaz Te runs at Nunn again before finding Baldock. He elects to
shoot but his attempted curler is off-target. Goal kick.
40 mins - A slight break in play as Pelly Ruddock has the physio on. He's
soon back on, is the captain.
38 mins - Jaaskelainen in action again! This time, the No22 dives low to his
left to push aside a drive from left-back Mark Jones. The ball falls to a
West Ham player and the Hammers break. Fanimo beats one man before shooting
a couple of yards over the top.
36 mins - Shows how much I know! Montgomery lets fly from the corner of the
penalty area and Jaaskelainen makes a decent stop. West Ham break but Vaz Te
is run out of it by Nunn. The right-back has really stuck to his task
against the Wembley hero.
34 mins - The Hammers have taken the upper hand since the goal. They win
another free-kick, but Noble's delivery is too close to Russell, who catches
well down low.
32 mins - There he goes again, running on to Noble's short, low free-kick
and seeing his shot blocked behind. Noble's corner is headed clear. The No16
gets another go and Luke Garrard is there to head clear.
31 mins - Baldock never stops moving. If you watch him, he is constantly
running along the opposition back four looking for space and an area to spin
into to receive a through ball. Defender Reynolds decides the best way to
stop this is to trip him up. Free-kick to West Ham...
27 mins - GOAL! Baldock has his goal now! Vaz Te is sent clear down the
middle and looks favourite to shoot himself. Instead, he cuts inside on to
his right foot and slides the ball sideways for the unmarked Baldock. The
No7 shoots and his effort takes a slight deflection off a defender on its
way past Russell. Two in two for Baldock!
24 mins - Good battling work from Moncur to win the ball back in midfield.
He pokes it forward to Vaz Te, who dribbles before finding Baldock on the
edge of the box. The striker adjusts well to hit the shot first-time and it
beats Russell but cannons away off the left-hand post! So close to a second
pre-season goal in two games for Baldock. Ruddock tries to keep the attack
going but is crowded out.
22 mins - Another attack from the hosts and this time Kenzer Lee heads clear
from inside his own penalty area. The young Hammers just need to settle down
and be a little more careful in possession. You can hear the likes of Noble
encouraging them to do just that.
21 mins - And they arguably should be ahead. The corner finds centre-back
Callum Reynolds completely unmarked about 12 yards out. He rises, cranes his
neck and powers the header a yard over the top. Good chance to at least work
Jaaskelainen, that...
20 mins - Vaz Te has the physio on for a knock on the head, but it's nothing
serious and he's back on after some magic sponge treatment. Boreham Wood win
another corner. They've more than held their own so far.
17 mins - Vaz Te tries to run right-back Nunn, but the defender sticks to
his task well and nicks possession. Good battle, that. It was Fanimo again
with the through ball. Playing on the right, the left-footed England U18
winger looks a real threat.
14 mins - Fantastic chance for Ruddock on his big night. Fanimo curls over a
superb cross and the No15 is all alone in the middle of the penalty area. He
elects to volley instead of controlling and gets it a bit wrong. The Wood
clear. Shame for Ruddock.
12 mins - Hutton picks up a loose ball in midfield, brings it forward 20
yards and shoots, but Spence and Lee combine to make the block.
11 mins - The dugout is not quite big enough for the Hammers, who are lined
up along the touchline in front of me. Kevin Nolan is smiling as he signs
some autographs and poses for photos with fans. Fanimo crosses low, but the
ball is cleared at the near post.
9 mins - The sun is now shining. You couldn't make this weather up!
7 mins - Now the Wood have a corner as Riza's shot is deflected well wide.
The corner is fired in low by Montgomery but the shot is high and over the
crossbar and out of the stadium from midfielder Isaac.
6 mins - Oooh! McCartney gets forward down the left, draws a defender and
finds Vaz Te. He does a few step-overs before laying the ball back for
Moncur to strike first-time. It's curling slightly away from Russell, but
the keeper dives to his left to push the ball away. Good strike, good save.
The hosts clear.
5 mins - That's smart work from the goalkeeper. Spence is challenged by Riza
in the air and the ball drops down behind the defender, but Jaaskelainen is
out fast to dive on the wet turf and make the catch before the striker can
pounce on it.
3 mins - A first attack from Boreham Wood ends with an overhit through ball
that Jaaskelainen is out to collect low down. It's a first West Ham start
for the Finn after he appeared as a substitute at FK Austria Wien on
Saturday.
2 mins - Vaz Te wins a corner. Noble curls the ball over to the near post
where Vaz Te slides in and helps the ball on. Kenzer Lee attacks the ball at
the far post but his effort on the stretch is wide. Unlucky for the
youngster.
1 min - West Ham will want to get through the game with no injuries and Vaz
Te doesn't look happy as he is felled by right-back Nunn. Free-kick.
7.30pm - Boreham Wood get the game underway...
7.29pm - Pelly Ruddock has a big smile on his face as he shakes hands with
his ex-team-mates. It's a proud night for the teenager.
7.26pm - Assistant manager for the day Rob Burgess-Allen is in the Away
dugout with Neil McDonald, Big Sam and Martyn Margetson. Here come the two
teams...
7.23pm - The two West Ham teams have headed back inside, but a small number
of players have joined Joint Chairman David Gold in parading the Play-Off
trophy around the pitch. Dan Potts, Winston Reid, Matt Taylor and Nicky
Maynard are there with Mr Gold as the rain has, thankfully, relented.
7.15pm - The plan is for the Second half XI to parade the npower
Championship Play-Off trophy before kick-off. If that remains the plan, it
might get a bit wet!
7.05pm - It was sunny when we got here. It is now absolutely bucketing down,
as you can see from the pictures in our official Facebook site gallery here.
6.50pm - Pelly Ruddock, who joined West Ham from Boreham Wood midway through
last season, has the honour of captaining the Hammers tonight. Nice touch
from Big Sam. Kevin Nolan will skipper the side after half-time.
6.45pm - OK, we have the teams. West Ham United will again field two
different XIs in each half.
First half XI: Jaaskelainen, Driver, McCartney, Spence, K.Lee, Noble,
Moncur, Ruddock, Fanimo, Vaz Te, Baldock
Second half XI: Larkins, Chambers, Wearen, Reid, Potts, Morrison, O'Neil,
Turgott, Taylor, Nolan, Maynard
Subs: Baxter, Shaw, Powell
6.05pm - Many of the West Ham players have already arrived at Meadow Park.
The likes of Mark Noble, Ricardo Vaz Te and Jussi Jaaskelainen are here, as
are Sam Baldock, Jordan Spence and Nicky Maynard, who have been out for a
stroll on what looks to be an immaculate playing surface.
Good evening and welcome to Hertfordshire for West Ham United's second
pre-season fixture ahead of the 2012/13 Barclays Premier League campaign.
The Hammers will take on Blue Square Bet South side Boreham Wood tonight,
with a bumper crowd expected at Meadow Park for the Club's first pre-season
game on British soil.
On Saturday, West Ham completed their first week back in training by facing
Austrian Bundesliga side FK Austria Wien in Vienna, going down to a 3-1
defeat despite Sam Baldock's fourth-minute goal giving them the lead. In the
end, having been back in training themselves for three weeks, the hosts'
superior fitness shone through.
Tonight, manager Sam Allardyce will be back in the dugout after spending
last week working on bringing in new recruits. Just as Neil McDonald did in
Vienna, Big Sam is expected to experiment this evening while giving his
players more valuable game time in the run up to the big kick-off at home to
Aston Villa on 18 August.
Joining Big Sam and McDonald will be Rob Burgess-Allen, the lucky supporter
who successfully bid to become Assistant Manager for the Day at last
season's Awards Dinner. Burgess-Allen has been with the squad all day at
Chadwell Heath, travelled with the squad on the team coach and is in the
dressing room pre and post-match.
Among the players in West Ham's squad tonight is midfielder Pelly Ruddock.
The teenager joined the Hammers from Boreham Wood last winter after coming
through the non-league club's PASE (Programme for Academic and Sporting
Excellence) scheme.
Boreham Wood, for their part, finished eighth in the Blue Square Bet South
table last season. The most recognisable name in the hosts' squad is Omer
Riza, a midfielder who spent two-and-a-half years with West Ham between 1999
and 2002 but did not make a first-team appearance for the Club.
Formed in 1948, the Wood have spent the majority of their existence in the
Isthmian League, gaining promotion to Blue Square Bet South via the Isthmian
League Premier Division Play-Offs in 2010.
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Big Sam welcomes new assistant
WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce is preparing for his first game in charge this season with
some help from an unusual source
10.07.2012
Sam Allardyce is excited about taking charge of his first West Ham United
game this pre-season against Boreham Wood tonight as he welcomes a new
assistant manager to his coaching team. Rob Burgess-Allen won the right to
be Big Sam's right-hand man for the day during the auction at the Player
Awards back in May and arrived at Chadwell Heath early on Tuesday in a
chauffeur-driven Bentley to prepare for the game with the squad. Regular
assistant manager Neil McDonald will be on hand to offer some words of
wisdom to Rob, whose new boss thinks it will offer a good taste of what goes
on behind-the-scenes on a matchday. "Rob can get a bit of insight and be
close to the way we prepare and do things at this stage of the season, which
is a lot more relaxed than later on in the season when the games are coming
thick and fast," Allardyce said. "I'm looking for him to be a good
communicator and introduce himself to the lads. He should just enjoy himself
and enjoy the fact that he's helping the Academy by bidding for the prize
and I hope he get value from what he has done. We'll welcome him and
hopefully give him a good day to remember. "I'm looking forward to seeing
Rob arrive in his chauffeur-driven Bentley to see the look on Neil
McDonald's face to say 'Why do I never get treated like that?'"
The match has been arranged as part of the transfer of Development Squad
midfielder Pelly Ruddock from The Wood to West Ham in December. As such, it
is expected that Big Sam will start with a strong team at Meadow Park,
before introducing some younger players such Ruddock, Kenzer Lee, Leo
Chambers and Blair Turgott later on in the game. "It's going to be a good
day as we got one of their young players in and part of the deal was to play
a pre-season game. As early as this is, it's good for the first-team squad
to get in another 45 minutes. It helps Boreham Wood and it helps our lads in
their preparation."
With the Hammers' trip to Austria last week focusing on intensive training
work, Big Sam stayed in the UK to focus on securing more new faces for West
Ham's Barclays Premier League return. He was in regular contact with
McDonald and the coaching staff and was pleased with the progress the team
made while they were there. "Everyone seems to be moving along quite well.
There was a small incident with Guy Demel got caught in the eye but he
should be back in a couple of days.
"Right now, our main is to improve the quality of the squad and get some new
faces in as quickly as possible. That has been the most difficult task of
the summer."
West Ham United have been allocated 2,250 tickets for tonight's game, which
kicks-off at 7.30pm. Tickets are available on the gate from £16 for adults
and £10 concessions. Please see whufc.com's ticket news page for more
information.
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Boreham Wood 1 West Ham Utd 1
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 10th July 2012
By: Staff Writer
Little Sam once again staked a claim for a place in Big Sam'a first team
plans for next season when he grabbed a second goal inside a week at Meadow
Park tonight.
The former MK Dons striker, who endured a frustrating second half of last
season after he was constantly overlooked followed up his goal against
Austria Wien on Saturday with another against the Conference South side
tonight. However Baldock's goal still wasn't enough to produce a win as West
Ham stuttered against the plucky non-leaguers, who were unlucky not to grab
a surprise win from the game. In the end the home side had to settle for a
draw despite looking more the more likely to grab a winner, after Inih
Effiong capitalised on a mistake by Eoin Wearen to score the home side's
goal just six minutes into the second half.
We'll have more details from Meadow Park for you shortly...
West Ham Utd: Jaaskelainen (Larkins 46), Driver (Chambers 46), McCartney
(Potts 46), Spence (Reid 46), K.Lee (Wearen 46), Noble (Taylor 46), Moncur
(O'Neil 46), Ruddock (Morrison 46), Fanimo (Turgott 46), Vaz Te (Nolan 46),
Baldock (Maynard 46).
Subs not used: Baxter, Shaw, Powell.
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CK-R on trial
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 10th July 2012
By: Staff Writer
West Ham have taken former Sheffield United striker Colin Kazim-Richards on
trial. The Leytonstone-born forward, a former Arsenal youth team player has
joined the Hammers at Chadwell Heath this week in order that Sam Allarcye
may run the rule over him. Now 25, Kazim-Ricards has been playing abroad for
the last five years having moved from Sheffield United to Fenerbahce in
2007. Having spent three-and-a-half mostly successful years in Turkey he was
shipped off to French club Toulouse on loan in January 2010, having fallen
out with then-Fenerbahce boss Cristoph Daum following a much-publicised car
accident. After returning to Turkey, Kazim-Richards spent the first half of
the 2010/11 campaign back with Fenerbahce before they terminated his
contract - upon which, he moved to fellow Turkish club Galatasaray. However
after just half a season with Gala - during which he scored against his
former club - he moved to Greece in order to join Olympiakos on loan for the
second half of the 2011/12 campaign. Despite having the option to make the
dela pemanent this summer Kazim-Richards was not retained by the
Piraeus-based club and has since returned to Turkey, since when he has been
invited to West Ham for a trial. Whilst he is not expected to feature at
Boreham Wood tonight, Kazim-Richards could make an appearance for the
Hammers when they travel to Southend this weekend.
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Allardyce: my 'difficult' transfer window
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 10th July 2012
By: Staff Writer
Sam Allardyce has admitted that his search for new players this summer has
been a frustrating experience. The West Ham boss, who takes his team for the
first time in pre-season this evening when they visit non-league Boreham
Wood told whufc.com that he had endured a 'difficult' time trying to make
additions to the squad that won a return to the top flight via the play-off
Final in May. Having been linked with a whole host of potential signings
since the beginning of June, Allardyce, who remained in the UK last week
whilst the first team squad travelled to Austria, has managed to bag four
players - not one of whom has commanded anything more than a nominal
transfer fee. Goalkeepers Stephen Henderson and Jussi Jaaskelainen, former
loanee George McCartney and ex-Wigan midfielder Momo Diame have all joined
the squad for next season, however Allardyce readily admits that his squad
still requires further improvement. "Right now, our main aim is to improve
the quality of the squad and get some new faces in as quickly as possible,"
he said. "That has been the most difficult task of the summer."
Looking ahead to tonight's game, which was arranged as part of the deal that
took young midfielder Pelly Ruddock from Boreham Wood to West Ham last
winter, Allardyce believes that the match will be a good exercise for his
players who only returned from their midsummer break ten days ago. "As early
as this is, it's good for the first-team squad to get in another 45
minutes," said Allardyce, who will be taking a full-strength squad to Meadow
Park tonight. "It helps Boreham Wood and it helps our lads in their
preparation. It's going to be a good day."
* Guy Demel, who travelled with the squad to Austria last week but didn't
feature against Austria Wien on Saturday missed out as the result of a minor
injury. "There was a small incident with Guy [who] got caught in the eye,
but he should be back in a couple of days," revealed Allardyce.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Big Sam eyes more additions
Boss still working on 'improving quality' of Hammers squad
Last Updated: July 10, 2012 5:27pm
SSN
Sam Allardyce is keen to add more new faces to his West Ham squad 'as
quickly as possible' as they prepare for their return to the Premier League.
The Hammers have already brought in four fresh signings with the captures of
goalkeepers Jussi Jaaskelainen and Stephen Henderson, midfielder Mohamed
Diame and defender George McCartney. But manager Allardyce says he has not
finished bolstering his squad, with several out-of-contract players having
already left. He told the club's official website: "Right now, our main
(aim) is to improve the quality of the squad and get some new faces in as
quickly as possible. "That has been the most difficult task of the summer."
West Ham have been linked with a host of targets ahead of their return to
the top-flight following promotion last season, including Inter Milan
veteran Dejan Stankovic and Chelsea striker Romelu Lukaku.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Can You Imagine Andy Carroll in Claret & Blue?
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die
The rumours have been circulating all evening, and tomorrow's Daily Mail has
the story that West Ham are trying to secure the services of England striker
Andy Carroll on a year long loan. Yes, you read that right. It will no doubt
be seen by some as the owners giving us all hope that a star player is about
to be signed, only for it to come to nowt, but according to Lee Clayton, a
football journalist and Hammers fan, they are deadly serious.
As it happens, I am quite a fan of Carroll. He has had a torrid time at
Liverpool. mainly because he was never played in the right position. His
record at Newcastle shows what he is capable of. OK, many of his goals were
in the Championship, but he scored 14 in 33 Premier League appearances for
Newcastle, which is a good record. Six in 42 for Liverpool is not so
impressive. But to balance that, he's scored 6 in 18 England games at all
levels and 2 in 7 full internationals.
After the season he had last year, his performances at Euro 2012 were highly
creditable and it was obvious to see that no defender relished playing
against him.
Do I think he would come to West Ham? In all honesty, no I don't. But
stranger things have happened. I suspect much might depend on what kind of
relationship he enjoyed with Sam Allardyce when he was at Newcastle.
Allardyce picked him 4 times but then packed him off on loan to Preston
where he only scored 1 goal in 11 games. And then of course, we should
remember that Kevin Nolan is his best mate.
* There are also rumours that a deal for a foreign striker has been agreed.
No idea who.
* Sam Baldock scored in the 1-1 draw at Borehamwood earlier - his second
goal in two games.
UPDATE: Here's an extract from the Mail piece...
West Ham are set to launch an ambitious bid for England striker Andy
Carroll. Sam Allardyce wants to make a marquee signing ahead of his club's
return to the Barclays Premier League and West Ham's owners are prepared to
break their budget for the Liverpool No 9. However, they face stiff
competition from Fulham, who are prepared to offer Clint Dempsey plus cash
as part of any deal, while there is also interest from Italy. West Ham are
proposing an initial loan with a view to buying Carroll for around
£15million. That would represent a huge loss for Liverpool, who signed the
forward for £35m in January 2011.
But Carroll, 23, is facing an uncertain future at Anfield after Liverpool
manager Brendan Rodgers refused to dismiss the idea he could leave on loan.
Significantly, Rodgers would not give any assurances about Carroll's future
when presented with the opportunity on Monday and a switch to Upton Park
could prove enticing. Allardyce's style of play would suit Carroll, while he
would also link up with close friend and former Newcastle captain Kevin
Nolan.
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Colin Kazim-Richards on Trial, as the Joselu Speculation Resurfaces!
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
Kumb have reported that West Ham have taken former Sheffield United forward
Colin Kazim-Richards on trial. Kazim-Richards has been playing abroad for
the last five years, having moved from Sheffield United to Fenerbahce in
2007. Still only 25 years of age, the Leytonstone born forward has been
invited to the club's Chadwell Heath training base so that West Ham can
assess the player's fitness and form. Finally, the Joselu from Real Madrid
speculation has resurfaced. Allegedly, the club are prepared to go up to £6m
in order to capture the German born centre-forward. Originally, Real Madrid
wanted £7m, but it is reported that West Ham are trying to cut a deal with
the Spanish giants. I think it is a case of believing it when we see it
happen!
SJ. Chandos.
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Sam's a Carr dealer
The Sun
By PHIL THOMAS
Last Updated: 11th July 2012
ANDY CARROLL is a sensational transfer target for West Ham's Sam Allardyce.
But the £35million hitman insisted last night he aims to stay at Liverpool
to fight for his place. Boss Brendan Rodgers had revealed he is ready to
loan out the Anfield record buy. Italian giants AC Milan are keen, but
Hammers owner David Sullivan believes it would be the perfect opportunity to
reunite the Geordie hitman with ex-Newcastle manager Allardyce. Sullivan is
backing a season-long loan even though they may have to pay his
£80,000-a-week wages. However, the Hammers will hope they can strike a deal
similar to Manchester City's arrangement with Spurs over Emmanuel Adebayor
last season. Another key player in the deal will be West Ham skipper Kevin
Nolan, who is Carroll's best mate from their Newcastle days. But last night
a close friend of Carroll's revealed: "There is no chance of Andy leaving
Liverpool. He is staying put. "So AC Milan can forget it and he won't be
going back to Newcastle or joining West Ham either — on loan or otherwise."
Carroll, 23, has failed to make a big impact on Merseyside and scored only
four goals last season. Rodgers said on Monday: "A loan is something I would
have to look at. It can benefit the club in the long term." Roma have
confirmed Liverpool are interested in Italy striker Fabio Borini. The ace,
21, worked with Rodgers at Chelsea's Academy and Swansea. Roma director
Walter Sabatini said: "There is a real interest from Liverpool."
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Clyne to fly from Eagles
The Sun
Published: 10th July 2012
CRYSTAL PALACE have admitted defeat in their bid to keep Nathaniel Clyne and
are ready to offload the wantaway defender. The right-back, 21, is out of
contract at Selhurst Park but the Eagles will still receive a compensation
fee due to his age. Manchester United, Newcastle and West Ham have all been
linked with the England Under-21 star. Palace chairman Steve Parish said:
"We need to do a deal with Clyne. "There is a bit of action in the
background and we know there is a lot of interest. "It is just about sorting
out who it is best to go to and who will put the right money on the table.
We're all working to get an outcome. "Clubs don't want to go down the
tribunal route. It is a game of cat and mouse on the fee — we've just got to
let that play out."
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Cockney Carroll! West Ham plotting shock one-year loan swoop for big Andy
The Mirror
Andy Carroll is ready to fight for his Anfield future...despite becoming a
sensational target for West Ham. The London club have joined the chase to
capture the England striker, and believe they have a trump card over AC
Milan, who have also expressed their admiration for the Liverpool forward.
Route one natural: Carroll could stick his head on it for Big Sam at West
Ham Carroll's best mate and mentor is Hammers midfielder Kevin Nolan, and
boss Sam Allardyce believes that relationship could tip the balance in his
favour. Senior figures at West Ham confirmed they are ready to approach
Liverpool with a proposal for a year-long loan deal for a player who played
under Allardyce at Newcastle. The stumbling block would be money, with West
Ham unlikely to be able to afford wages that are around the £80,000 a week
mark - a figure that would present few problems for Milan. New Reds manager
Brendan Rodgers has admitted he will assess whether Carroll can fit into his
plans over the coming pre-season weeks, and prove he can operate in the new
system that will be adopted at Anfield.
Rodgers revealed earlier this week he could be persuaded to let the centre
forward go out on loan, with Milan the most likely destination given their
ability to pay the full amount of the striker's wages. Yet Carroll himself
has responded to suggestions his future at Liverpool is again under
pressure, by insisting he is prepared to fight for the right to be there
once more. The striker spent much of last year battling against the
skepticism of then manager Kenny Dalglish, who - according to Manchester
City - tried to arrange a swap deal involving Carlos Tevez last winter. That
arrangement fell through, and Carroll responded with some fine end of the
season form to not only revive his Anfield fortunes, but also force himself
into the England squad to play a role at Euro 2012. An impressive goal
against Sweden seemed to have settled his Reds future, but apparently cut
little ice with Rodgers, who wants to move away from a 4-4-2 formation, and
introduce a free-flowing three man forward line, without a traditional
centre forward.
The Liverpool boss is close to pulling off a deal to bring exciting young
Italian forward Fabio Borini to Anfield, and is also interested in Chelsea
striker Daniel Sturridge. While that suggests there is little chance of
regular games for Carroll at Anfield, sources close to the player have
insisted he will not leave without a fight, and is ready to scrap for the
chance show his new manager what he can do. The player has spoken at length
with Rodgers already, and expressed his desire to stay, even though the
manager made clear his preference for a progression towards a different
style at Anfield. Milan have confirmed their interest and already
investigated the prospect of a loan deal, but there is no enthusiasm from
within the Carroll camp for a move to Italy, and that could offer West Ham
some hope, given the player's close relationship with Nolan. Liverpool would
be more comfortable with letting Carroll go to a foreign club, reducing the
prospect of him returning to haunt them in the Premier League. They already
have a relationship with AC after agreeing a year long loan deal for Alberto
Aquilani last season.
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Jaaskelainen makes bow for West Ham as Big Sam's side draw at Boreham Wood
By SPORTSMAIL REPORTER
PUBLISHED: 02:54, 11 July 2012 | UPDATED: 02:55, 11 July 2012
Daily Mail
Jussi Jaaskelainen made his West Ham bow as Sam Allardyce's side were held
to a 1-1 draw in a pre-season friendly at Boreham Wood. Sam Baldock followed
up his goal in the 3-1 defeat to Austria Vienna with the opening strike
after 27 minutes, finishing off some fine work from the lively Ricardo Va
Te. Despite being in control for much for the game, the Hammers - who
fielded two different sides for each half - were pegged back after the break
with Inih Effiong punishing some lacklustre defending.
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Sam Allardyce wants to sign Liverpool's Andy Carroll for West Ham
• West Ham believed to want England striker on loan
• Permanent transfer for £15m could follow
Share 38
Staff and agencies
The Guardian, Wednesday 11 July 2012
Sam Allardyce is believed to be about to make a bid for Liverpool's England
striker Andy Carroll. West Ham are proposing an initial loan with a view to
buying the 23-year-old for around £15m who signed from Newcastle United for
£35m in January, 2011. West Ham, returning to the Premier League after their
relegation last year, may face opposition for Carroll from a number of other
clubs after reports emerged suggesting Liverpool had let it be known that
they were willing to listen to offers for the player.
Brendan Rodgers, the Liverpool manager, said on Monday that the possibility
of loaning Carroll is "something I would have to look at" although he did
indicate that he would give the forward time to see if he would fit into his
plans at Anfield.
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Now Hammers want Liverpool's Carroll! Big Sam seeks loan deal for Kop misfit
By SIMON JONES and DOMINIC KING
PUBLISHED: 22:50, 10 July 2012 | UPDATED: 22:50, 10 July 2012
Daily Mail
West Ham are set to launch an ambitious bid for England striker Andy
Carroll. Sam Allardyce wants to make a marquee signing ahead of his club's
return to the Barclays Premier League and West Ham's owners are prepared to
break their budget for the Liverpool No 9. However, they face stiff
competition from Fulham, who are prepared to offer Clint Dempsey plus cash
as part of any deal, while there is also interest from Italy. West Ham are
proposing an initial loan with a view to buying Carroll for around
£15million. That would represent a huge loss for Liverpool, who signed the
forward for £35m in January 2011. But Carroll, 23, is facing an uncertain
future at Anfield after Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers refused to
dismiss the idea he could leave on loan. Fulham could yet hold a trump card
with Dempsey as Rodgers is a confirmed admirer of the USA forward, who is in
the final 12 months of his contract at Craven Cottage. The interest from
Italy in Carroll, who is on holiday, is not just from AC Milan but it is
debatable whether a move to Serie A would appeal to him. Carroll, who has
scored 11 goals in 59 appearances for Liverpool, has not given any
indication he wants to leave Merseyside but may struggle for regular starts
in Rodgers' new regime.
Significantly, Rodgers would not give any assurances about Carroll's future
when presented with the opportunity on Monday and a switch to Upton Park
could prove enticing. Allardyce's style of play would suit Carroll, while he
would also link up with close friend and former Newcastle captain Kevin
Nolan. Rodgers is expected to make Fabio Borini his first signing in a £10m
deal after Roma confirmed Liverpool's interest. The new Kop boss is just as
keen on tying down Luis Suarez, whose deal runs to June 2016. Liverpool want
to extend his contract and increase his £80,000-a-week pay to be in line
with the club's highest earners. When asked if the club were any closer to
announcing Suarez's new deal, Rodgers said: 'We hope so. He has really
bought into what we are trying to do. He was really excited about how we
played at Swansea last year.'
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*********NOT STRICTLY WEST HAM RELATED ***************
Prem captains accused in betting scam
Saints legend Lundekvam reveals 'fraud'
The Sun
By DAN KING, Sport Uncovered
Last Updated: 11th July 2012
A SENSATIONAL betting scandal rocked the Premier League last night. Former
Southampton captain Claus Lundekvam has blown the lid on systematic fraud by
top-flight players. The stars made thousands of pounds by spot-fixing — just
like the three jailed Pakistan cricketers. Lundekvam, 39, insists other
Premier League skippers colluded with the betting scam. In a series of
startling interviews in his native Norway, Lundekvam claimed that he and
fellow Saints aces raked in thousands betting on their own games — for a
spell, doing it 'almost every week'. He alleged they used club staff to put
big stakes on incidents like the first throw-in or corner, that they
conspired with captains from opposing teams to ensure the bets came off and
that the problem was rife in a Premier League where players lived in a
'bubble'.
Lundekvam, who played for Saints from 1996 to 2008 and won 40 Norway caps,
said: "It's not something I'm proud of. "For a while we did this almost
every week. We made a fair bit of money. We could make deals with the
opposing captain about, for example, betting on the first throw, the first
corner, who started with the ball, a yellow card or a penalty. "Those were
the sorts of thing we had influence over."
But Lundekvam insisted he and his team-mates had never doctored the result
of a game. He added: "The results were never on the agenda. That is
something I would never have done. We were professional competitors. Even
though what we did, of course, was illegal, it was just a fun thing." The
English and global football authorities, not to mention the police and the
Premier League's millions of fans worldwide, are unlikely to take the same
view. Betting on penalties, in particular, would take the fixing into new
territory since the outcome of matches would clearly be affected if a goal
was scored. And Lundekvam, who fell into cocaine and alcohol abuse after
retiring in 2008, insists it was not just Saints players who were breaking
the law and FA rules. He declared: "I know it happened at other clubs as
well. "We footballers live in a bubble. It was part of the lifestyle and the
excitement. Whatever we could bet on, we bet on."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
We made deals with opposing captains every single week
The Sun
By DAN KING, Sport Uncovered
Last Updated: 11th July 2012
WHEN Southampton legend Matt Le Tissier claimed he had taken part in a
failed betting coup, some in English football treated it as a bit of a joke.
Good old Le Tiss, they thought. A God on the pitch but he could not even
pull off a simple scam with a throw-in. But no one should be laughing any
more. Because the alleged incident in 1995 against Wimbledon was not a
one-off. It now appears spot-fixing was rife. Not only at Southampton, but
throughout the Premier League. And with the continuing expansion in legal
and illegal betting markets all over the world, the suspicion must be that
it is still going on. And that all the football folk who slammed cricket
corruption when the News of the World exposed the Pakistan cheats need to
take a long, hard look at their own game. Claus Lundekvam became a
Southampton hero having arrived at The Dell to play alongside Le Tissier a
year after the Wimbledon match. Now he may be remembered as the man who
exposed another of English football's dirty little secrets. And one of the
most shocking things about his account of spot-fixing is... how easy it all
was. The former Norway international said: "It's something I was involved in
for a number of years in England. "I bet on my own matches. There were often
several players who put money in the pot — several hundred pounds each,
sometimes a thousand each. "We would then give the money to one of the staff
who would put the money on for us, so we didn't have to do it ourselves and
so create suspicion. We would bet for example on the first throw-in. "We
would have an agreement with the opposing team that whoever had the kick-off
would pass the ball back to a defender who would then play it forward down
the channel where an opposing defender would kick the ball out for a
throw-in. "It's a pretty normal start to a game, no one would have suspected
and it was very easy for us to control the little things like that. "We
could make deals with the opposing captain in relating to betting on the
first throw, the first corner, who started with the ball, a yellow card, a
penalty. "For a while we did this almost every week." His claims of
conspiracy with players on other teams imply widespread corruption. And
Lundekvam is adamant that Southampton players were not the only ones
breaking FA rules and the law of the land by betting on matches in which
they were involved. He added: "I'm not proud of being part of this. "We were
far from alone in this but that doesn't help. I know it happened at other
clubs. It was accepted... in matches at the end of the 1990s. "The bookies
were open to betting on these kind of things and it was easy for us to
manipulate. "I do not think it was sporting or morally right for us to do
what we did. But we had a chance to do it then, and that's just how it was.
"Even though what we did was illegal, it was quite fun to be part of. "We
made a fair amount of money on this. I can't really remember how much. But
we made money on it even though the odds weren't always high. "Even when the
odds weren't high, they were safe bets." But were the players not earning
enough money as players in one of the richest leagues in the world?
Lundekvam, now 39, said: "Yes, absolutely. We footballers live in a bubble.
"We are betting all the time when we are together, whether it's card games
on the bus or something else. "It's part of our lifestyle, the adrenalin and
the excitement. Whatever we could bet on, we bet on it." Stories of players
like Steve Claridge losing hundreds of thousands on the horses and rows
between England stars over card schools have long been public knowledge. But
apart from Le Tissier's sort-of-confession, this is the first-time a Premier
League player has admitted doing exactly what Pakistan cricketers Salman
Butt, Mohammad Amir and Mohammad Asif were found guilty of. In recent years,
there has been greater concern about lower league matches being corrupted by
betting.
In 2009, the FA handed down bans to three Accrington Stanley players and one
from Bury who had bet on a League Two clash in 2008 between the two clubs. A
number of games in the old Football Conference — a competition now sponsored
by betting firm Blue Square — have also come under suspicion. And earlier
this month Kettering chairman George Rolls was banned from football for five
years after more than 3,000 breaches of betting regulations between 2007-10
— when he had been chairman at Cambridge United and Weymouth — and for
misconduct relating to the investigation. But the Premier League has
remained pretty much undisturbed by betting scandals since the 1990s. Former
Liverpool goalkeeper Bruce Grobelaar and ex-Wimbledon players John Fashanu
and Hans Segers were all cleared of allegations of match-fixing. No players
were implicated in the bizarre case of Far Eastern betting syndicates trying
to rig games by interfering with floodlights. Lundekvam's allegations raise
fresh doubts about the English game. Although the FA rules on betting were
less strict back in the late 1990s, he knew that what he and his fellow
stars were doing was in breach of those regulations and of the law. The
Premier League said last night that betting was an issue for the FA.
Rolls was charged under the Rule E8 of current FA regulations which make it
very clear that any 'participant' — from a board member to a player to a tea
lady — is forbidden from betting on any competition in which their club is
involved. They are also forbidden from passing on any information which they
know or suspect will be used for gambling.
An FA spokesman declined to comment on Lundekvam's claims but said:
"Participants are consistently reminded they cannot bet on any competition
in which they are involved. "The FA has strict policies on this and our
sanctions are wide-ranging. "All participants also have a duty to report any
such activity. "Football works closely with the gambling industry to monitor
all markets and activity and we have a unit focused on maintaining the
integrity of the sport."
Of course, there is a distinction between breaking rules on betting and
match-fixing. But the fans who pay big money to watch Premier League matches
and the hundreds of millions of armchair supporters who watch the game on TV
will now be less certain whether they can trust what they are seeing.
Lundekvam's allegations came as a result of a betting scandal unfolding in
Norway. He said it would be naive to think that such things did not go on in
Norwegian football.
The same could now be said of the English game.
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