Ravel thrilled with debut Boleyn strike
WHUFC.com
West Ham United youngster Ravel Morrison was thrilled to notch his first home goal on Saturday
11.08.2013
Ravel Morrison could not hide his delight at notching his first Boleyn Ground goal in Saturday's pre-season win over Pacos de Ferreira. The West Ham United youngster wore a broad smile as he recalled stroking the ball past Pacos keeper Antonio Filipe to give the Hammers the lead with just 16 seconds played.
Modibo Maiga notched a second as West Ham moved two in front before the break, and although the Portuguese visitors pulled one back after half time, Morrison was happy to pick up another win ahead of the big kick-off. "It was my first goal at the Boleyn Ground so it was a great feeling and I was buzzing when I scored it," he beamed. "I've never scored that quickly before and I was in two minds a little bit. I was thinking should I chip him or smash it, and I actually ended up placing it. "I didn't want to get in trouble for chipping it! "It was a good end to pre-season and i think we've had a good summer. We've only been beaten twice, so it's been good. I've really enjoyed it. "We've had a useful week against the Portuguese teams. To beat Pacos de Ferreira, who are in the Champions League this season, is good for us."
Morrison has enjoyed a terrific pre-season campaign after returning to the Club following a year on loan with Sky Bet Championship side Birmingham City.
The 20-year-old has scored six goals in West Ham's warm-up games and he is hoping to be involved when the Barclays Premier League action gets underway.
"It's been really good this pre-season," he stated. "The lads have helped me, talked me through when I'm playing. "To be honest, at the start of pre-season I thought I was going to get a few games, but I didn't think I'd play as much as I have. "It has been great to be involved and now I can't wait for the season to start against Cardiff next week. "We've come back stronger and shown in pre-season that we're going to give it a real fight to finish higher in the league. "Personally, my targets are just to try and get into the first team and play a few games."
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Hammers eye Portuguese international
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 11th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
Besiktas are considering a €3.5million offer from West Ham for Portuguese striker Hugo Almeida, according to sources in Turkey. The 29-year-old is out of contract with the Turkish club next year and the Black Eagles are said to be keen to offload the Portuguese international in order to free up space for Tottenham's Emmanuel Adebayor, who they are keen to sign. According to Fanatik, West Ham will meet representatives of the former Boavista and Werder Bremen striker early next week to thrash out personal terms. Almeida, who is out of contract soon and was thought to be considering a new three-year offer from Besiktas is privately said to be interested in a move to England. Having started his career with hometown club Associação Naval 1º de Maio, Almeida signed for Porto as a 16-year-old back in 2000. He made his first team debut three years later before enjoying loan spells with União de Leiria and Boavista.
After a third loan stint, this time in Germany, Almeida signed a four-year deal with Bundesliga club Werder Bremen in 2007 who paid €4million for his signature; the forward deciding to move as his first team opportunities at Porto became limited. He opened the 2007/08 season with seven goals in his first 12 games and went on to finish the campaign with 16 goals in all competitions. The following season - 2008/09 - Almeida scored nine times in the Bundesliga and was part of the team that made it all the way to the UEFA Cup Final. His third season in Germany also ended with him reaching double figures; his seven league goals were complemented by four in other competitions as Bremen went on to finish third in the league and qualify for the Champions League.
Almeida was well on his way to hitting double figures for a fourth successive year when Besiktas made a €2million offer for a player who had just a matter months remaining on his contract - and in December, he moved to the Turkish club signing a three-and-a-half year contract. Having made his full international debut in 2004, Almeida has gone on to represent his country on 47 occasions, scoring 17 goals.
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Hamad set for West Ham talks, says agent
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 11th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are set to hold talks with the agent of Swedish international midfielder Jiloan Hamad, according to Sport Bladet. KUMB.com revealed last month how United were being linked with a move for the 22-year-old, who is out of contract with his current club Malmo at the end of this year. And according to Ferhat Cifci, Hamad's agent and representative, the two parties are set to discuss a potential permanent transfer later today. "We will meet to talk with each other and find out how West Ham's offer looks," Cifci told Sport Bladet. "It is a good discussion to get into but nothing is certain until they have agreed terms with Malmo. Therefore, we will not discuss any personal terms. "If Jiloan continues to play like he did the last time, even bigger clubs than West Ham may become interested. We have plenty of time before the transfer window closes and a new one opens in January."
Hamad, who is primarily employed as a winger has less than six months remaining on the two-year contract he signed with MFF back in 2011 and is therefore allowed to speak to other clubs. Last season (2012) he scored six goals and contributed nine assists for Malmo in the Allsvenskan, whilst he was an unused substitute in Sweden's famous 4-2 win against England at the Friends Arena in November 2012. In this year's Allsvenskan (which runs from March 2013 to November 2013), Hamad has already scored five times whilst providing a further four assists from the wing.
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West Ham forced to withdraw new kit from general sale
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 11th August 2013
By: David Meagher
In a dramatic effort to stem the chaos that has followed the recent release of West Ham's gorgeous new home strip, the club have been forced to withdraw the kit from general sale and recall all items so far purchased in an effort to protect fans who have been exposed to 'a number of significant health and safety dangers'.
In the brief period since the strip was put on general release, a flood of dads and other middle-aged past-it losers have sustained serious back and other 'I think I've done myself a mischief' type- injuries whilst attempting all sorts of unfeasible footie acrobatics and similar antics trying to copy the skills of the incredible team of '86 on whose kit the new jersey is modelled.
While the spirit of '86 brings back memories of TC and God slamming in goals here, there and everywhere - while Alvin and the boys formed an almost impenetrable fortress in front of Phil Parkes' goal – the mid-eighties also reminds them of a time when many were still players on the disco dance floors. Reports have been flooding in of Hammers fans engaging in provocative hip thrusting and other 'tasty' dance moves whilst adorned in the new kit.
In related developments, West Ham Supporters Wives Support Network (WHSWSN) have reported a massive increase in 'wearing footie jerseys to bed' offences and are said to be preparing to lodge a formal complaint to Messrs Sullivan and Gold. These difficulties are somewhat ironic given that Mr Gold's Ann Summers products have been saving tired marriages for years with their lingerie ranges that are especially designed for the curvaceous mature woman.
Dr Adrian Shagbottom, Consultant Lead in Accident and Emergency Medicine at Basildon University Hospital has revealed how their casualty has been filled to the gills with a variety of foolish orthopaedic injuries sustained whilst wearing these new jerseys. In one particularly tragic case, a man from Laindon managed to amputate his right foot whilst attempting a Ray 'Tonka' Stewart-type tackle on the family lawnmower.
As if these tragic developments were not enough to warrant a total recall of the new attire, it has also emerged that other Hammers fans have sustained severe psychological trauma whilst wearing the new top in public places. The jersey is so attractive that it has proven irresistible to the predatory females who stalk the 21st century. Arthur Winkleweird, a fork lift driver from Pitsea, developed severe tinnitus as a result of persistent wolf whistling after attempting to do the weekly grocery shopping adorned in the kit.
Other fans have made the mistake of wearing the kit out socially and had their niteclub experiences ruined by sexual intimidation from steamed-up disco-babes. One such victim, Bob Wigglewand explained "the harassment from females was so intense that I couldn't focus on the music or even enjoy my glass of lager shandy – it ruined my night completely".
Vulnerable.
Top psychobabbleologists have warned about the particularly dangerous combination of the new jersey with Frank McAvennie-style blond highlights which it is feared could result in serious crush injuries caused by a stampede of admirers trying to fondle and caress unsuspecting Hammers fans who have been labelled by top doctors as "Dangerously shagtastic".
The strip recall will remind footie fans of similar kit disasters in the past, especially the amusing Man United 'grey' kit that was immediately withdrawn after a humiliating defeat during it first airing against Southampton in the 1990s. Blaming the colour of their away strip was just one of many excuses the wily Alex Ferguson used to try and conceal the fact that Paul 'Guvnor' Ince was no longer up to it in midfield.
Similarly, Republic of Ireland fans will feel the sting of old wounds relating to their Fluorescent orange strip disaster against Macedonia from the same period. Jason McAteer recently revealed that the real reason he launched an indiscriminate kung-fu style kick at one of the unsuspecting Macedonian's was to stop them laughing at the offensively garish Irish kit. Both of these jerseys are now much sought after collector's items, offering some hope that the two-Davids might recoup some of their outlay on the new apparel.
Meanwhile, as Hammers fans wander the streets of Europe in the sensational near gear, Dr Max Intertrigo, chief physician at one of London City's biggest STD clinics, has warned Hammer's fans to be careful how they use the new strip, especially around hunk-hungry soccer babes. In a carefully prepared statement sources close to the FA moved to calm the frenzy "While we support the use of football for personal enjoyment and in moderate quantities, we do not condone excessive use of football as a means of self-expression and cannot recommend that users engage in abuse of football (or its equipment) to promote social intercourse".
Sad and boring Arsenal and Man United fans who invest their whole identities in the success of their preferred football teams are likely to find these new guidelines devastatingly life changing. Thankfully for Gooner's fans, the club have taken a lead by releasing a new away kit that is so hilarious that it is unlikely to ever be seen in public.
For the club this this latest debacle emphasises the many challenges of managing a precious commodity like a football club that is massively steeped in tradition, including the serious dangers of releasing kits that are "simply too cool".
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West Ham scouts spotted at Ligue 1 clash
KUMB.com
Filed: Sunday, 11th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United were one of six clubs to send representatives to watch last night's meeting between Bordeaux and Monaco, according to les Girondins. The French club took the unusual step of announcing the names of the (known) club's represented by scouts at last night's Ligue 1 clash, which the visitors won 2-0 courtesy of late goals from Emmanuel Rivière and new signing Radamel Falcao. The most likely target for West Ham's representatives was Bordeaux's 26-year-old central defender/defensive midfielder Ludovic Sane, who has been linked with a move to east London all summer. The two teams lined up as follows:
Bordeaux: Carasso; Mariano, Planus, Sane, Poundjé; Plasil (c), N'Guemo, Obraniak, Poko; Maurice-Belay, Saivet.
Monaco: Subasic; Fabinho, Carvalho, Abidal (c); Obbadi, Toulalan, Ocampos, Rodriguez, Ferreira-Carrasco; Kurzawa, Falcao.
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Defoe: What Are We Waiting For?
By Iain Dale About 11 hours ago 167 comments
West Ham Till I Die
According to the Mail on Sunday, Tottenham are offering Jermain Defoe to QPR for £6 million. Defoe is a goal machine. Well, Sam? What are you waiting for?
If I had £6 million to spend, I know who I'd spent it on. And his name isn't Stewart Downing.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Monday, August 12
Sunday, August 11
Daily WHUFC News - 11th August 2013
Hendo happy with final workout
WHUFC.com
West Ham United first team coach Ian Hendon was satisfied with Saturday's
win over Pacos de Ferreira
10.08.2013
Ian Hendon declared Saturday's win over Pacos de Ferreira as another
satisfactory workout for his side after West Ham United scored two first
half goals to defeat Portuguese Champions league qualifiers Pacos de
Ferreira 2-1. The Hammers rounded off their pre-season programme with
victory at the Boleyn Ground thanks to goals from Ravel Morrison and Modibo
Maiga, leaving first team coach Hendon content ahead of the big kick-off a
week away. West Ham host Cardiff City in their opening Barclays Premier
League fixture next Saturday and Hendon believes they are in a good place
ahead of that meeting with the Bluebirds. "It was a very good first half
performance," he told West Ham TV. "We got an early goal and it's easy to
sit back when you score early, but the lads didn't do that. They continued
to do what we wanted them to and got another goal just before half time.
"The game died a little bit in the second half, it got disrupted with the
amount of substitutes that came on which generally happens in pre-season
games. "Overall, it's a good performance, a good result and it leads us up
nicely for the Cardiff game next week. "Progressively, the teams we've
played have got better. They're a Champions League team we played on
Saturday. They are tough opposition, they keep the ball and we get a lot of
work off it."
Morrison's goal came just 16 seconds into the contest, and remarkably,
Hendon revealed the same thing had happened in training the day before. He
continued: "It was funny actually. We set up training yesterday and we did
exactly the same thing - within about 30 seconds the lads who started today
had scored! "It was deja vu to be honest, it settles you down and it was
nice to score early. Credit to the lads, they kept going and played well."
Morrison has now scored six goals in pre-season, with Maiga's strike also
taking him up to three, and Hendon was pleased for both of them. "Ravel has
done very well in pre-season," he added. "He's come back and looked focused
in what he's doing, and in his football. I think his performances have
showed that."
"Modibo, too, has performed well and scored a week before the season. He did
ever so well when the ball went up to him today, he held it up, won his
headers and flick-ons, so it was nice for him to get on the scoresheet."
There were also home debuts for Adrian and Razvan Rat, with Hendon saying it
was useful to give them a Boleyn Ground experience before the action starts
for real. "That's why we made the goalkeeping change, to give Adrian a taste
of playing at the Boleyn Ground before the start of the season," he
confirmed.
"It gets them in the environment to see what it's like in their surroundings
and prepare them. It was good that the lads made their home debuts and they
look comfortable."
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Under-18s see off Eagles
WHUFC.com
A goal in either half helped the Hammers to a comfortable 2-0 win over
Crystal Palace at Little Heath
10.08.2013
West Ham United Under-18s ended their hectic pre-season schedule with a
deserved 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at Little Heath on Saturday morning. An
outstanding first-half free-kick from Kieran Bywater set the Hammers on
their way, before Lewis Page popped up with a rare goal in the closing
minutes.
The Hammers have had a successful pre-season campaign to date, including
finishing runners up to Danish side Nordsjaelland in the prestigious Yale
Eurofoot Tournament in Belgium earlier this month. With an important fixture
against Manchester United to kick off the league season in mind, Steve Potts
named a strong starting line-up for this pre-season clash, including
Development Squad regular Kieran Bywater and Eurofoot player of the
tournament Moses Makasi.
It was the visitors who burst into life in the opening minute, when Javen
Palmer found space on the edge of the Hammers penalty area to fire a volley
at goal, bringing a brilliant low save out of 'keeper Gines Guzman Rosique.
But West Ham soon got a foothold in the game, dictating play with some
brilliant one touch football in the middle of the pitch. And they could have
been ahead just 15 minutes in, when Jordan Brown got on the end of Nathan
Mavila's left wing cross, but missed the target from less than six yards.
The home side upped the pressure and were rewarded with the opener on the
half-hour mark. After Brown was fouled 22 yards from goal by Palace
centre-back Jahmal Howlett-Mundle, Bywater stepped up to curl a perfect
free-kick into the top left hand corner of the goal. As Palace looked for an
equaliser before the break, Mandela Egbo crossed for the unmarked Will Hoare
at the back post, who sliced his effort straight into Guzman's hands. It was
much the same after the interval, as West Ham continued to do most of the
pressing. This time, Emmanual Onariase smashed one goalwards, forcing
Palace's Tom King to tip the ball over the crossbar. From the resulting
corner, Mavila's deep centre was turned back across the face of the goal by
Onariase, but Jerry Amoo, under pressure, fired high over the bar from close
range.
It was West Ham who looked the most likely to get the next goal and it very
nearly came from another set piece. After Djair Parfitt-Williams had been
fouled, Nathan Mavila stepped up to cross it towards the back post, but it
was just too quick for both Jamie Harney and Onariase who slid in vain to
try and apply a telling touch. No matter, as In the closing minutes, West
Ham did double their lead. Though Parfitt-Williams had been tripped, the
Hammers played on and Page, arriving from the left-back position, fired
across the goalkeeper into the far right hand corner.
The U18s' next outing is against Manchester United at Little Heath on
Saturday 17 August, as they open their Barclays U18 Premier League campaign.
West Ham United U18: Guzman, Knoyle, Burke (Harney), Onariase, Page, Bywater
(Pike), Makasi (Parfitt-Williams), Cullen (Nasha), Amoo (Gonzalez-Cabrera),
Brown (Martins), Mavila (Gogo).
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Hendon on pre-season...
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 10th August 2013
By: Staff Writer No.2
First team coach Ian Hendon attended the post-match press conference after
the 2-1 win over Pacos De Ferreira and shared his thoughts on Andy Carroll's
fitness, Ravel Morrison's form and how "Mr Rat" is settling in....
Is it possible that Andy (Carroll) will be fit for the start of the season?
We don't think he's going to make it, to be honest. The original injury was
8-12 weeks and he picked it up in the last game of the season. But you never
know with Andy, he's chomping at the bit to play. He wants to play but we've
got to do what's right by him medically.
That intensifies the search for a striker before September 2nd, I presume?
Well if Andy's back fit by then maybe that's not the case. The manager will
deal with that.
.
Ravel (Morrison)'s come back from Birmingham. He looks a different player to
the lad that went off 12 months ago?
When Ravel signed... We know his qualities. He's gone away and had a season
in the Championship. He's come back very focused and I think you are seeing
in his performances how he's matured since he's been away. That's credit to
him.
Is Kevin Nolan ok?
Yeah Kev's fine. He just had a little kick.
Can you tell us anything about the usual media transfer talk? There's been
some talk about Scott Parker and the club?
The manager deals with all the transfers. The players come in and that's
where I come in. I do the coaching!
I thought you might say that (laughter). Just coming back to Ravel. There
was a quote in the Standard from Kevin Nolan last night that the senior
players realise that they've got to work with him, nurture him, be more of a
father figure to him. Do you see a situation where he could stay a whole
season?
Ravel's in the squad. You've seen today that he's started the game. It's up
to Ravel now. He's had a good pre-season, he's in the mix. He's in the
squad. He's started today. He'll keep his head down, I'm sure.
As I said before, he's matured in the year he's been away. The senior lads
want him to do well. They encourage him every day and he's taken to that, I
think. He's responding to that. Us as a coaching staff, we see the potential
that he's got.
As I say he's come back so focused, it's shocking really how focused he is.
It's brilliant.
Is it fair to say he'll start next week if Andy doesn't make it?
Who? Ravel? No it's different, isn't it. You know the system we play
generally. Modibo (Maiga)'s up there as a replacement for Andy so Ravel
would be vying for a midfield spot, I would imagine.
What about Modibo [Maiga]? There was some talk of him going but he gets his
head down and he scored?
Today he's done very well. The ball's gone up. He's won his headers, he's
got hold of it and he's set us off up there. That was a good performance. I
can't see him going anywhere to be honest but again, that's something that
the manager will deal with.
The Cardiff manager [Malky Mackay] said that West Ham and Southampton were
an inspiration to their desire to stay up next season. Will it be easier
next season or is the "second season syndrome" more likely to kick in?
I think the second season is probably more difficult than the first. There's
a fear of what's coming and how you're going to adapt to it. But having done
that comfortably, you have to go back to basics and make sure we do what we
did at the start of last season and try to get off to a good atart.
Do yo think you overachieved last season? Some might say that mid-table is
where a club of this stature should be?
I wouldn't say that. Over the season we could possibly have done a little
better. We had a little dip around December time – probably due to a few
injuries. I'm not going to say we're going to finish higher than tenth – you
don't know how it's gonna pan out over the season. I think we finished where
we deserved to finish last season.
What are the qualities that Mr Rat brings to you?
He's been at Donetsk for what is it, ten years? Eight? He's been there a
long time. He'll take a bit of adapting to our style of play – he's been
playing with, what, eight Brazilians in the team so they've had a lot of
possession!
It's going to be a little bit different in the Premier League. Technically
he's very good. Time will tell with Raz.
I've noticed how many clubs have been buying overseas players rather than
English players. Do you think this is an indictment of the quality we have
here or is it just that they're too expensive?
You're looking at the Premier League – our manager has been there and has
stayed in the Premier League every time he's been in there. I'm sure he
knows what is needed first to keep the team up and secondly to improve on
what we've already done.
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Morrison in the frame, says Hendon
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 10th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
Ian Hendon has revealed that Ravel Morrison is very much part of Sam
Allardyce's first team plans - and that he could be set for a first Premier
League start next weekend. The young midfielder's only previous competitive
appearance for West Ham came in a 1-1 draw at Leeds during the 2011/12
season, when he appeared as a late substitute. Since then Morrison spent a
productive year under the watchful eye of Birmingham manager Lee Clarke, who
helped the former Manchester United youth star become more focused on his
football, before returning to east London at the start of the summer. In
pre-season Morrison has proved to be something of a revelation, scoring six
goals, making him the club's leading goalscorer heading into the 2013/14
Premier League campaign.
And first team coach Hendon revealed tonight that Morrison is very much
considered to be part of manager Allardyce's first team plans as he looks
ahead to next weekend's match. "When he signed [for West Ham] we knew his
qualities. He's gone away and had a season in the Championship and he's come
back very focused at the start of pre-season," revealed Hendon. "I think we
saw in his performance today that he's matured since he's been away and
that's credit to him. Ravel's in the squad, as you've seen today. He started
the game. It's up to Ravel now. "As I said before, he's had a good
pre-season and he's in the mix. He's in the squad, he started today and if
he can keep his head down I'm sure [he can be involved]."
Hendon also revealed that a number of the club's senior players - including
captain Kevin Nolan - had volunteered to help the youngster, who had never
lived outside his native Manchester prior to joining West Ham, fulfil his
obvious potential. "The senior lads want him to do well," he said. "They
encourage him every day and he's taken to that, he's responded to it. Us as
the coaching staff as well, we see the potential the lad's got. It's almost
shocking to see how focused he is. That's credit to him, it's brilliant."
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We won't sell Jørgensen, say FCK
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 10th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
FC Copenhagen have denied reports that young striker Nicolai Jørgensen is on
his way to the UK for talks with West Ham over a potential transfer. Danish
media outlet Tipsbladet claimed yesterday that the 22-year-old forward was
set for imminent discussions with representatives of West Ham. However those
rumours were well and truly squashed this evening when Copenhagen director
Anders Hørsholt scoffed reports of Jørgensen's departure. "It is our policy
that we do not comment one way or the other kind of guesswork about players
who could be on the way in or out of FC Copenhagen," he said. "But when a
rumour like this arises, it is important for us to make it clear that we are
going to strengthen our squad and not weaken it."
The Danish club are currently bottom of the Superliga, having lost all three
of their league matches so far this season. Jørgensen is yet to get off the
mark in the current campaign.
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West Ham Utd 2-1 Pacos de Ferreira
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 10th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham ended pre-season with a morale-boosting win against Portuguese
Champions League qualifiers Pacos de Ferreira at the Boleyn Ground this
afternoon. Sam Allardyce's side, featuring none of his three summer signings
got off to a flyer when Ravel Morrison, given a starting berth having
impressed in pre-season scored the game's opening goal - his sixth of
pre-season - with just 16 seconds on the clock. United's lead was doubled
five minutes ahead of the break when Modibo Maiga, who looks set to start
against Cardiff City next weekend in the absence of Andy Carroll, scored
from close range. The visitors grabbed a consolation just six minutes into
the second half when Manuel José's curling, dipping shot evaded the arms of
Jussi Jaaskelainen.
West Ham Utd 2-1 Pacos de Ferreira: match facts
West Ham Utd: 1 Jaaskelainen, 2 Reid, 3 O'Brien, 4 Nolan, 5 Tomkins, 7
Jarvis, 8 Noble, 9 Cole, 10 Morrison, 11 Maiga, 12 Demel.
Subs: 13 Adrian, 14 Taylor, 15 Collison, 16 Rat, 17 Diame, 18 Diarra, 19
Collins, 20 Vaz Te.
Goals: Morrison (1), Maiga (40).
Pacos de Ferreira: 45 António Filipe, 7 Rúben, 8 André Leão, 10 Rui Miguel,
11 Caetano, 15 Grégory, 17 Nuno Santos, 20 Sérgio Oliveira, 22 Hélder Lopes,
81 Manuel José, 96 Filipe Anunciação.
Subs: 1 Matias Degra, 4 Romeu, 9 Christian, 14 Jaime Poulson, 16 Hurtado, 19
Ricardo, 26 Fernando, 27 Rodrigo António.
Goals: Manuel José (53).
Referee: Kevin Friend.
Assistants: Mark Scholes and Dan Rovathan.
Fourth Official: Alan Young.
Attendance: tbc.
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The thin white Duke
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 10th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United are taking Australian forward Mitchell Duke on a week's
trial. The 22-year-old, who currently features in his country's A-League for
Central Coast Mariners is set to arrive in London this weekend before
training with Sam Allardyce's first team squad for the next five days. Duke,
who hails from Liverpool - that's New South Wales, Australia not Merseyside,
England - was first spotted playing football for the PCYC (Police Citizens
Youth Club) by Australian Academy Coach Tony Basha. A relatively late
arrival to the game, the 6'1" striker only signed his first professional
contract 18 months ago, at the age of 21. In his first season as a pro, Duke
made 20 appearances in the A-League for the Mariners, scoring on seven
occasions.
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Ravel Morrison on target as West Ham beat Pacos de Ferreira 2-1
Last Updated: August 10, 2013 6:25pm
SSN
West Ham ended their pre-season programme with a 2-1 victory over Pacos de
Ferreira. Ravel Morrison and Modibo Maiga scored the goals for the Hammers
in the first half, with Manuel Jose netting a consolation for the Portuguese
Champions League qualifiers. The home side scored with the first attack of
the game in the 16th minute when Joe Cole found Morrison in the box and the
former Manchester United midfielder held off his man and calmly slotted the
ball in. They doubled their lead five minutes before the break when Maiga
cut in from the right and fired past the visitors' keeper at the near post.
Manuel Jose gave the away side hope with a 30-yard strike that deflected in
off the head of James Collins, but the Hammers held on for the win. New
signing Razvan Rat played the second half but Andy Carroll missed the game
as he continues to make his way back from a heel injury.
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Mitchell Duke to train with West Ham this week
Last Updated: August 10, 2013 7:54am
SSN
Central Coast Mariners striker Mitchell Duke is to spend a week training
with Premier League side West Ham. The 22-year-old caught the eye of West
Ham's scouts playing for Australia at last month's East Asian Cup, where he
scored a couple of goals. Duke will spend next week with the Hammers before
returning to the A-League club next weekend.He scored six goals in 21
A-League appearances last season, although many of those saw him come off
the bench.
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Is Joey Barton set to join West Ham?
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
There is a piece in today's Sunday People, suggesting that Sam Allardyce is
lining up a swoop for Joey Barton. The rationale being that Allardyce
admires Barton and wishes to link him up once again with Nolan and Carroll.
And apparently the respect is mutual, with Barton rating Allardyce's
management. So, is this story a runner? It is doubtful, considering how much
strength we appear to have in midfield. Barton can play both in the centre
and on the right of midfield, but surely our priorities lay elsewhere?
Will the proposed move for Stuart Downing come off? Its possible, but if its
a choice between us an Newcastle Utd there is a strong probability that
Downing will opt for a return to his native north-east. I would welcome the
signing, because I feel that Downing can recapture his best form at West
Ham. And with him and Jarvis attacking down the flanks, we will have real
pace, skill and accuracy out wide. The reports are talking of Downing
leaving Liverpool in the c.£6-5m deal and that is potentially very good
value. But we still need another central striker, that is pretty obvious.
Any successful move for a striker is likely to be a loan deal. That is fine,
as long as the loanee is of sufficient quality to come straight in to the
team and make a positive impact.
One possible mooted target is Nicolai Jorgensen of FC Copenhagen. There were
even reports that Jorgensen was due to arrive in London to negotiate
personal terms. However, FC Copenhagen moved yesterday to pour a large
quantity of cold water on the speculation. They have publicly denied that a
sale has been agreed with any third party and declared their intention to
not only retain Jorgensen, but move to strengthen their squad. So, lets see
if that is actually their position or if it is a bargaining ploy to increase
the asking price. He certainly looks promising, but lets wait and see what
transpires one way or the other.
It has often been observed that goal keepers are a different breed and that
is true. I recently wrote a blog entitled 'Not one of the greats, but still
memorable' and concentrated exclusively on out field players. That was
because I fully intended to do a separate piece on the specialist custodian
position. In my opinion, the greatest West Ham keepers were: Ted Hufton,
Ernie Gregory, Jim Standen, Phil Parkes and Ludo Miklosko. The very good
keepers were: Lawrie Leslie, Mervyn Day (1973-76), Shaka Hislop (during his
first spell at the club) and Rob Green (as a reaction-reflex keeper). The
memorable keepers, in my book, were: Les Sealey (as a character, for the
outfield cameo against Arsenal and that 5 star performance vs Newcastle
Utd), Tom MacAllister (a very good deputy to Parkes), Jimmy Walker (an
underrated keeper and who can forget his one man defiance of Chelsea in that
League Cup tie), Craig Forrest (a good, solid performer) and Bernard Lama
(another great character).
I personally never rated Bobby Ferguson or David James that much, but no
doubt others will disagree. There are other earlier keepers like Herman
Conway or Harry Medhurst who could figure on the list, but unfortunately I
am not in a position to assess their claims. There were also the 'stand in
keepers,' particularly Bobby Moore vs Stoke City in the 1972 League Cup
Semi-Final, Martin Peters, who was a decent keeper in his own right, Julian
Dicks and Henri Lansbury. And the greatest keeper we never had? That was
Gordon Banks, who Ron Greenwood could have signed in 1967, if he had not
shaken hands on a prior deal for Bobby Ferguson!!!! Also, there was Peter
Shilton, who joined us very late in his career, as emergency cover, but did
not make a first team appearance.
So, pre-season is over. now its all about getting that first vital win vs
Cardiff City next week. Last season underlined just how important it is to
get off to a good start and the early fixtures have fallen fairly kindly for
us again in the forthcoming campaign. I fully expect a player to join us
this week and another to be added before the summer window closes. Lets hope
so anyway. We have a good squad and once those two strikers are added, we
will be nicely poised for another very good PL campaign. And the target
should be 9th or 8th (as an improvement on last season) and a cup run. That
would be tangible progression and very encouraging indeed. COYI !
SJ. Chandos.
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Is Ravel Morrison the Long Term Replacement For Kevin Nolan?
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die
it's difficult to think how the pre-season games could have gone any better.
And the two stand-out players appear to have been Ravel Morrison and Modibo
Maiga. Ian Hendon has confirmed this evening that Morrison is in Sam
Allardyce's first team plans, and I should think so too. With six goals to
show in a series of friendlies he has had many of us licking our lips in
anticipation. However, here's the 'but'. Where does he fit in to a 4-5-1 or
4-3-3? It's tempting to say that in the long term he is an obvious successor
to Kevin Nolan, but nobody really believes Nolan will be displaced this
season. So that leaves Noble or Diame. Does anyone seriously think that
either of those deserve to be dropped for the first game of the season? Me
neither. What we have now are five quality central midfielders. Essentially,
Morrison replaces Gary O'Neil (the least said about him the better) in the
squad, and will play the role as joint deputy with Jack Collison. It's
possible he could play on the right against Cardiff, but surely Joe Cole and
Matt Jarvis will be the two players who complete the midfield five?
And a word about Modibo Maiga. He didn't get a proper chance last season.
There are rumours that he might yet be sold to St Etienne before the
deadline, but he too has scored goals in pre-season (three, I think). With
Andy Carroll injured he now has his chance. Will he take it? His main
drawback is his rather languid gait. He looks lazy, even though he isn't.
The goals he scored last season prove he can do it, but a few minutes on the
pitch here and there do him no favours. He needs to know he's going to start
for the first four games. I get the feeling that rather like Vaz Te, he is a
confidence player.
I think we should all look back on pre-season with some degree of confidence
for the future. I know I do.
PS Ravel Morrison is on Twitter @MorrisonRavel
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Downing gets to choose as Newcastle and West Ham show interest in Liverpool
winger
By JOE BERNSTEIN
PUBLISHED: 21:51, 10 August 2013 | UPDATED: 21:51, 10 August 2013
Daily Mail
Stewart Downing will be allowed to decide his own future by Liverpool after
interest from Newcastle and West Ham. Manager Brendan Rodgers is open to
the winger moving on because he cannot guarantee him first-team football.
Liverpool will listen to offers of about £6million for Downing, representing
a huge loss on a player signed for £20m by the club's former manager Kenny
Dalglish. Young winger Oussama Assaidi can join QPR but Raheem Sterling is
seen as an important part of the first-team squad at Anfield and will not go
out on loan.
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Karren Brady on why she needs a wife - and not an Apprentice one either!
THE STORY of Karren Brady's first press conference at Birmingham City
Football Club is well known.
By: Jane ClintonPublished: Sun, August 11, 2013
Express.co.uk
The sports executive and TV personality is one of the most recognisable
female faces in business yet she tells JANE CLINTON that getting the
work/life balance right is tough She had been appointed its managing
director aged 23 and was keen to make a good impression. "I wanted to look
at least 25," recalls the now vice-chairman of West Ham. "I had big hair,
big shoulder pads, big earrings and gave this very serious presentation of
all the things I was going to do with my football club to the baying press.
When I had finished there were questions and a little hand went up and a
journalist asked: 'What are your vital statistics?'" She laughs a hearty
laugh. "I knew what was coming."
That was back in the early Nineties but it would seem there is still room
for improvement when it comes to attitudes to women in sport, judging by
John Inverdale's comments about Marion Bartoli at Wimbledon this year.
"I thought it was most unfortunate and I applauded [Culture Secretary] Maria
Miller for the letter she wrote to the BBC about the general attitude that
shouldn't be allowed to develop any further," Brady says. "I think it is
important to use instances like that to remind people that it is not
acceptable."
Brady is a high-profile advocate of women, in particular of women succeeding
in business, and she is determined to see her efforts yield results.
She has said that in 10 years' time she would like to see a girl who takes
part in her work experience programme (the one that runs at West Ham of
which she is very proud) become a chief executive.
It is ambitious but 44-year-old Brady is known for her tenacity and nerves
of steel (this is after all the woman who sold her husband Paul Peschisolido
twice when he was a Birmingham City player).
"All we can do is keep reminding people: equality, women, business," she
says. "I want to live in a world where if a young woman says she wants to be
a painter/decorator there is no barrier, where their pay and respect are
equal to those people around them."
Married to Peschisolido since 1995, with whom she has two children,
17-year-old Sophia (after her birth she famously took three days' maternity
leave) and Paolo, 14, Brady works in London during the week and returns for
the weekend to the family's West Midlands home in Knowle, Solihull. Juggling
work and family life, however, means she could do with her very own Karren
Brady.
"When I was having my children years ago phrases like work/life balance and
flexible working, frankly, they just didn't exist," she says. "That balance,
however, is never the same between a male executive and female executive
because what a female executive needs is a wife and on the basis that many
of us are not going to get one..." she trails off into laughter.
"I sometimes pick my son up from school and his trousers are four inches
away from his ankles. My husband would not have even noticed. I'm sure the
parents at the gate are thinking, 'What a terrible mother'. If I don't buy
the new uniform and sort out the forms for school it doesn't happen."
Brady is an extreme over-achiever. The daughter of an Irish businessman
father and an Italian mother, she started her career aged 18 at advertising
firm Saatchi & Saatchi. She went on to London Broadcasting Company as a
sales executive. She joined Sport Newspapers Ltd in 1998 and became a
director within a year.
Brady is perhaps best-known, however, as the first woman in football. She
was managing director of Birmingham City Football Club from 1993 to 2009.
When in February 1997 she launched it on the Stock market she was the
youngest managing director of a plc in the UK. Since 2010 she has been
vice-chairman of West Ham and is looking forward to the club moving to the
Olympic Stadium in 2016.
She is well placed then to support Sky Sports's campaign to find the best
decision in sport. (For the record, Brady, who is thought to be worth
£82million, cites joining Birmingham City as one of her best decisions.)
She also has a string of non-executive directorships and has been recruited
by Maria Miller to join a task force encouraging more women in sport. In
addition there is her television career: in 2010 Brady replaced Margaret
Mountford as Lord Sugar's right-hand woman on The Apprentice.
been recruited by Maria Miller to join a task force encouraging more women
in sport. In addition there is her television career: in 2010 Brady replaced
Margaret Mountford as Lord Sugar's right-hand woman on The Apprentice.
How does she fit it all in?
Karen Brady, Apprentice, Birmingham City Football Club, Lord Alan SugarTeam
player: Brady with Birmingham City footballers
I want to live in a world where if a young woman says she wants to be a
painter/decorator there is no barrier
Karren Brady
She admits, with just an audible sigh: "Some days I don't know. In the past
three years I have been working in London and going home at the weekends and
it is not ideal. I have the constant guilt that working mothers carry around
with them. It's one of those horrible things really. My children do not want
to move down because they are where they are with regards their studies. My
son plays sport for the county and the district. I let my kids be the judge
of whether I have got the balance right. It is not easy and I wish there was
a formula. But there isn't."
Getting the balance right became even more important following a health
scare seven years ago. She had a cerebral aneurysm and underwent surgery.
She is now very disciplined about taking holidays and having time off.
Brady has also cultivated a dual personality of sorts so that she leaves the
boardroom well and truly out of the family home. "I do have my two
personalities: my home personality and my work personality," she says. "The
trick is not to allow one of those personalities to drain the life out of
the other."
In the past she has lamented that there are not more women breaking through
in business and that she sees the same faces at each function.
"I do get frustrated," she says. "I also genuinely believe that if people
like me, who have a relatively high profile of being a woman in a very
male-dominated world, don't employ more women and don't keep those doors
open and don't keep pushing then who is going to do it? It is our job to
help pave the way."
Karren Brady is supporting Sky Sports's campaign to find the best decision
in sport. To see the top 50 and vote for your favourite go to
skysports.com/decisions
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Sam Allardyce set to take chance on Joey Barton
WEST HAM boss Sam Allardyce is considering a shock move for controversial
QPR midfielder Joey Barton.
By: John RichardsonPublished: Sun, August 11, 2013
Express.co.uk
Allardyce, who is also attempting to bring Liverpool winger Stewart Downing
to Upton Park, would love to reunite Barton with his former Newcastle
team-mates Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan. The trio were together when Big Sam
was in charge at St James' Park, Barton joining from Manchester City for
£5.8million. And misfit Barton, who spent last season on loan with Marseille
in France, would jump at the chance of a return to the Premier League. And
misfit Barton, who spent last season on loan with Marseille in France, would
jump at the chance of a return to the Premier League Although he has settled
in back at Loftus Road under manager Harry Redknapp, and played in
yesterday's draw at Huddersfield, the 30-year-old believes he can still
succeed in the top flight. On his last Premier League appearance in May
2012, Barton was sent off at Manchester City and earned a 12-match ban. West
Ham will offer Barton one more chance, under a manager he has played for and
admires.
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Injured Carroll loses race to be fit for Hammers' season opener against
Cardiff
By JOE BERNSTEIN
PUBLISHED: 21:18, 10 August 2013 | UPDATED: 21:18, 10 August 2013
Daily mail
Andy Carroll looks set to miss next Saturday's opener against Cardiff as he
continues to receive treatment on the heel injury picked up last season.
West Ham fans had hoped their £15million frontman, who has missed the entire
pre-season, was on course to make a recovery in time to face Cardiff. But
first-team coach Ian Hendon said: 'We don't think he's going to make it. The
original injury was eight to 12 weeks. He's chomping at the bit but we must
do what's right.'
West Ham beat Portuguese side Pacos de Ferreira 2-1 on Saturday through
goals from Ravel Morrison - after just 16 seconds - and Modibo Maiga.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
West Ham United first team coach Ian Hendon was satisfied with Saturday's
win over Pacos de Ferreira
10.08.2013
Ian Hendon declared Saturday's win over Pacos de Ferreira as another
satisfactory workout for his side after West Ham United scored two first
half goals to defeat Portuguese Champions league qualifiers Pacos de
Ferreira 2-1. The Hammers rounded off their pre-season programme with
victory at the Boleyn Ground thanks to goals from Ravel Morrison and Modibo
Maiga, leaving first team coach Hendon content ahead of the big kick-off a
week away. West Ham host Cardiff City in their opening Barclays Premier
League fixture next Saturday and Hendon believes they are in a good place
ahead of that meeting with the Bluebirds. "It was a very good first half
performance," he told West Ham TV. "We got an early goal and it's easy to
sit back when you score early, but the lads didn't do that. They continued
to do what we wanted them to and got another goal just before half time.
"The game died a little bit in the second half, it got disrupted with the
amount of substitutes that came on which generally happens in pre-season
games. "Overall, it's a good performance, a good result and it leads us up
nicely for the Cardiff game next week. "Progressively, the teams we've
played have got better. They're a Champions League team we played on
Saturday. They are tough opposition, they keep the ball and we get a lot of
work off it."
Morrison's goal came just 16 seconds into the contest, and remarkably,
Hendon revealed the same thing had happened in training the day before. He
continued: "It was funny actually. We set up training yesterday and we did
exactly the same thing - within about 30 seconds the lads who started today
had scored! "It was deja vu to be honest, it settles you down and it was
nice to score early. Credit to the lads, they kept going and played well."
Morrison has now scored six goals in pre-season, with Maiga's strike also
taking him up to three, and Hendon was pleased for both of them. "Ravel has
done very well in pre-season," he added. "He's come back and looked focused
in what he's doing, and in his football. I think his performances have
showed that."
"Modibo, too, has performed well and scored a week before the season. He did
ever so well when the ball went up to him today, he held it up, won his
headers and flick-ons, so it was nice for him to get on the scoresheet."
There were also home debuts for Adrian and Razvan Rat, with Hendon saying it
was useful to give them a Boleyn Ground experience before the action starts
for real. "That's why we made the goalkeeping change, to give Adrian a taste
of playing at the Boleyn Ground before the start of the season," he
confirmed.
"It gets them in the environment to see what it's like in their surroundings
and prepare them. It was good that the lads made their home debuts and they
look comfortable."
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Under-18s see off Eagles
WHUFC.com
A goal in either half helped the Hammers to a comfortable 2-0 win over
Crystal Palace at Little Heath
10.08.2013
West Ham United Under-18s ended their hectic pre-season schedule with a
deserved 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at Little Heath on Saturday morning. An
outstanding first-half free-kick from Kieran Bywater set the Hammers on
their way, before Lewis Page popped up with a rare goal in the closing
minutes.
The Hammers have had a successful pre-season campaign to date, including
finishing runners up to Danish side Nordsjaelland in the prestigious Yale
Eurofoot Tournament in Belgium earlier this month. With an important fixture
against Manchester United to kick off the league season in mind, Steve Potts
named a strong starting line-up for this pre-season clash, including
Development Squad regular Kieran Bywater and Eurofoot player of the
tournament Moses Makasi.
It was the visitors who burst into life in the opening minute, when Javen
Palmer found space on the edge of the Hammers penalty area to fire a volley
at goal, bringing a brilliant low save out of 'keeper Gines Guzman Rosique.
But West Ham soon got a foothold in the game, dictating play with some
brilliant one touch football in the middle of the pitch. And they could have
been ahead just 15 minutes in, when Jordan Brown got on the end of Nathan
Mavila's left wing cross, but missed the target from less than six yards.
The home side upped the pressure and were rewarded with the opener on the
half-hour mark. After Brown was fouled 22 yards from goal by Palace
centre-back Jahmal Howlett-Mundle, Bywater stepped up to curl a perfect
free-kick into the top left hand corner of the goal. As Palace looked for an
equaliser before the break, Mandela Egbo crossed for the unmarked Will Hoare
at the back post, who sliced his effort straight into Guzman's hands. It was
much the same after the interval, as West Ham continued to do most of the
pressing. This time, Emmanual Onariase smashed one goalwards, forcing
Palace's Tom King to tip the ball over the crossbar. From the resulting
corner, Mavila's deep centre was turned back across the face of the goal by
Onariase, but Jerry Amoo, under pressure, fired high over the bar from close
range.
It was West Ham who looked the most likely to get the next goal and it very
nearly came from another set piece. After Djair Parfitt-Williams had been
fouled, Nathan Mavila stepped up to cross it towards the back post, but it
was just too quick for both Jamie Harney and Onariase who slid in vain to
try and apply a telling touch. No matter, as In the closing minutes, West
Ham did double their lead. Though Parfitt-Williams had been tripped, the
Hammers played on and Page, arriving from the left-back position, fired
across the goalkeeper into the far right hand corner.
The U18s' next outing is against Manchester United at Little Heath on
Saturday 17 August, as they open their Barclays U18 Premier League campaign.
West Ham United U18: Guzman, Knoyle, Burke (Harney), Onariase, Page, Bywater
(Pike), Makasi (Parfitt-Williams), Cullen (Nasha), Amoo (Gonzalez-Cabrera),
Brown (Martins), Mavila (Gogo).
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Hendon on pre-season...
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 10th August 2013
By: Staff Writer No.2
First team coach Ian Hendon attended the post-match press conference after
the 2-1 win over Pacos De Ferreira and shared his thoughts on Andy Carroll's
fitness, Ravel Morrison's form and how "Mr Rat" is settling in....
Is it possible that Andy (Carroll) will be fit for the start of the season?
We don't think he's going to make it, to be honest. The original injury was
8-12 weeks and he picked it up in the last game of the season. But you never
know with Andy, he's chomping at the bit to play. He wants to play but we've
got to do what's right by him medically.
That intensifies the search for a striker before September 2nd, I presume?
Well if Andy's back fit by then maybe that's not the case. The manager will
deal with that.
.
Ravel (Morrison)'s come back from Birmingham. He looks a different player to
the lad that went off 12 months ago?
When Ravel signed... We know his qualities. He's gone away and had a season
in the Championship. He's come back very focused and I think you are seeing
in his performances how he's matured since he's been away. That's credit to
him.
Is Kevin Nolan ok?
Yeah Kev's fine. He just had a little kick.
Can you tell us anything about the usual media transfer talk? There's been
some talk about Scott Parker and the club?
The manager deals with all the transfers. The players come in and that's
where I come in. I do the coaching!
I thought you might say that (laughter). Just coming back to Ravel. There
was a quote in the Standard from Kevin Nolan last night that the senior
players realise that they've got to work with him, nurture him, be more of a
father figure to him. Do you see a situation where he could stay a whole
season?
Ravel's in the squad. You've seen today that he's started the game. It's up
to Ravel now. He's had a good pre-season, he's in the mix. He's in the
squad. He's started today. He'll keep his head down, I'm sure.
As I said before, he's matured in the year he's been away. The senior lads
want him to do well. They encourage him every day and he's taken to that, I
think. He's responding to that. Us as a coaching staff, we see the potential
that he's got.
As I say he's come back so focused, it's shocking really how focused he is.
It's brilliant.
Is it fair to say he'll start next week if Andy doesn't make it?
Who? Ravel? No it's different, isn't it. You know the system we play
generally. Modibo (Maiga)'s up there as a replacement for Andy so Ravel
would be vying for a midfield spot, I would imagine.
What about Modibo [Maiga]? There was some talk of him going but he gets his
head down and he scored?
Today he's done very well. The ball's gone up. He's won his headers, he's
got hold of it and he's set us off up there. That was a good performance. I
can't see him going anywhere to be honest but again, that's something that
the manager will deal with.
The Cardiff manager [Malky Mackay] said that West Ham and Southampton were
an inspiration to their desire to stay up next season. Will it be easier
next season or is the "second season syndrome" more likely to kick in?
I think the second season is probably more difficult than the first. There's
a fear of what's coming and how you're going to adapt to it. But having done
that comfortably, you have to go back to basics and make sure we do what we
did at the start of last season and try to get off to a good atart.
Do yo think you overachieved last season? Some might say that mid-table is
where a club of this stature should be?
I wouldn't say that. Over the season we could possibly have done a little
better. We had a little dip around December time – probably due to a few
injuries. I'm not going to say we're going to finish higher than tenth – you
don't know how it's gonna pan out over the season. I think we finished where
we deserved to finish last season.
What are the qualities that Mr Rat brings to you?
He's been at Donetsk for what is it, ten years? Eight? He's been there a
long time. He'll take a bit of adapting to our style of play – he's been
playing with, what, eight Brazilians in the team so they've had a lot of
possession!
It's going to be a little bit different in the Premier League. Technically
he's very good. Time will tell with Raz.
I've noticed how many clubs have been buying overseas players rather than
English players. Do you think this is an indictment of the quality we have
here or is it just that they're too expensive?
You're looking at the Premier League – our manager has been there and has
stayed in the Premier League every time he's been in there. I'm sure he
knows what is needed first to keep the team up and secondly to improve on
what we've already done.
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Morrison in the frame, says Hendon
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 10th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
Ian Hendon has revealed that Ravel Morrison is very much part of Sam
Allardyce's first team plans - and that he could be set for a first Premier
League start next weekend. The young midfielder's only previous competitive
appearance for West Ham came in a 1-1 draw at Leeds during the 2011/12
season, when he appeared as a late substitute. Since then Morrison spent a
productive year under the watchful eye of Birmingham manager Lee Clarke, who
helped the former Manchester United youth star become more focused on his
football, before returning to east London at the start of the summer. In
pre-season Morrison has proved to be something of a revelation, scoring six
goals, making him the club's leading goalscorer heading into the 2013/14
Premier League campaign.
And first team coach Hendon revealed tonight that Morrison is very much
considered to be part of manager Allardyce's first team plans as he looks
ahead to next weekend's match. "When he signed [for West Ham] we knew his
qualities. He's gone away and had a season in the Championship and he's come
back very focused at the start of pre-season," revealed Hendon. "I think we
saw in his performance today that he's matured since he's been away and
that's credit to him. Ravel's in the squad, as you've seen today. He started
the game. It's up to Ravel now. "As I said before, he's had a good
pre-season and he's in the mix. He's in the squad, he started today and if
he can keep his head down I'm sure [he can be involved]."
Hendon also revealed that a number of the club's senior players - including
captain Kevin Nolan - had volunteered to help the youngster, who had never
lived outside his native Manchester prior to joining West Ham, fulfil his
obvious potential. "The senior lads want him to do well," he said. "They
encourage him every day and he's taken to that, he's responded to it. Us as
the coaching staff as well, we see the potential the lad's got. It's almost
shocking to see how focused he is. That's credit to him, it's brilliant."
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We won't sell Jørgensen, say FCK
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 10th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
FC Copenhagen have denied reports that young striker Nicolai Jørgensen is on
his way to the UK for talks with West Ham over a potential transfer. Danish
media outlet Tipsbladet claimed yesterday that the 22-year-old forward was
set for imminent discussions with representatives of West Ham. However those
rumours were well and truly squashed this evening when Copenhagen director
Anders Hørsholt scoffed reports of Jørgensen's departure. "It is our policy
that we do not comment one way or the other kind of guesswork about players
who could be on the way in or out of FC Copenhagen," he said. "But when a
rumour like this arises, it is important for us to make it clear that we are
going to strengthen our squad and not weaken it."
The Danish club are currently bottom of the Superliga, having lost all three
of their league matches so far this season. Jørgensen is yet to get off the
mark in the current campaign.
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West Ham Utd 2-1 Pacos de Ferreira
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 10th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham ended pre-season with a morale-boosting win against Portuguese
Champions League qualifiers Pacos de Ferreira at the Boleyn Ground this
afternoon. Sam Allardyce's side, featuring none of his three summer signings
got off to a flyer when Ravel Morrison, given a starting berth having
impressed in pre-season scored the game's opening goal - his sixth of
pre-season - with just 16 seconds on the clock. United's lead was doubled
five minutes ahead of the break when Modibo Maiga, who looks set to start
against Cardiff City next weekend in the absence of Andy Carroll, scored
from close range. The visitors grabbed a consolation just six minutes into
the second half when Manuel José's curling, dipping shot evaded the arms of
Jussi Jaaskelainen.
West Ham Utd 2-1 Pacos de Ferreira: match facts
West Ham Utd: 1 Jaaskelainen, 2 Reid, 3 O'Brien, 4 Nolan, 5 Tomkins, 7
Jarvis, 8 Noble, 9 Cole, 10 Morrison, 11 Maiga, 12 Demel.
Subs: 13 Adrian, 14 Taylor, 15 Collison, 16 Rat, 17 Diame, 18 Diarra, 19
Collins, 20 Vaz Te.
Goals: Morrison (1), Maiga (40).
Pacos de Ferreira: 45 António Filipe, 7 Rúben, 8 André Leão, 10 Rui Miguel,
11 Caetano, 15 Grégory, 17 Nuno Santos, 20 Sérgio Oliveira, 22 Hélder Lopes,
81 Manuel José, 96 Filipe Anunciação.
Subs: 1 Matias Degra, 4 Romeu, 9 Christian, 14 Jaime Poulson, 16 Hurtado, 19
Ricardo, 26 Fernando, 27 Rodrigo António.
Goals: Manuel José (53).
Referee: Kevin Friend.
Assistants: Mark Scholes and Dan Rovathan.
Fourth Official: Alan Young.
Attendance: tbc.
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The thin white Duke
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 10th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United are taking Australian forward Mitchell Duke on a week's
trial. The 22-year-old, who currently features in his country's A-League for
Central Coast Mariners is set to arrive in London this weekend before
training with Sam Allardyce's first team squad for the next five days. Duke,
who hails from Liverpool - that's New South Wales, Australia not Merseyside,
England - was first spotted playing football for the PCYC (Police Citizens
Youth Club) by Australian Academy Coach Tony Basha. A relatively late
arrival to the game, the 6'1" striker only signed his first professional
contract 18 months ago, at the age of 21. In his first season as a pro, Duke
made 20 appearances in the A-League for the Mariners, scoring on seven
occasions.
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Ravel Morrison on target as West Ham beat Pacos de Ferreira 2-1
Last Updated: August 10, 2013 6:25pm
SSN
West Ham ended their pre-season programme with a 2-1 victory over Pacos de
Ferreira. Ravel Morrison and Modibo Maiga scored the goals for the Hammers
in the first half, with Manuel Jose netting a consolation for the Portuguese
Champions League qualifiers. The home side scored with the first attack of
the game in the 16th minute when Joe Cole found Morrison in the box and the
former Manchester United midfielder held off his man and calmly slotted the
ball in. They doubled their lead five minutes before the break when Maiga
cut in from the right and fired past the visitors' keeper at the near post.
Manuel Jose gave the away side hope with a 30-yard strike that deflected in
off the head of James Collins, but the Hammers held on for the win. New
signing Razvan Rat played the second half but Andy Carroll missed the game
as he continues to make his way back from a heel injury.
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Mitchell Duke to train with West Ham this week
Last Updated: August 10, 2013 7:54am
SSN
Central Coast Mariners striker Mitchell Duke is to spend a week training
with Premier League side West Ham. The 22-year-old caught the eye of West
Ham's scouts playing for Australia at last month's East Asian Cup, where he
scored a couple of goals. Duke will spend next week with the Hammers before
returning to the A-League club next weekend.He scored six goals in 21
A-League appearances last season, although many of those saw him come off
the bench.
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Is Joey Barton set to join West Ham?
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die
There is a piece in today's Sunday People, suggesting that Sam Allardyce is
lining up a swoop for Joey Barton. The rationale being that Allardyce
admires Barton and wishes to link him up once again with Nolan and Carroll.
And apparently the respect is mutual, with Barton rating Allardyce's
management. So, is this story a runner? It is doubtful, considering how much
strength we appear to have in midfield. Barton can play both in the centre
and on the right of midfield, but surely our priorities lay elsewhere?
Will the proposed move for Stuart Downing come off? Its possible, but if its
a choice between us an Newcastle Utd there is a strong probability that
Downing will opt for a return to his native north-east. I would welcome the
signing, because I feel that Downing can recapture his best form at West
Ham. And with him and Jarvis attacking down the flanks, we will have real
pace, skill and accuracy out wide. The reports are talking of Downing
leaving Liverpool in the c.£6-5m deal and that is potentially very good
value. But we still need another central striker, that is pretty obvious.
Any successful move for a striker is likely to be a loan deal. That is fine,
as long as the loanee is of sufficient quality to come straight in to the
team and make a positive impact.
One possible mooted target is Nicolai Jorgensen of FC Copenhagen. There were
even reports that Jorgensen was due to arrive in London to negotiate
personal terms. However, FC Copenhagen moved yesterday to pour a large
quantity of cold water on the speculation. They have publicly denied that a
sale has been agreed with any third party and declared their intention to
not only retain Jorgensen, but move to strengthen their squad. So, lets see
if that is actually their position or if it is a bargaining ploy to increase
the asking price. He certainly looks promising, but lets wait and see what
transpires one way or the other.
It has often been observed that goal keepers are a different breed and that
is true. I recently wrote a blog entitled 'Not one of the greats, but still
memorable' and concentrated exclusively on out field players. That was
because I fully intended to do a separate piece on the specialist custodian
position. In my opinion, the greatest West Ham keepers were: Ted Hufton,
Ernie Gregory, Jim Standen, Phil Parkes and Ludo Miklosko. The very good
keepers were: Lawrie Leslie, Mervyn Day (1973-76), Shaka Hislop (during his
first spell at the club) and Rob Green (as a reaction-reflex keeper). The
memorable keepers, in my book, were: Les Sealey (as a character, for the
outfield cameo against Arsenal and that 5 star performance vs Newcastle
Utd), Tom MacAllister (a very good deputy to Parkes), Jimmy Walker (an
underrated keeper and who can forget his one man defiance of Chelsea in that
League Cup tie), Craig Forrest (a good, solid performer) and Bernard Lama
(another great character).
I personally never rated Bobby Ferguson or David James that much, but no
doubt others will disagree. There are other earlier keepers like Herman
Conway or Harry Medhurst who could figure on the list, but unfortunately I
am not in a position to assess their claims. There were also the 'stand in
keepers,' particularly Bobby Moore vs Stoke City in the 1972 League Cup
Semi-Final, Martin Peters, who was a decent keeper in his own right, Julian
Dicks and Henri Lansbury. And the greatest keeper we never had? That was
Gordon Banks, who Ron Greenwood could have signed in 1967, if he had not
shaken hands on a prior deal for Bobby Ferguson!!!! Also, there was Peter
Shilton, who joined us very late in his career, as emergency cover, but did
not make a first team appearance.
So, pre-season is over. now its all about getting that first vital win vs
Cardiff City next week. Last season underlined just how important it is to
get off to a good start and the early fixtures have fallen fairly kindly for
us again in the forthcoming campaign. I fully expect a player to join us
this week and another to be added before the summer window closes. Lets hope
so anyway. We have a good squad and once those two strikers are added, we
will be nicely poised for another very good PL campaign. And the target
should be 9th or 8th (as an improvement on last season) and a cup run. That
would be tangible progression and very encouraging indeed. COYI !
SJ. Chandos.
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Is Ravel Morrison the Long Term Replacement For Kevin Nolan?
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die
it's difficult to think how the pre-season games could have gone any better.
And the two stand-out players appear to have been Ravel Morrison and Modibo
Maiga. Ian Hendon has confirmed this evening that Morrison is in Sam
Allardyce's first team plans, and I should think so too. With six goals to
show in a series of friendlies he has had many of us licking our lips in
anticipation. However, here's the 'but'. Where does he fit in to a 4-5-1 or
4-3-3? It's tempting to say that in the long term he is an obvious successor
to Kevin Nolan, but nobody really believes Nolan will be displaced this
season. So that leaves Noble or Diame. Does anyone seriously think that
either of those deserve to be dropped for the first game of the season? Me
neither. What we have now are five quality central midfielders. Essentially,
Morrison replaces Gary O'Neil (the least said about him the better) in the
squad, and will play the role as joint deputy with Jack Collison. It's
possible he could play on the right against Cardiff, but surely Joe Cole and
Matt Jarvis will be the two players who complete the midfield five?
And a word about Modibo Maiga. He didn't get a proper chance last season.
There are rumours that he might yet be sold to St Etienne before the
deadline, but he too has scored goals in pre-season (three, I think). With
Andy Carroll injured he now has his chance. Will he take it? His main
drawback is his rather languid gait. He looks lazy, even though he isn't.
The goals he scored last season prove he can do it, but a few minutes on the
pitch here and there do him no favours. He needs to know he's going to start
for the first four games. I get the feeling that rather like Vaz Te, he is a
confidence player.
I think we should all look back on pre-season with some degree of confidence
for the future. I know I do.
PS Ravel Morrison is on Twitter @MorrisonRavel
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Downing gets to choose as Newcastle and West Ham show interest in Liverpool
winger
By JOE BERNSTEIN
PUBLISHED: 21:51, 10 August 2013 | UPDATED: 21:51, 10 August 2013
Daily Mail
Stewart Downing will be allowed to decide his own future by Liverpool after
interest from Newcastle and West Ham. Manager Brendan Rodgers is open to
the winger moving on because he cannot guarantee him first-team football.
Liverpool will listen to offers of about £6million for Downing, representing
a huge loss on a player signed for £20m by the club's former manager Kenny
Dalglish. Young winger Oussama Assaidi can join QPR but Raheem Sterling is
seen as an important part of the first-team squad at Anfield and will not go
out on loan.
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Karren Brady on why she needs a wife - and not an Apprentice one either!
THE STORY of Karren Brady's first press conference at Birmingham City
Football Club is well known.
By: Jane ClintonPublished: Sun, August 11, 2013
Express.co.uk
The sports executive and TV personality is one of the most recognisable
female faces in business yet she tells JANE CLINTON that getting the
work/life balance right is tough She had been appointed its managing
director aged 23 and was keen to make a good impression. "I wanted to look
at least 25," recalls the now vice-chairman of West Ham. "I had big hair,
big shoulder pads, big earrings and gave this very serious presentation of
all the things I was going to do with my football club to the baying press.
When I had finished there were questions and a little hand went up and a
journalist asked: 'What are your vital statistics?'" She laughs a hearty
laugh. "I knew what was coming."
That was back in the early Nineties but it would seem there is still room
for improvement when it comes to attitudes to women in sport, judging by
John Inverdale's comments about Marion Bartoli at Wimbledon this year.
"I thought it was most unfortunate and I applauded [Culture Secretary] Maria
Miller for the letter she wrote to the BBC about the general attitude that
shouldn't be allowed to develop any further," Brady says. "I think it is
important to use instances like that to remind people that it is not
acceptable."
Brady is a high-profile advocate of women, in particular of women succeeding
in business, and she is determined to see her efforts yield results.
She has said that in 10 years' time she would like to see a girl who takes
part in her work experience programme (the one that runs at West Ham of
which she is very proud) become a chief executive.
It is ambitious but 44-year-old Brady is known for her tenacity and nerves
of steel (this is after all the woman who sold her husband Paul Peschisolido
twice when he was a Birmingham City player).
"All we can do is keep reminding people: equality, women, business," she
says. "I want to live in a world where if a young woman says she wants to be
a painter/decorator there is no barrier, where their pay and respect are
equal to those people around them."
Married to Peschisolido since 1995, with whom she has two children,
17-year-old Sophia (after her birth she famously took three days' maternity
leave) and Paolo, 14, Brady works in London during the week and returns for
the weekend to the family's West Midlands home in Knowle, Solihull. Juggling
work and family life, however, means she could do with her very own Karren
Brady.
"When I was having my children years ago phrases like work/life balance and
flexible working, frankly, they just didn't exist," she says. "That balance,
however, is never the same between a male executive and female executive
because what a female executive needs is a wife and on the basis that many
of us are not going to get one..." she trails off into laughter.
"I sometimes pick my son up from school and his trousers are four inches
away from his ankles. My husband would not have even noticed. I'm sure the
parents at the gate are thinking, 'What a terrible mother'. If I don't buy
the new uniform and sort out the forms for school it doesn't happen."
Brady is an extreme over-achiever. The daughter of an Irish businessman
father and an Italian mother, she started her career aged 18 at advertising
firm Saatchi & Saatchi. She went on to London Broadcasting Company as a
sales executive. She joined Sport Newspapers Ltd in 1998 and became a
director within a year.
Brady is perhaps best-known, however, as the first woman in football. She
was managing director of Birmingham City Football Club from 1993 to 2009.
When in February 1997 she launched it on the Stock market she was the
youngest managing director of a plc in the UK. Since 2010 she has been
vice-chairman of West Ham and is looking forward to the club moving to the
Olympic Stadium in 2016.
She is well placed then to support Sky Sports's campaign to find the best
decision in sport. (For the record, Brady, who is thought to be worth
£82million, cites joining Birmingham City as one of her best decisions.)
She also has a string of non-executive directorships and has been recruited
by Maria Miller to join a task force encouraging more women in sport. In
addition there is her television career: in 2010 Brady replaced Margaret
Mountford as Lord Sugar's right-hand woman on The Apprentice.
been recruited by Maria Miller to join a task force encouraging more women
in sport. In addition there is her television career: in 2010 Brady replaced
Margaret Mountford as Lord Sugar's right-hand woman on The Apprentice.
How does she fit it all in?
Karen Brady, Apprentice, Birmingham City Football Club, Lord Alan SugarTeam
player: Brady with Birmingham City footballers
I want to live in a world where if a young woman says she wants to be a
painter/decorator there is no barrier
Karren Brady
She admits, with just an audible sigh: "Some days I don't know. In the past
three years I have been working in London and going home at the weekends and
it is not ideal. I have the constant guilt that working mothers carry around
with them. It's one of those horrible things really. My children do not want
to move down because they are where they are with regards their studies. My
son plays sport for the county and the district. I let my kids be the judge
of whether I have got the balance right. It is not easy and I wish there was
a formula. But there isn't."
Getting the balance right became even more important following a health
scare seven years ago. She had a cerebral aneurysm and underwent surgery.
She is now very disciplined about taking holidays and having time off.
Brady has also cultivated a dual personality of sorts so that she leaves the
boardroom well and truly out of the family home. "I do have my two
personalities: my home personality and my work personality," she says. "The
trick is not to allow one of those personalities to drain the life out of
the other."
In the past she has lamented that there are not more women breaking through
in business and that she sees the same faces at each function.
"I do get frustrated," she says. "I also genuinely believe that if people
like me, who have a relatively high profile of being a woman in a very
male-dominated world, don't employ more women and don't keep those doors
open and don't keep pushing then who is going to do it? It is our job to
help pave the way."
Karren Brady is supporting Sky Sports's campaign to find the best decision
in sport. To see the top 50 and vote for your favourite go to
skysports.com/decisions
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Sam Allardyce set to take chance on Joey Barton
WEST HAM boss Sam Allardyce is considering a shock move for controversial
QPR midfielder Joey Barton.
By: John RichardsonPublished: Sun, August 11, 2013
Express.co.uk
Allardyce, who is also attempting to bring Liverpool winger Stewart Downing
to Upton Park, would love to reunite Barton with his former Newcastle
team-mates Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan. The trio were together when Big Sam
was in charge at St James' Park, Barton joining from Manchester City for
£5.8million. And misfit Barton, who spent last season on loan with Marseille
in France, would jump at the chance of a return to the Premier League. And
misfit Barton, who spent last season on loan with Marseille in France, would
jump at the chance of a return to the Premier League Although he has settled
in back at Loftus Road under manager Harry Redknapp, and played in
yesterday's draw at Huddersfield, the 30-year-old believes he can still
succeed in the top flight. On his last Premier League appearance in May
2012, Barton was sent off at Manchester City and earned a 12-match ban. West
Ham will offer Barton one more chance, under a manager he has played for and
admires.
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Injured Carroll loses race to be fit for Hammers' season opener against
Cardiff
By JOE BERNSTEIN
PUBLISHED: 21:18, 10 August 2013 | UPDATED: 21:18, 10 August 2013
Daily mail
Andy Carroll looks set to miss next Saturday's opener against Cardiff as he
continues to receive treatment on the heel injury picked up last season.
West Ham fans had hoped their £15million frontman, who has missed the entire
pre-season, was on course to make a recovery in time to face Cardiff. But
first-team coach Ian Hendon said: 'We don't think he's going to make it. The
original injury was eight to 12 weeks. He's chomping at the bit but we must
do what's right.'
West Ham beat Portuguese side Pacos de Ferreira 2-1 on Saturday through
goals from Ravel Morrison - after just 16 seconds - and Modibo Maiga.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Saturday, August 10
Daily WHUFC News - 10th August 2013
Date set for Cheltenham cup tie
WHUFC.com
Fixture details for West Ham United's Capital One Cup tie with Cheltenham
Town
09.08.2013
West Ham United's Capital One Cup Round Two tie with Cheltenham Town will
take place on Tuesday 27 August with a 7.45pm kick-off. Thursday's second
round draw pitted the Hammers against the League Two Robins at the Boleyn
Ground. Cheltenham secured their place in Round Two by defeating League One
side Crawley Town 4-3 after extra-time, while West Ham enter the competition
at this stage.
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Chadwell Chatter
WHUFC.com
Jack Collison blogs for whufc.com ahead of Saturday's game against Pacos de
Ferreira
09.08.2013
In the second of a regular series of West Ham United player blogs here on
whufc.com, midfielder Jack Collison updates us on the latest news from the
club's Chadwell Heath training ground….
Hello everyone,
We are back at our Chadwell Heath training ground following our last
pre-season trip of this summer, where as you all know, we played in the
Torneio do Guadiana in Portugal. While there we played Sporting Clube de
Portugal and SC Braga, both really competitive games against top sides and
that is what pre-season is all about, getting some matches under the belt
that will test us. Following the matches, I think we all feel that we were
magnificent in the first game against Sporting and then perhaps against
Braga, we came up a little short. But that is why we play these games so we
can be aiming to achieve the high levels we need to be at and be ready for
the new season and matches like this can point out to us what we still need
to do. With all these games, we have prepared and looked at them in the same
way we would for a Barclays Premier League match, from the video
presentations we would watch about the other side to the way we would look
at setting ourselves up for the match itself. It has been enjoyable and I
think we will certainly benefit as the season goes on, from the preparation
we have been doing.
One of the things that pre-season brings when you go away on trips is
sharing a room again with a team-mate. I got to share with Tonks [James
Tomkins] and it was a bit like the old days for us, as I used to share with
him years ago when travelling away. I must admit, I forgot how messy he is!
All I seemed to be doing was tidying up after him all the time. I don't
think he did this on purpose to annoy me or anything, this is how he is! So
it is nice to get back and have a decent night's sleep and without mess! We
had some banter, we're good mates so it was all fine and I think that is
another aim of the pre-season trips is to get the squad together before the
season starts, bonding off and on the pitch and getting the new lads settled
in.
When you are together as a squad like this, you do that extra bit for each
other, that spirit is there and you are a squad on and off the pitch.
Obviously the new lads such as Razvan, Adrian and Danny [Whitehead] all got
the chance to get settled in and it is enjoyable being part of a close-knit
squad. We have been on our travels pretty much since returning for
pre-season at the beginning of July so it is nice to be back at home and we
are looking forward to facing Pacos de Ferreira at the Boleyn Ground on
Saturday. There is nothing better than being at home in front of our own
fans and this will be the first chance for many to see us again, watch us in
the new kit and be wearing it and see some of the new boys in action. It was
great to see fans travel out to see us on trips away, it is always nice to
see a West Ham shirt as you run out away somewhere and again we thank those
fans for their terrific support as always.
But we know not everyone can get to the pre-season games and against Pacos
on Saturday, there is a chance to see us putting some of the final
preparations into place and I can't wait, as it is always exciting being
back at your own stadium again and everyone is looking forward to everything
starting. So Saturday
should be good and we can't wait to be there.
I have enjoyed pre-season, it is hard work but as I missed out last year
with injury, it has been really good to be in and around the boys properly
this summer. It is a case of getting fitter with each week and while I still
have work to do, I am raring to go and wanting to be fighting for my place
in the starting line-up every week.
Come on you Irons!
Jack
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Adams' golden seal of approval
WHUFC.com
Boxer Nicola Adams happily championed the Hammers' move to the Olympic
Stadium
09.08.2013
Having sampled the Boleyn Ground atmosphere last season, Olympic champion
Nicola Adams can hardly wait to watch West Ham United at the Olympic
Stadium. Nine days after boxing her way to gold at the ExCel Arena last
year, Adams took in the Hammers' 1-0 win over Aston Villa, and it seems the
Club has left its mark on the 30-year-old. Though she heralds from Leeds,
Adams is clearly growing very fond of east London, not least of the Hammers'
prospective new home. Happily posing with the Club's new adidas home shirt
inside the iconic venue, Adams told West Ham TV: "It's fantastic to be back,
just to be here amongst all these people. "To be here again and to hear the
crowd, it's a surreal feeling and it's bringing back loads of memories from
the Games."
And Adams could hardly have been more emphatic in her approval of West Ham's
future occupancy of the Stadium. She continued: "It's really, really good!
I'm really excited and I'm hoping that I'll be there again as well to watch
them play. "The atmosphere's going to be really special and I'm really going
to be looking forward to it."
Meanwhile, exhibiting her typically sunny outlook, Adams expressed her
desire to continue inspiring the next generation, with one eye already on
Rio 2016. As for her own exploits in the ring, she is as ambitious as ever,
already plotting her tilt at gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. "The
inspiring is still going on," she explained. "I'm just hoping to keep on
inspiring more kids to get involved in sport. And hopefully we'll see some
really good talent through for 2016. "I'm going to be back in the ring soon.
I've just come back from the European Union Championships, I got gold there
again. I've got the Commonwealth Games next year, so I'm hoping to get
another first, making history and then it's onto Rio!"
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Tonks can't wait for Boleyn return
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins is looking forward to Saturday's pre-season match with Pacos
de Ferreira
09.08.2013
West Ham United defender James Tomkins cannot wait to step back out onto the
hallowed turf of the Boleyn Ground on Saturday. The Hammers host Portuguese
UEFA Champions League qualifiers Pacos de Ferreira in their final pre-season
match of the summer, with tickets available to purchase on the gate.
Tomkins has been heavily involved throughout West Ham's pre-season build-up,
playing in the heart of defence as Sam Allardyce's men toured both Germany
and Portugal, along with taking on sides from the lower leagues of English
football. The centre-back says that has been perfect preparation ahead of
the big kick-off a week away, and he wants to end the summer campaign on a
high in front of the Hammers fans. "It will be nice to play at home on
Saturday after so many games out of the country," he told West Ham TV.
"Getting a game under our belts at the Boleyn Ground will be good,
especially against a team of a good standard as well. "The support should be
good, it's against a team in the Champions League and the fans will be
supporting us ready for the important one against Cardiff. "It's always an
honour to play at home and represent the Club, whether it's a competitive
game or not. Hopefully we can get another result under our belts before the
start of the season."
Having already faced teams from the top flights of both Germany and
Portugal, Tomkins is primed for another stern examination from a side who
begin their Champions League campaign later this month with a play-off round
tie against Russian giants Zenit St Petersburg. He continued: "It's always
important to get good tests in pre-season. We have to set our sights high,
and playing against the best will stand us in good stead for the start of
the season. "It's been a long wait, the fans and ourselves are ready to go
now and this is our last chance to get the fitness in and get a good
performance at the end of it. "The games in Portugal were different to what
we're used to. The style of refereeing was different, blowing up for fouls
every two minutes. It was an experience for all of us, the fans were quite
crazy too - especially against Sporting Lisbon! "They were good tests for
us. At the end of the day we got the minutes in, and we played well so that
was the important thing."
Finally, whufc.com learned from Jack Collison's blog on Friday that Tomkins
was not the tidiest of room-mates for the Welshman over the Hammers' summer
travels. The defender responded by saying there was a reason for his lack of
room etiquette. He smiled: "He always cleans up after me, but I'm only messy
to see him do the cleaning up. It's like having my Mum with me in the room!"
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Potts ready for final pre-season test
WHUFC.com
Steve Potts' U18s host Crystal Palace in their final pre-season fixture on
Saturday morning
09.08.2013
West Ham United U18s host Crystal Palace in their final pre-season fixture
on Saturday morning, fresh from an impressive fortnight's work. Steve Potts'
youngsters defeated Charlton Athletic 3-2 on Tuesday 30 July before
travelling to Belgium for the prestigous Yale Eurofoot Tournament. There,
the Hammers won their opening four group matches before going on to finish
as overall runners-up to Danish side Nordsjaelland. The U18s manager has
been proud of his players' efforts and has called for another fine showing
when they host the Eagles at Little Heath on Saturday, with kick-off at
10.30am. "We have done well." Potts confirmed. "We went to Charlton and that
was a tough game and we came through that. It was a decent test for them
because Charlton mixed their game up really well and we had to match them
physically. If we hadn't we'd have come unstuck and I thought they did that
side of the game well. "We came out of it with a 3-2 win and then went out
to Belgium and just fell short in the final in the end. Overall, I was
really pleased with them."
In Oostduinkerke, West Ham defeated Belgian quartet Club Brugge, AA Gent,
Anderlecht and KV Oostende to top Group A before being defeated by Dutch
team Utrecht in their final meaningless group fixture. After drawing 1-1 and
defeating Tottenham Hotspur on penalties in the semi-finals, the Hammers
came up just short against Nordsjaelland in the final, losing 1-0. On and
off the pitch, Potts said the teenagers were a credit to themselves and to
the Club. "They had a mixture of everything and it was a good effort. I
personally think the boys got a lot out of it and hopefully they will feel
the benefits from it. "I was more than happy with what they did on the pitch
and off the pitch, which for me are equally important. You get to see the
boys close-up for three or four days and how they react to certain things
and how they get on as a group, because it's a team game and you have to all
be pulling in one direction. "I was really, really pleased with the stuff
they did off the pitch as well. Around the hotel, there was no trouble so I
was very pleased."
Crystal Palace will provide another decent challenge. The south London side
may compete in the Barclays U18 Premier League 2 South Division, but the
Eagles have a reputation for producing top players like Wayne Routledge,
Nathaniel Clyne, Jonathan Williams, Ben Watson and Wilfried Zaha. "It will
definitely be another good test for the boys," confirmed Potts. "They are
strong opposition and have quite good record for getting boys into their
first team, so I presume they will be pretty strong again. "It's going to
need another Charlton performance where we'll need to match them in all
departments. We then have the final week before the league starts next
Saturday."
Admission for Saturday's pre-season fixture will be free, as it will be for
the visit of Manchester United for the opening Barclays U18 Premier League
game of 2013/14 on Saturday 17 August.
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Turnstiles open for Pacos visit
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 9th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have announced that supporters currently without tickets
will be able to pay on the door at tomorrow's pre-season friendly against
Pacos de Ferreira. The Hammers take on the Porto-based club in their final
friendly of pre-season before the real action starts eight days from now,
when the 2013/14 Premier League season begins with the visit of Cardiff
City. Entry for those wishing to pay on the gate will cost £20 for adults
and £10 for under 16s. Cash turnstiles will be operating in the following
locations:
Trevor Brooking Stand (Lower): Turnstiles 0, 1 and 2.
West Stand (Lower): Turnstiles 9, 10, 11, 38 and 39.
West Stand (Upper): Turnstiles 16, 17 and 29.
Bobby Moore Stand (Upper): Turnstiles 46 and 49.
East Stand: Turnstile 69.
Pacos de Ferreira, athough long established as a Primeira Liga club
surprised all when finishing third behind Benfica and champions Porto last
season.
Despite ending the campaign some 24 points behind the champions - and 23
behind runners-up Benfica - Pacos defied the odds by beating Braga, who West
Ham lost 1-0 to in this week's Torneio do Guadiana match, to third place in
the final league table.
Also below de Ferreira were more established Portuguese names, such as
Estoril and Sporting (who also faced the Hammers earlier this week, losing
3-2 thanks to a brace from Ravel Morrison).
As a result of their final league position, Pacos have also qualified for
the Champions League for the first time in their history and face Zenit
Saint Petersburg in a two legged Play-Off encounter later this month.
Os Castores have brought the following squad to London for tomorrow's
fixture:
Matias Degra, António Filipe; Grégory, Nuno Santos, Ricardo, Hélder Lopes;
Romeu, Rúben, André Leão, Rui Miguel, Sérgio Oliveira, Rodrigo António,
Filipe Anunciação; Christian, Jaime Poulson, Hurtado, Fernando, Caetano,
Manuel José.
West Ham Utd vs Pacos Ferreira, Top Trump Style
Year Formed: WHUFC 1895; PdF 1950
Highest Domestic League Position: WHUFC 3rd (1985/86); PdF 3rd (2012/13)
Consecutive Seasons In The Top Flight: WHUFC 2; PdF 9
Ground Capacity: WHUFC 35,016; PdF 5,255
Domestic Cup Wins: WHUFC 4; PdF 1
European Cup Wins: WHUFC 1; PdF 0
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Downing to West Ham rumours gain momentum
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 9th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
The odds of West Ham signing Stewart Downing from Liverpool were slashed
tonight after a string of Twitter sources claimed that the England winger
was on the verge of completing a move to east London. SkyBet slashed their
odds on Downing joining West Ham to 1/3 late on Friday after Twitter ran
awash with rumours suggesting that the former Middlesbrough man had agreed a
permanent contract. 29-year-old Downing has been linked with a move south
all summer, although club sources inside of West Ham have always insisted
that the rumours were wide of the mark. However with the start of the new
season drawing closer - and with Sam Allardyce apparently no closer to
signing the wide player he desires - Downing, who is available at a
knockdown price of around £5million would perhaps be the perfect solution to
the manager's problem. Having made his name at Middlesbrough, Downing left
Teeside for the first time in his career in 2009 when he joined Aston Villa
following Middlesbrough's relegation from the Premier League in a £12million
deal (£10million + add-ons).
Two years later, having become something of an England regular, Downing was
lured to Anfield for an undisclosed fee widely thought to be worth around
£20million. However it was a figure that was to hang heavy upon his
shoulders and a disappointing first season on Merseyside saw Downing end the
campaign with no goals and no assists. Despite being criticised heavily by
'Pool fans, Downing still managed to make 45 appearances for the Reds in
2012/13 where he fared marginally better on the goalscoring front with five
to his name. Still, his days at Anfield have appeared numbered for some
time and, should rumours prove correct, Downing could be set to embark on a
new journey following former Liverpool team mate Andy Carroll to London.
SkyBet Current Odds: Downing to...
West Ham Utd 1/3
Newcastle Utd 5/1
Aston Villa, Sunderland 20/1
Celtic 25/1
Swansea 28/1
Everton, Norwich 33/1
Middlesbrough 40/1
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Hammers linked with Danish striker
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 9th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are being linked with a move for Copenhagen striker Nicolai
Jorgensen. The 22-year-old forward is firmly in the sights of Sam Allardyce
according to Tipsbladet, who claims this afternoon that representatives of
both parties are set to hold exploratory talsk with view to a permanent
transfer next week. Hailing from Ballerup, Jorgensen has been with the
reigning Danish Superligaen champions since 2012. He began his career with
local league club Skovlunde IF before moving to Copenhagen-based Akademisk
Boldklub. Having impressed scouts of German Bundesliga side Bayer
Leverkusen, Jorgensen signed a five-year contract with the Werkself in 2010
and made his debut in the German top flight at the age of 19. But within two
years he was on his way back to Denmark, where Copenhagen snapped him up on
the cheap.
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From United to United
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 9th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
Former Hammer Rio Ferdinand celebrates a decade at Manchester United this
evening with a star-studded, testimonial event. Ferdinand's current club
take on Spanish giants Seville at Old Trafford this evening to commemorate
the central defender's ten years with the club, who he joined in a
record-breaking £29million move from Leeds United in 2002. It's nearly 13
years since the 34-year-old left Upton Park, when following weeks of
uncertainty he moved to Leeds United in a £19million switch. Then manager
Harry Redkapp publicly bemoaned the loss of the young starlet, whilst
pocketing a £300,000 bonus payment from the sale. The decision to sell
Ferdinand was almost universally condemned by Hammers fans at the time and
the popular view that it would signal the beginning of the end for the
so-called 'Golden Generation' at the Boleyn Ground proved to be correct, as
the likes of Cole, Lampard, Carrick and Defoe were also sold.
Just 22 when he left West Ham, Ferdinand had been at the club since his
mid-teens. Speaking to KUMB in a 2010 exclusive interview, Tony Carr - who
guided the Peckham-born youngster's development - revealed the circumstances
in which he first found his way to Chadwell Heath. "Rio's mentor was a guy
named Dave Goodwin. We worked hard on Dave to persuade him to come and look
at our club," told Carr. "Once Rio was here he decided this is what he
liked. He liked the people and the way we did things - and fortunately, he
signed for us and stayed."
Ferdinand, who went on to represent his country 81 times as a central
defender first came to West Ham as a striker, before signing scholarship
terms as a midfielder. But in 1998, Academy Director Carr was to change his
career forever. "I went on a [UEFA] coaching seminar that was run by Andy
Roxburgh, who based it on the Germans who were very successful at the time,"
said Carr. "He said the German philosophy was that you should have your most
talented midfield player playing at the back of three defenders, ready to
break out. "We were trying to develop more stylish players and to be
successful you should have players that are comfortable with the ball - and
I saw Rio as this player, or one of these players. He gave it a try and
obviously it worked, it worked very well."
Although he was always destined to be a top player, Carr revealed that
Ferdinand's path to success was smoothed by the formation of a strong bond
with another Chadwell Heath youngster who also eventually left the club in a
multi-million pound deal. "He became friends with Frank Lampard (Jnr); they
were very close," said Carr. "They were alike in terms of how they loved the
game and loved to train - and because you couldn't get them off the pitch!
"They were always together and because Frank lived locally, Rio would always
end up round Frank's house in the afternoon for a cup of tea and a chat.
Maybe he'd stay there at weekends and so on. So they built up a bond and a
friendship and they developed together as players. They were good for each
other."
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QPR close in on West Ham target Duvan Zapata
Daily Star
QPR are on the verge of signing former West Ham target Duvan Zapata after
agreeing a £6.4m fee with Argentine club Estundiantes. Harry Redknapp is
eager to add to his attacking options after the loan departures of Loic Remy
to Newcastle and Adel Taarabt to Fulham this week. Zapata is expected to
undergo a medical and discuss personal terms with the west London club. West
Ham pulled out of a deal to sign the 22-year-old last month over fears he
would not be granted a work permit on a 'special talent' exception. Zapata
had been set for a £6.7m move to Upton Park, before Sam Allardyce decided to
look elsewhere in his chase for a new forward. The Colombian impressed last
season scoring 14 goals as he helped his side to finish ninth in the
Argentine Primera Division. The move would represent a huge coup for QPR
with Lyon, Benfica, Porto and Udinese all keen on the frontman.
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You lucky beggar! Carroll hands out £50 to tramp on the streets of Soho
By JOHN DRAYTON
PUBLISHED: 08:32, 9 August 2013 | UPDATED: 08:32, 9 August 2013
Daily mail
Andy Carroll showed his generous side by handing a beggar £50 while out and
about in Soho on Thursday night. The £15million West Ham United striker, who
is battling to overcome a heel injury before the start of the new Premier
League season, handed over the £50 note when approached by the man in
central London. After scoring seven goals during his season-long loan spell
at Upton Park, the Hammers moved quickly to secure the England international
on a permanent basis, shelling out a club record fee. And having signed a
six-year deal, he shouldn't be short of money for the foreseeable future.
However, he picked up a heel injury in May, limiting his involvement in the
team's pre-season trips to Germany and Portugal, and possibly ruling him out
until the middle of next month. He posted a picture of his lean physique on
Twitter this week as he lifted weights in the gym with the club's strength
and conditioning coach Mathew Monte-Colmbo, who is aiding his recovery.
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Liverpool's Stewart Downing in transfer talks with West Ham.. and Kop will
pay him to go
9 Aug 2013 22:30
The Mirror
West Ham have made a shock £6million move to sign Liverpool winger Stewart
Downing. Former Middlesbrough wideman turned down a switch down south to
Upton Park earlier this summer. But the Hammers have come back in and the
29-year-old - a £20m capture from Aston Villa just two years ago - is set to
cut his losses after failing to establish himself at the Anfield giants. The
transfer fee, which could rise to £6m based his on appearances for the
Londoners, would represent a massive loss for Liverpool who have also
written off £20m in selling Andy Carroll to West Ham this summer. But Reds
boss Brendan Rodgers is staging a clear-out of players deemed to have no
future at the club as he reshapes the squad for a tilt at a Champions League
place over the coming campaign.
Talks between West Ham and Downing are at an advanced stage over terms, with
one of the stumbling blocks being the player's wages of around £80,000 a
week. But Liverpool are prepared to pay up some of his remaining contract to
facilitate the deal, and it could be finalised as early as next week.
Rodgers meanwhile, has moved to end the speculation over the future of
Daniel Agger, by naming him as the new vice-captain of the club. Barcelona
have long been rumoured to be interested in the Danish defender, but
Liverpool insisted this week that they had received no bids or any contact
from the Catalan club.
The Reds boss stated bluntly the centre-half was going nowhere: "Daniel's
loyalty and his passion for Liverpool is second to none. And if you add that
on to his footballing qualities, then I think it's a good choice for
everybody."
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Andy Carroll sued over claims he trashed £2million rented bachelor pad
10 Aug 2013 06:30
The Mirror
Premier League footballer Andy Carroll is being sued for almost £200,000
following claims that he wrecked his former bachelor pad. Jeff and Dawn
Grant, who own the £2million five-bed mansion, allege that he owes them
£68,000 in rent. And their solicitors claim the West Ham striker, 24, left
drink stains on chairs and on the ceiling, scratches on an antique table and
caused the swimming pool to be overrun with potentially toxic algae.
Carroll, who earns £100,000 a week, is believed to have moved all the
furniture – including treadmills, sofas and a grandfather clock – into a
secret lock-up. But the Grants claim it is theirs. Solicitors for the couple
also claim audio visual kit is missing from the mansion, which is thought to
have had £100,000 wiped off its value. Carroll is being chased for £75,000
for the "unlawful removal of furniture" and £48,000 for the "clean-up and
repair operation". Including the rent, that makes £191,000. Manleys
Solicitors, for the Grants, said: "The property was returned to them in an
extremely poor condition and, regrettably, they've had to issue legal
proceedings."
Carroll's solicitors Glinert Davis did not comment last night but it is
believed he is fighting the claims. It is understood the star is demanding
his £15,000 deposit but it is being held back by the Grants. Carroll was
tied into a two-year tenancy on the house in Blundellsands, Liverpool, which
would have ended on May 8.
But payments are alleged to have stopped last autumn when he moved from
Liverpool to West Ham.
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West Ham's Sam Allardyce nets Stewart Downing
WEST HAM are on the verge of agreeing a £6m deal with Liverpool to sign
Stewart Downing
Daily Star
By Dave Lyons/Published 10th August 2013
The Hammers have resurrected their interest in the England winger and are
hoping to complete a transfer early next week. An initial bid of £5m was
rejected, but Hammers boss Sam Allardyce has muscled in front of former side
Newcastle and talks between the clubs are now continuing. Downing rebuffed
the Londoners' advances earlier in the summer but does not want to spend the
season on the sidelines at Anfield. "An initial bid of £5m was rejected, but
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce has muscled in front of former side Newcastle"
The England winger was part of the Liverpool squad that flew to Dublin last
night for today's friendly with Celtic and could hold talks with Allardyce
upon his return if a fee is agreed. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is
prepared to offload Downing and the Merseysiders are also willing to take a
huge hit on the £20m fee they paid Aston Villa two summers ago. Downing has
been aware of overtures from Newcastle - despite denials from them - but it
is Allardyce who has firmed up his long-standing interest. Big Sam has
already recruited Andy Carroll from Liverpool this summer in an initial £15m
deal and believes Downing can provide a rich supply line to him as he looks
to implement the master plan Kenny Dalglish believed would work for him at
Anfield. Liverpool have already sold Jay Spearing to Bolton, with whom the
midfielder spent last season on loan, for £1.5m.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Fixture details for West Ham United's Capital One Cup tie with Cheltenham
Town
09.08.2013
West Ham United's Capital One Cup Round Two tie with Cheltenham Town will
take place on Tuesday 27 August with a 7.45pm kick-off. Thursday's second
round draw pitted the Hammers against the League Two Robins at the Boleyn
Ground. Cheltenham secured their place in Round Two by defeating League One
side Crawley Town 4-3 after extra-time, while West Ham enter the competition
at this stage.
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Chadwell Chatter
WHUFC.com
Jack Collison blogs for whufc.com ahead of Saturday's game against Pacos de
Ferreira
09.08.2013
In the second of a regular series of West Ham United player blogs here on
whufc.com, midfielder Jack Collison updates us on the latest news from the
club's Chadwell Heath training ground….
Hello everyone,
We are back at our Chadwell Heath training ground following our last
pre-season trip of this summer, where as you all know, we played in the
Torneio do Guadiana in Portugal. While there we played Sporting Clube de
Portugal and SC Braga, both really competitive games against top sides and
that is what pre-season is all about, getting some matches under the belt
that will test us. Following the matches, I think we all feel that we were
magnificent in the first game against Sporting and then perhaps against
Braga, we came up a little short. But that is why we play these games so we
can be aiming to achieve the high levels we need to be at and be ready for
the new season and matches like this can point out to us what we still need
to do. With all these games, we have prepared and looked at them in the same
way we would for a Barclays Premier League match, from the video
presentations we would watch about the other side to the way we would look
at setting ourselves up for the match itself. It has been enjoyable and I
think we will certainly benefit as the season goes on, from the preparation
we have been doing.
One of the things that pre-season brings when you go away on trips is
sharing a room again with a team-mate. I got to share with Tonks [James
Tomkins] and it was a bit like the old days for us, as I used to share with
him years ago when travelling away. I must admit, I forgot how messy he is!
All I seemed to be doing was tidying up after him all the time. I don't
think he did this on purpose to annoy me or anything, this is how he is! So
it is nice to get back and have a decent night's sleep and without mess! We
had some banter, we're good mates so it was all fine and I think that is
another aim of the pre-season trips is to get the squad together before the
season starts, bonding off and on the pitch and getting the new lads settled
in.
When you are together as a squad like this, you do that extra bit for each
other, that spirit is there and you are a squad on and off the pitch.
Obviously the new lads such as Razvan, Adrian and Danny [Whitehead] all got
the chance to get settled in and it is enjoyable being part of a close-knit
squad. We have been on our travels pretty much since returning for
pre-season at the beginning of July so it is nice to be back at home and we
are looking forward to facing Pacos de Ferreira at the Boleyn Ground on
Saturday. There is nothing better than being at home in front of our own
fans and this will be the first chance for many to see us again, watch us in
the new kit and be wearing it and see some of the new boys in action. It was
great to see fans travel out to see us on trips away, it is always nice to
see a West Ham shirt as you run out away somewhere and again we thank those
fans for their terrific support as always.
But we know not everyone can get to the pre-season games and against Pacos
on Saturday, there is a chance to see us putting some of the final
preparations into place and I can't wait, as it is always exciting being
back at your own stadium again and everyone is looking forward to everything
starting. So Saturday
should be good and we can't wait to be there.
I have enjoyed pre-season, it is hard work but as I missed out last year
with injury, it has been really good to be in and around the boys properly
this summer. It is a case of getting fitter with each week and while I still
have work to do, I am raring to go and wanting to be fighting for my place
in the starting line-up every week.
Come on you Irons!
Jack
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Adams' golden seal of approval
WHUFC.com
Boxer Nicola Adams happily championed the Hammers' move to the Olympic
Stadium
09.08.2013
Having sampled the Boleyn Ground atmosphere last season, Olympic champion
Nicola Adams can hardly wait to watch West Ham United at the Olympic
Stadium. Nine days after boxing her way to gold at the ExCel Arena last
year, Adams took in the Hammers' 1-0 win over Aston Villa, and it seems the
Club has left its mark on the 30-year-old. Though she heralds from Leeds,
Adams is clearly growing very fond of east London, not least of the Hammers'
prospective new home. Happily posing with the Club's new adidas home shirt
inside the iconic venue, Adams told West Ham TV: "It's fantastic to be back,
just to be here amongst all these people. "To be here again and to hear the
crowd, it's a surreal feeling and it's bringing back loads of memories from
the Games."
And Adams could hardly have been more emphatic in her approval of West Ham's
future occupancy of the Stadium. She continued: "It's really, really good!
I'm really excited and I'm hoping that I'll be there again as well to watch
them play. "The atmosphere's going to be really special and I'm really going
to be looking forward to it."
Meanwhile, exhibiting her typically sunny outlook, Adams expressed her
desire to continue inspiring the next generation, with one eye already on
Rio 2016. As for her own exploits in the ring, she is as ambitious as ever,
already plotting her tilt at gold at the 2014 Commonwealth Games. "The
inspiring is still going on," she explained. "I'm just hoping to keep on
inspiring more kids to get involved in sport. And hopefully we'll see some
really good talent through for 2016. "I'm going to be back in the ring soon.
I've just come back from the European Union Championships, I got gold there
again. I've got the Commonwealth Games next year, so I'm hoping to get
another first, making history and then it's onto Rio!"
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Tonks can't wait for Boleyn return
WHUFC.com
James Tomkins is looking forward to Saturday's pre-season match with Pacos
de Ferreira
09.08.2013
West Ham United defender James Tomkins cannot wait to step back out onto the
hallowed turf of the Boleyn Ground on Saturday. The Hammers host Portuguese
UEFA Champions League qualifiers Pacos de Ferreira in their final pre-season
match of the summer, with tickets available to purchase on the gate.
Tomkins has been heavily involved throughout West Ham's pre-season build-up,
playing in the heart of defence as Sam Allardyce's men toured both Germany
and Portugal, along with taking on sides from the lower leagues of English
football. The centre-back says that has been perfect preparation ahead of
the big kick-off a week away, and he wants to end the summer campaign on a
high in front of the Hammers fans. "It will be nice to play at home on
Saturday after so many games out of the country," he told West Ham TV.
"Getting a game under our belts at the Boleyn Ground will be good,
especially against a team of a good standard as well. "The support should be
good, it's against a team in the Champions League and the fans will be
supporting us ready for the important one against Cardiff. "It's always an
honour to play at home and represent the Club, whether it's a competitive
game or not. Hopefully we can get another result under our belts before the
start of the season."
Having already faced teams from the top flights of both Germany and
Portugal, Tomkins is primed for another stern examination from a side who
begin their Champions League campaign later this month with a play-off round
tie against Russian giants Zenit St Petersburg. He continued: "It's always
important to get good tests in pre-season. We have to set our sights high,
and playing against the best will stand us in good stead for the start of
the season. "It's been a long wait, the fans and ourselves are ready to go
now and this is our last chance to get the fitness in and get a good
performance at the end of it. "The games in Portugal were different to what
we're used to. The style of refereeing was different, blowing up for fouls
every two minutes. It was an experience for all of us, the fans were quite
crazy too - especially against Sporting Lisbon! "They were good tests for
us. At the end of the day we got the minutes in, and we played well so that
was the important thing."
Finally, whufc.com learned from Jack Collison's blog on Friday that Tomkins
was not the tidiest of room-mates for the Welshman over the Hammers' summer
travels. The defender responded by saying there was a reason for his lack of
room etiquette. He smiled: "He always cleans up after me, but I'm only messy
to see him do the cleaning up. It's like having my Mum with me in the room!"
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Potts ready for final pre-season test
WHUFC.com
Steve Potts' U18s host Crystal Palace in their final pre-season fixture on
Saturday morning
09.08.2013
West Ham United U18s host Crystal Palace in their final pre-season fixture
on Saturday morning, fresh from an impressive fortnight's work. Steve Potts'
youngsters defeated Charlton Athletic 3-2 on Tuesday 30 July before
travelling to Belgium for the prestigous Yale Eurofoot Tournament. There,
the Hammers won their opening four group matches before going on to finish
as overall runners-up to Danish side Nordsjaelland. The U18s manager has
been proud of his players' efforts and has called for another fine showing
when they host the Eagles at Little Heath on Saturday, with kick-off at
10.30am. "We have done well." Potts confirmed. "We went to Charlton and that
was a tough game and we came through that. It was a decent test for them
because Charlton mixed their game up really well and we had to match them
physically. If we hadn't we'd have come unstuck and I thought they did that
side of the game well. "We came out of it with a 3-2 win and then went out
to Belgium and just fell short in the final in the end. Overall, I was
really pleased with them."
In Oostduinkerke, West Ham defeated Belgian quartet Club Brugge, AA Gent,
Anderlecht and KV Oostende to top Group A before being defeated by Dutch
team Utrecht in their final meaningless group fixture. After drawing 1-1 and
defeating Tottenham Hotspur on penalties in the semi-finals, the Hammers
came up just short against Nordsjaelland in the final, losing 1-0. On and
off the pitch, Potts said the teenagers were a credit to themselves and to
the Club. "They had a mixture of everything and it was a good effort. I
personally think the boys got a lot out of it and hopefully they will feel
the benefits from it. "I was more than happy with what they did on the pitch
and off the pitch, which for me are equally important. You get to see the
boys close-up for three or four days and how they react to certain things
and how they get on as a group, because it's a team game and you have to all
be pulling in one direction. "I was really, really pleased with the stuff
they did off the pitch as well. Around the hotel, there was no trouble so I
was very pleased."
Crystal Palace will provide another decent challenge. The south London side
may compete in the Barclays U18 Premier League 2 South Division, but the
Eagles have a reputation for producing top players like Wayne Routledge,
Nathaniel Clyne, Jonathan Williams, Ben Watson and Wilfried Zaha. "It will
definitely be another good test for the boys," confirmed Potts. "They are
strong opposition and have quite good record for getting boys into their
first team, so I presume they will be pretty strong again. "It's going to
need another Charlton performance where we'll need to match them in all
departments. We then have the final week before the league starts next
Saturday."
Admission for Saturday's pre-season fixture will be free, as it will be for
the visit of Manchester United for the opening Barclays U18 Premier League
game of 2013/14 on Saturday 17 August.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Turnstiles open for Pacos visit
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 9th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham United have announced that supporters currently without tickets
will be able to pay on the door at tomorrow's pre-season friendly against
Pacos de Ferreira. The Hammers take on the Porto-based club in their final
friendly of pre-season before the real action starts eight days from now,
when the 2013/14 Premier League season begins with the visit of Cardiff
City. Entry for those wishing to pay on the gate will cost £20 for adults
and £10 for under 16s. Cash turnstiles will be operating in the following
locations:
Trevor Brooking Stand (Lower): Turnstiles 0, 1 and 2.
West Stand (Lower): Turnstiles 9, 10, 11, 38 and 39.
West Stand (Upper): Turnstiles 16, 17 and 29.
Bobby Moore Stand (Upper): Turnstiles 46 and 49.
East Stand: Turnstile 69.
Pacos de Ferreira, athough long established as a Primeira Liga club
surprised all when finishing third behind Benfica and champions Porto last
season.
Despite ending the campaign some 24 points behind the champions - and 23
behind runners-up Benfica - Pacos defied the odds by beating Braga, who West
Ham lost 1-0 to in this week's Torneio do Guadiana match, to third place in
the final league table.
Also below de Ferreira were more established Portuguese names, such as
Estoril and Sporting (who also faced the Hammers earlier this week, losing
3-2 thanks to a brace from Ravel Morrison).
As a result of their final league position, Pacos have also qualified for
the Champions League for the first time in their history and face Zenit
Saint Petersburg in a two legged Play-Off encounter later this month.
Os Castores have brought the following squad to London for tomorrow's
fixture:
Matias Degra, António Filipe; Grégory, Nuno Santos, Ricardo, Hélder Lopes;
Romeu, Rúben, André Leão, Rui Miguel, Sérgio Oliveira, Rodrigo António,
Filipe Anunciação; Christian, Jaime Poulson, Hurtado, Fernando, Caetano,
Manuel José.
West Ham Utd vs Pacos Ferreira, Top Trump Style
Year Formed: WHUFC 1895; PdF 1950
Highest Domestic League Position: WHUFC 3rd (1985/86); PdF 3rd (2012/13)
Consecutive Seasons In The Top Flight: WHUFC 2; PdF 9
Ground Capacity: WHUFC 35,016; PdF 5,255
Domestic Cup Wins: WHUFC 4; PdF 1
European Cup Wins: WHUFC 1; PdF 0
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Downing to West Ham rumours gain momentum
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 9th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
The odds of West Ham signing Stewart Downing from Liverpool were slashed
tonight after a string of Twitter sources claimed that the England winger
was on the verge of completing a move to east London. SkyBet slashed their
odds on Downing joining West Ham to 1/3 late on Friday after Twitter ran
awash with rumours suggesting that the former Middlesbrough man had agreed a
permanent contract. 29-year-old Downing has been linked with a move south
all summer, although club sources inside of West Ham have always insisted
that the rumours were wide of the mark. However with the start of the new
season drawing closer - and with Sam Allardyce apparently no closer to
signing the wide player he desires - Downing, who is available at a
knockdown price of around £5million would perhaps be the perfect solution to
the manager's problem. Having made his name at Middlesbrough, Downing left
Teeside for the first time in his career in 2009 when he joined Aston Villa
following Middlesbrough's relegation from the Premier League in a £12million
deal (£10million + add-ons).
Two years later, having become something of an England regular, Downing was
lured to Anfield for an undisclosed fee widely thought to be worth around
£20million. However it was a figure that was to hang heavy upon his
shoulders and a disappointing first season on Merseyside saw Downing end the
campaign with no goals and no assists. Despite being criticised heavily by
'Pool fans, Downing still managed to make 45 appearances for the Reds in
2012/13 where he fared marginally better on the goalscoring front with five
to his name. Still, his days at Anfield have appeared numbered for some
time and, should rumours prove correct, Downing could be set to embark on a
new journey following former Liverpool team mate Andy Carroll to London.
SkyBet Current Odds: Downing to...
West Ham Utd 1/3
Newcastle Utd 5/1
Aston Villa, Sunderland 20/1
Celtic 25/1
Swansea 28/1
Everton, Norwich 33/1
Middlesbrough 40/1
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers linked with Danish striker
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 9th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham are being linked with a move for Copenhagen striker Nicolai
Jorgensen. The 22-year-old forward is firmly in the sights of Sam Allardyce
according to Tipsbladet, who claims this afternoon that representatives of
both parties are set to hold exploratory talsk with view to a permanent
transfer next week. Hailing from Ballerup, Jorgensen has been with the
reigning Danish Superligaen champions since 2012. He began his career with
local league club Skovlunde IF before moving to Copenhagen-based Akademisk
Boldklub. Having impressed scouts of German Bundesliga side Bayer
Leverkusen, Jorgensen signed a five-year contract with the Werkself in 2010
and made his debut in the German top flight at the age of 19. But within two
years he was on his way back to Denmark, where Copenhagen snapped him up on
the cheap.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
From United to United
KUMB.com
Filed: Friday, 9th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
Former Hammer Rio Ferdinand celebrates a decade at Manchester United this
evening with a star-studded, testimonial event. Ferdinand's current club
take on Spanish giants Seville at Old Trafford this evening to commemorate
the central defender's ten years with the club, who he joined in a
record-breaking £29million move from Leeds United in 2002. It's nearly 13
years since the 34-year-old left Upton Park, when following weeks of
uncertainty he moved to Leeds United in a £19million switch. Then manager
Harry Redkapp publicly bemoaned the loss of the young starlet, whilst
pocketing a £300,000 bonus payment from the sale. The decision to sell
Ferdinand was almost universally condemned by Hammers fans at the time and
the popular view that it would signal the beginning of the end for the
so-called 'Golden Generation' at the Boleyn Ground proved to be correct, as
the likes of Cole, Lampard, Carrick and Defoe were also sold.
Just 22 when he left West Ham, Ferdinand had been at the club since his
mid-teens. Speaking to KUMB in a 2010 exclusive interview, Tony Carr - who
guided the Peckham-born youngster's development - revealed the circumstances
in which he first found his way to Chadwell Heath. "Rio's mentor was a guy
named Dave Goodwin. We worked hard on Dave to persuade him to come and look
at our club," told Carr. "Once Rio was here he decided this is what he
liked. He liked the people and the way we did things - and fortunately, he
signed for us and stayed."
Ferdinand, who went on to represent his country 81 times as a central
defender first came to West Ham as a striker, before signing scholarship
terms as a midfielder. But in 1998, Academy Director Carr was to change his
career forever. "I went on a [UEFA] coaching seminar that was run by Andy
Roxburgh, who based it on the Germans who were very successful at the time,"
said Carr. "He said the German philosophy was that you should have your most
talented midfield player playing at the back of three defenders, ready to
break out. "We were trying to develop more stylish players and to be
successful you should have players that are comfortable with the ball - and
I saw Rio as this player, or one of these players. He gave it a try and
obviously it worked, it worked very well."
Although he was always destined to be a top player, Carr revealed that
Ferdinand's path to success was smoothed by the formation of a strong bond
with another Chadwell Heath youngster who also eventually left the club in a
multi-million pound deal. "He became friends with Frank Lampard (Jnr); they
were very close," said Carr. "They were alike in terms of how they loved the
game and loved to train - and because you couldn't get them off the pitch!
"They were always together and because Frank lived locally, Rio would always
end up round Frank's house in the afternoon for a cup of tea and a chat.
Maybe he'd stay there at weekends and so on. So they built up a bond and a
friendship and they developed together as players. They were good for each
other."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
QPR close in on West Ham target Duvan Zapata
Daily Star
QPR are on the verge of signing former West Ham target Duvan Zapata after
agreeing a £6.4m fee with Argentine club Estundiantes. Harry Redknapp is
eager to add to his attacking options after the loan departures of Loic Remy
to Newcastle and Adel Taarabt to Fulham this week. Zapata is expected to
undergo a medical and discuss personal terms with the west London club. West
Ham pulled out of a deal to sign the 22-year-old last month over fears he
would not be granted a work permit on a 'special talent' exception. Zapata
had been set for a £6.7m move to Upton Park, before Sam Allardyce decided to
look elsewhere in his chase for a new forward. The Colombian impressed last
season scoring 14 goals as he helped his side to finish ninth in the
Argentine Primera Division. The move would represent a huge coup for QPR
with Lyon, Benfica, Porto and Udinese all keen on the frontman.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
You lucky beggar! Carroll hands out £50 to tramp on the streets of Soho
By JOHN DRAYTON
PUBLISHED: 08:32, 9 August 2013 | UPDATED: 08:32, 9 August 2013
Daily mail
Andy Carroll showed his generous side by handing a beggar £50 while out and
about in Soho on Thursday night. The £15million West Ham United striker, who
is battling to overcome a heel injury before the start of the new Premier
League season, handed over the £50 note when approached by the man in
central London. After scoring seven goals during his season-long loan spell
at Upton Park, the Hammers moved quickly to secure the England international
on a permanent basis, shelling out a club record fee. And having signed a
six-year deal, he shouldn't be short of money for the foreseeable future.
However, he picked up a heel injury in May, limiting his involvement in the
team's pre-season trips to Germany and Portugal, and possibly ruling him out
until the middle of next month. He posted a picture of his lean physique on
Twitter this week as he lifted weights in the gym with the club's strength
and conditioning coach Mathew Monte-Colmbo, who is aiding his recovery.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Liverpool's Stewart Downing in transfer talks with West Ham.. and Kop will
pay him to go
9 Aug 2013 22:30
The Mirror
West Ham have made a shock £6million move to sign Liverpool winger Stewart
Downing. Former Middlesbrough wideman turned down a switch down south to
Upton Park earlier this summer. But the Hammers have come back in and the
29-year-old - a £20m capture from Aston Villa just two years ago - is set to
cut his losses after failing to establish himself at the Anfield giants. The
transfer fee, which could rise to £6m based his on appearances for the
Londoners, would represent a massive loss for Liverpool who have also
written off £20m in selling Andy Carroll to West Ham this summer. But Reds
boss Brendan Rodgers is staging a clear-out of players deemed to have no
future at the club as he reshapes the squad for a tilt at a Champions League
place over the coming campaign.
Talks between West Ham and Downing are at an advanced stage over terms, with
one of the stumbling blocks being the player's wages of around £80,000 a
week. But Liverpool are prepared to pay up some of his remaining contract to
facilitate the deal, and it could be finalised as early as next week.
Rodgers meanwhile, has moved to end the speculation over the future of
Daniel Agger, by naming him as the new vice-captain of the club. Barcelona
have long been rumoured to be interested in the Danish defender, but
Liverpool insisted this week that they had received no bids or any contact
from the Catalan club.
The Reds boss stated bluntly the centre-half was going nowhere: "Daniel's
loyalty and his passion for Liverpool is second to none. And if you add that
on to his footballing qualities, then I think it's a good choice for
everybody."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Andy Carroll sued over claims he trashed £2million rented bachelor pad
10 Aug 2013 06:30
The Mirror
Premier League footballer Andy Carroll is being sued for almost £200,000
following claims that he wrecked his former bachelor pad. Jeff and Dawn
Grant, who own the £2million five-bed mansion, allege that he owes them
£68,000 in rent. And their solicitors claim the West Ham striker, 24, left
drink stains on chairs and on the ceiling, scratches on an antique table and
caused the swimming pool to be overrun with potentially toxic algae.
Carroll, who earns £100,000 a week, is believed to have moved all the
furniture – including treadmills, sofas and a grandfather clock – into a
secret lock-up. But the Grants claim it is theirs. Solicitors for the couple
also claim audio visual kit is missing from the mansion, which is thought to
have had £100,000 wiped off its value. Carroll is being chased for £75,000
for the "unlawful removal of furniture" and £48,000 for the "clean-up and
repair operation". Including the rent, that makes £191,000. Manleys
Solicitors, for the Grants, said: "The property was returned to them in an
extremely poor condition and, regrettably, they've had to issue legal
proceedings."
Carroll's solicitors Glinert Davis did not comment last night but it is
believed he is fighting the claims. It is understood the star is demanding
his £15,000 deposit but it is being held back by the Grants. Carroll was
tied into a two-year tenancy on the house in Blundellsands, Liverpool, which
would have ended on May 8.
But payments are alleged to have stopped last autumn when he moved from
Liverpool to West Ham.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
West Ham's Sam Allardyce nets Stewart Downing
WEST HAM are on the verge of agreeing a £6m deal with Liverpool to sign
Stewart Downing
Daily Star
By Dave Lyons/Published 10th August 2013
The Hammers have resurrected their interest in the England winger and are
hoping to complete a transfer early next week. An initial bid of £5m was
rejected, but Hammers boss Sam Allardyce has muscled in front of former side
Newcastle and talks between the clubs are now continuing. Downing rebuffed
the Londoners' advances earlier in the summer but does not want to spend the
season on the sidelines at Anfield. "An initial bid of £5m was rejected, but
Hammers boss Sam Allardyce has muscled in front of former side Newcastle"
The England winger was part of the Liverpool squad that flew to Dublin last
night for today's friendly with Celtic and could hold talks with Allardyce
upon his return if a fee is agreed. Liverpool manager Brendan Rodgers is
prepared to offload Downing and the Merseysiders are also willing to take a
huge hit on the £20m fee they paid Aston Villa two summers ago. Downing has
been aware of overtures from Newcastle - despite denials from them - but it
is Allardyce who has firmed up his long-standing interest. Big Sam has
already recruited Andy Carroll from Liverpool this summer in an initial £15m
deal and believes Downing can provide a rich supply line to him as he looks
to implement the master plan Kenny Dalglish believed would work for him at
Anfield. Liverpool have already sold Jay Spearing to Bolton, with whom the
midfielder spent last season on loan, for £1.5m.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Friday, August 9
Daily WHUFC News - Get a load of this!
Carlton Cole 'hits brace in for Tottenham' in behind-closed-doors friendly
Thursday 8 Aug 2013 10:17 pm
Metro.co.uk
Tottenham could be set for a shock move for free agent Carlton Cole, after
the striker was reported to have featured in a behind-closed-doors friendly
for Andre Villas-Boas' side.
Twitter was awash with rumours that former West Ham striker Cole, who was
released from Upton Park at the end of last season, hit two goals against
non-league Enfield Town at Spurs' training ground today, with record signing
Roberto Soldado also reportedly bagging a hat-trick.
But it is unclear whether the 29-year-old is being lined up for a place in
Villas-Boas' squad next term, or whether he is simply maintaining his
fitness in the hope a top-flight club will move for him before the start of
the season.
Carlton Cole 'hits brace in Spurs friendly'Carlton Cole has been without a
club since the end of last season (Picture: AP)
Reports last month suggested newly promoted Crystal Palace were keen on
taking Cole to Selhurst Park, but any potential deal seems to have fallen by
the wayside.
As for Tottenham, they are still on the lookout for a new frontman after
Clint Dempsey quit White Hart Lane to join Seattle Sounders last weekend,
while Emmanuel Adebayor could yet be on his way out of the club.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Thursday 8 Aug 2013 10:17 pm
Metro.co.uk
Tottenham could be set for a shock move for free agent Carlton Cole, after
the striker was reported to have featured in a behind-closed-doors friendly
for Andre Villas-Boas' side.
Twitter was awash with rumours that former West Ham striker Cole, who was
released from Upton Park at the end of last season, hit two goals against
non-league Enfield Town at Spurs' training ground today, with record signing
Roberto Soldado also reportedly bagging a hat-trick.
But it is unclear whether the 29-year-old is being lined up for a place in
Villas-Boas' squad next term, or whether he is simply maintaining his
fitness in the hope a top-flight club will move for him before the start of
the season.
Carlton Cole 'hits brace in Spurs friendly'Carlton Cole has been without a
club since the end of last season (Picture: AP)
Reports last month suggested newly promoted Crystal Palace were keen on
taking Cole to Selhurst Park, but any potential deal seems to have fallen by
the wayside.
As for Tottenham, they are still on the lookout for a new frontman after
Clint Dempsey quit White Hart Lane to join Seattle Sounders last weekend,
while Emmanuel Adebayor could yet be on his way out of the club.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Daily WHUFC News - 9th August 2013
Home draw for Hammers
WHUFC.com
West Ham United will face Cheltenham Town in the second round of the Capital
One Cup
08.08.2013
West Ham United have been handed a home draw against Cheltenham Town in the
second round of the Capital One Cup. The League Two Robins booked their
place in round two by pulling off a 4-3 extra-time victory over Crawley Town
from the division above on Tuesday. They will now face the Hammers, who
enter at this stage of the competition. The game will be played in the week
commencing 26 August, following the Hammers' Barclays Premier League trip to
Newcastle United. Sam Allardyce's men defeated Crewe Alexandra in the second
round of the Capital One Cup last term, before exiting the competition at
the next phase to Wigan Athletic. Cheltenham Town, managed by former
Birmingham City player Mark Yates, finished fifth in League Two last season
and drew their opening fixture this term 2-2 with Burton Albion last
weekend.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Health checks for Hammers
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's players have undergone a series of tests to make sure they
are in tip-top condition
08.08.2013
West Ham United Head of Sports Medicine and Sport Science Andy Rolls and his
team had a busy time recently as the players underwent their pre-season
health scanning. Sam Allardyce's squad were subjected to a range of tests,
from examinations by the Club optician and dentist, to assessments of their
balance, strength and co-ordination by sports scientists from Belgian-based
SpartaNova. A state-of-the-art DEXA scanner was also brought to the Hammers'
Chadwell Heath training base to record levels of body fat, bone and muscle
composition. It all adds up to give the management a clear picture of where
the players are at this stage of pre-season, and Rolls explained to West Ham
TV how crucial that monitoring is. "It's vital for several reasons," he
said. "It's a hectic day and the coaches have been excellent. The manager
likes to know where they are strength and fitness-wise, and we want to know
how their parameters that stop them getting injured are - muscle length,
muscle strength, balance, co-ordination, we want to measure all of those
things. "Also, there's a performance element as well, and we put it
altogether into an algorithm we've developed over many years, and the more
information we give this algorithm we more information we get out, and then
we can gear their gym work towards preventing injuries. "There will always
be some injuries, contact and things like that, which you can't legislate
for, but we want to decrease the injuries that we can, that we have some
influence over."
Every member of Big Sam's first-team squad was assessed over a range of
stations over an entire morning or afternoon at the training ground. Rolls
explained the benefits of each station, starting with SpartaNova: "Quality
research over the last 20 years has given us certain tests that give us
certain outcomes that we can work on to improve players' balance, strength
and flexibility, because it highlights players' weaknesses. We can then work
on them over the season to give them the best possible ability to play well
and avoid injury. "We got the dentist in because there's a lot of
correlation between dental health and overall wellbeing, and we look at
that. It's good for the dentist to see everyone once a year. We don't want a
player missing a game because of toothache, an infection or a wisdom tooth
problem."
"We also got the optician in. It's rare he picks something up, but it's
something we need to tick-off and make sure we haven't missed anything
simple." Part of the Chadwell Heath car park was also taken over by a truck
containing the DEXA scanner, which Rolls described as being 'quite unusual':
"It's a scan of the body to look at body composition, the percentage of body
fat, muscle mass and certain structures of the bone. We're also entering
into research with a rugby club at looking at joint structure with the DEXA
scan. "That's interesting, because we can build on this learning environment
we're trying to create to provide the players with the best possible care we
can."
Testing is not something which just occurs during pre-season, however, and
Rolls explained that the players would continue to be monitored closely over
the duration of the 2013/14 campaign. "Some screening is done every morning,
so players would play on a Saturday and on a Monday morning we would do two
or three tests to see how they've recovered. We then do them again on a
Tuesday, and perhaps again on a Thursday so the pre-season tests give us our
benchmarks for the season ahead."
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Is Parlo in for Mark Noble?
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 8th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio is being linked with a move for West Ham's
Mark Noble, after he revealed he was searching for an English midfielder.
Di Canio, who left West Ham a year before Noble made his first team debut
for the club in August 2004 told the Gazette that his main target was a
domestic, central midfielder - something the Italian considers as key to his
team's hopes for next season. "The club is working on the two full-backs but
more important to me is the need to get a key player in central midfield -
someone who's English," he said. "He needs to be English with a physical
presence, because we have analysed that is a need we have. "English, because
he needs to know English football inside out. And also a player with very
good quality - because we want to play attractive football which gets
results. I hope it can be done. I know they are working to make it happen."
Noble, who hails from Canning Town has been with West Ham since he was a
schoolboy. In September of last year he signed a new three-year contract
with the club after further speculation regarding his future. Speaking at
the time, Noble said: "Everyone knows I love playing at West Ham. I enjoy my
football here so it was just a case of coming to an agreement. I'm delighted
now it's all signed and sealed. "Playing for West Ham has been a
rollercoaster and I've been through two promotions, a relegation and a
'Great Escape', but it's been thoroughly enjoyable and I look forward to the
next few years of my career here."
Noble has made a total of 267 first team appearances for West Ham since
making his debut nine years ago this month, at an average of 30 games per
season. He has scored a total of 30 goals, the majority of which came from
the penalty spot.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Hammers to face Cheltenham
KUMb.com
Filed: Thursday, 8th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham will face Cheltenham Town in the second round of the Capital One
Cup. United, who were knocked out of the competition at the second hurdle
last year when beaten 4-1 at home by Wigan Athletic face the League Two side
at the Boleyn Ground in the week beginning August 26th. The Robins, who made
the League Two play-off semi finals last season (before being knocked out by
Northampton) came from 3-1 behind in the first round of the Capital One Cup
to beat Crawley 4-3 after extra time. The meeting represents the first
occasion on which West Ham and Cheltenham will have met in a competitive
fixture.
Full Second Round Draw
Carlisle Utd vs Leicester City
Doncaster Rovers vs Leeds Utd
Nottingham Forest vs Millwall
Sunderland vs MK Dons
West Brom vs Newport County
Bristol City vs Crystal Palace
Peterborough vs Reading
Barnsley vs Southampton
Burton vs Fulham
Burnley vs Preston
Liverpool vs Notts County
Norwich vs Bury
Leyton Orient vs Hull City
Everton vs Stevenage
Stoke City vs Walsall
Huddersfield vs Charlton Ath
Aston Villa vs Rotherham
Tranmere vs Bolton Wan
Morecambe vs Newcastle Utd
QPR vs Swindon
Derby County vs Brentford
Watford vs Bournemouth
Yeovil vs Birmingham City
Accrington Stanley vs Cardiff City
West Ham Utd vs Cheltenham Town
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
West Ham United will face Cheltenham Town in the second round of the Capital
One Cup
08.08.2013
West Ham United have been handed a home draw against Cheltenham Town in the
second round of the Capital One Cup. The League Two Robins booked their
place in round two by pulling off a 4-3 extra-time victory over Crawley Town
from the division above on Tuesday. They will now face the Hammers, who
enter at this stage of the competition. The game will be played in the week
commencing 26 August, following the Hammers' Barclays Premier League trip to
Newcastle United. Sam Allardyce's men defeated Crewe Alexandra in the second
round of the Capital One Cup last term, before exiting the competition at
the next phase to Wigan Athletic. Cheltenham Town, managed by former
Birmingham City player Mark Yates, finished fifth in League Two last season
and drew their opening fixture this term 2-2 with Burton Albion last
weekend.
::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::
Health checks for Hammers
WHUFC.com
West Ham United's players have undergone a series of tests to make sure they
are in tip-top condition
08.08.2013
West Ham United Head of Sports Medicine and Sport Science Andy Rolls and his
team had a busy time recently as the players underwent their pre-season
health scanning. Sam Allardyce's squad were subjected to a range of tests,
from examinations by the Club optician and dentist, to assessments of their
balance, strength and co-ordination by sports scientists from Belgian-based
SpartaNova. A state-of-the-art DEXA scanner was also brought to the Hammers'
Chadwell Heath training base to record levels of body fat, bone and muscle
composition. It all adds up to give the management a clear picture of where
the players are at this stage of pre-season, and Rolls explained to West Ham
TV how crucial that monitoring is. "It's vital for several reasons," he
said. "It's a hectic day and the coaches have been excellent. The manager
likes to know where they are strength and fitness-wise, and we want to know
how their parameters that stop them getting injured are - muscle length,
muscle strength, balance, co-ordination, we want to measure all of those
things. "Also, there's a performance element as well, and we put it
altogether into an algorithm we've developed over many years, and the more
information we give this algorithm we more information we get out, and then
we can gear their gym work towards preventing injuries. "There will always
be some injuries, contact and things like that, which you can't legislate
for, but we want to decrease the injuries that we can, that we have some
influence over."
Every member of Big Sam's first-team squad was assessed over a range of
stations over an entire morning or afternoon at the training ground. Rolls
explained the benefits of each station, starting with SpartaNova: "Quality
research over the last 20 years has given us certain tests that give us
certain outcomes that we can work on to improve players' balance, strength
and flexibility, because it highlights players' weaknesses. We can then work
on them over the season to give them the best possible ability to play well
and avoid injury. "We got the dentist in because there's a lot of
correlation between dental health and overall wellbeing, and we look at
that. It's good for the dentist to see everyone once a year. We don't want a
player missing a game because of toothache, an infection or a wisdom tooth
problem."
"We also got the optician in. It's rare he picks something up, but it's
something we need to tick-off and make sure we haven't missed anything
simple." Part of the Chadwell Heath car park was also taken over by a truck
containing the DEXA scanner, which Rolls described as being 'quite unusual':
"It's a scan of the body to look at body composition, the percentage of body
fat, muscle mass and certain structures of the bone. We're also entering
into research with a rugby club at looking at joint structure with the DEXA
scan. "That's interesting, because we can build on this learning environment
we're trying to create to provide the players with the best possible care we
can."
Testing is not something which just occurs during pre-season, however, and
Rolls explained that the players would continue to be monitored closely over
the duration of the 2013/14 campaign. "Some screening is done every morning,
so players would play on a Saturday and on a Monday morning we would do two
or three tests to see how they've recovered. We then do them again on a
Tuesday, and perhaps again on a Thursday so the pre-season tests give us our
benchmarks for the season ahead."
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Is Parlo in for Mark Noble?
KUMB.com
Filed: Thursday, 8th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
Sunderland manager Paolo Di Canio is being linked with a move for West Ham's
Mark Noble, after he revealed he was searching for an English midfielder.
Di Canio, who left West Ham a year before Noble made his first team debut
for the club in August 2004 told the Gazette that his main target was a
domestic, central midfielder - something the Italian considers as key to his
team's hopes for next season. "The club is working on the two full-backs but
more important to me is the need to get a key player in central midfield -
someone who's English," he said. "He needs to be English with a physical
presence, because we have analysed that is a need we have. "English, because
he needs to know English football inside out. And also a player with very
good quality - because we want to play attractive football which gets
results. I hope it can be done. I know they are working to make it happen."
Noble, who hails from Canning Town has been with West Ham since he was a
schoolboy. In September of last year he signed a new three-year contract
with the club after further speculation regarding his future. Speaking at
the time, Noble said: "Everyone knows I love playing at West Ham. I enjoy my
football here so it was just a case of coming to an agreement. I'm delighted
now it's all signed and sealed. "Playing for West Ham has been a
rollercoaster and I've been through two promotions, a relegation and a
'Great Escape', but it's been thoroughly enjoyable and I look forward to the
next few years of my career here."
Noble has made a total of 267 first team appearances for West Ham since
making his debut nine years ago this month, at an average of 30 games per
season. He has scored a total of 30 goals, the majority of which came from
the penalty spot.
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Hammers to face Cheltenham
KUMb.com
Filed: Thursday, 8th August 2013
By: Staff Writer
West Ham will face Cheltenham Town in the second round of the Capital One
Cup. United, who were knocked out of the competition at the second hurdle
last year when beaten 4-1 at home by Wigan Athletic face the League Two side
at the Boleyn Ground in the week beginning August 26th. The Robins, who made
the League Two play-off semi finals last season (before being knocked out by
Northampton) came from 3-1 behind in the first round of the Capital One Cup
to beat Crawley 4-3 after extra time. The meeting represents the first
occasion on which West Ham and Cheltenham will have met in a competitive
fixture.
Full Second Round Draw
Carlisle Utd vs Leicester City
Doncaster Rovers vs Leeds Utd
Nottingham Forest vs Millwall
Sunderland vs MK Dons
West Brom vs Newport County
Bristol City vs Crystal Palace
Peterborough vs Reading
Barnsley vs Southampton
Burton vs Fulham
Burnley vs Preston
Liverpool vs Notts County
Norwich vs Bury
Leyton Orient vs Hull City
Everton vs Stevenage
Stoke City vs Walsall
Huddersfield vs Charlton Ath
Aston Villa vs Rotherham
Tranmere vs Bolton Wan
Morecambe vs Newcastle Utd
QPR vs Swindon
Derby County vs Brentford
Watford vs Bournemouth
Yeovil vs Birmingham City
Accrington Stanley vs Cardiff City
West Ham Utd vs Cheltenham Town
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
Thursday, August 8
Daily WHUFC News - 8th August 2013
Macca on SC Braga defeat
WHUFC.com
Neil McDonald admitted West Ham United did not perform well in losing 1-0 to
SC Braga in Portugal
07.08.2013
Assistant manager Neil McDonald admitted West Ham United had not played well
in going down to a 1-0 Guadiana Tournament defeat by SC Braga. The
Portuguese side took the spoils in Portimao through Rafa's 63rd-minute
winner, while the Hammers struggled to create clear-cut chances to find the
net themselves. Just 24 hours on from a thrilling 3-2 victory over Sporting
Clube de Portugal in the same stadium, McDonald said the circumstances had
been very different on Tuesday evening. "We're very disappointed with the
performance," he told West Ham TV. "Some of the players played on Monday, of
course, but what a contrast from Monday when the whole place was buzzing. I
don't think Braga played exceptionally well and we didn't get into a flow of
play or passing and moving style. The creativity wasn't really there and it
was only from free-kicks and corners that we really caused them problems.
"Going from a high on Monday and being very, very pleased with the
performance and a cracking atmosphere to a quieter atmosphere, we
unfortunately produced a poor performance by everybody. "I think we try to
take positives from every game and it is difficult to try and take some from
this one. Our passing wasn't there, we didn't make space for ourselves and
we certainly didn't create as many chances as we did on Monday. "It's still
progress and there is still work to be done and we've still got nearly two
weeks to go until Cardiff City visit on 17 August in our Barclays Premier
League opener. We will need to sharpen everybody up over the next two
weeks."
Before then, West Ham complete their pre-season schedule with the visit of
another Portuguese club to the Boleyn Ground on Saturday in the shape of
Pacos de Ferreira. McDonald is expecting another testing 90 minutes against
a side which finished above both Braga and Sporting in the Primeira Liga
last term.
"The opposition have been quality - Sporting on Monday with their big crowd
and obviously Braga played in the Champions League last year. They were
quality opposition which was really good and we've learnt lots of things.
"Pacos finished third last season. Not many people have heard of them but
they play some good football and their attacking play is very, very sharp.
We'll have to be ready and hopefully our crowd will give us a lift with a
better atmosphere then we had on Tuesday night."
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Hammers duo in Wales squad
WHUFC.com
James Collins and Jack Collison are in the Wales squad to face Ireland next
week
07.08.2013
West Ham United pair James Collins and Jack Collison have been called up by
Wales for their friendly against the Republic of Ireland next week. Chris
Coleman's side will face Ireland in Cardiff on Wednesday 14 August., with
defender Collins looking to earn his 42nd cap. Collison, meanwhile, has
featured on 13 occasions for his country and the duo will hope to be
invovled as Wales warm up for their FIFA World Cup qualifiers against
Macedonia and Serbia in September. They could find themselves up against
Hammers goalkeeper Stephen Henderson, who has replaced the injured David
Forde in Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland squad for the fixture. Ireland and
Wales last met in February 2011, when Trapattoni's men defeated their
visitors 3-0. Wales' last positive result against Ireland came in November
2007, when Jason Koumas' last minute penalty secured a 2-2 draw. Meanwhile,
Mohamed Diame has been included in Senegal's squad to face Zambia in Paris,
also next Wednesday.
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Gary O'Neil: QPR sign former West Ham midfielder
BBC.co.uk
Championship side QPR have completed the signing of midfielder Gary O'Neil
on a one-year deal. The 30-year-old, a free agent after failing to agree a
new deal with West Ham, previously worked under R's boss Harry Redknapp at
Portsmouth. Redknapp told the club website: "Gary's a good player and a
good pro. "He was offered a new deal at West Ham but he decided he fancied
coming here because he feels maybe he'll get more game time at QPR." He
added: "He can run all day long, he's good on the ball, a good passer, he
sees all the pictures in front of him and is a top professional.
Gary O'Neil career factfile
Portsmouth (trainee-August 2007): 192 appearances, 17 goals
Walsall (loan spell Sept-Oct 03): seven games, no goals
Cardiff City (loan spell Sept-Nov 04): nine games, one goal
Middlesbrough (Aug 07-Jan 2011): 120 games, nine goals
West Ham (Jan 11-Jun 13): 56 games, three goals
QPR (signed Aug 13)
"We've got plenty of options in that department now, but he'll certainly add
to what we've got - he's a good, good player and will be a fine acquisition
for us."
O'Neil spent eight seasons at Portsmouth after coming through the youth
ranks at Fratton Park and was part of the Pompey squad that sealed promotion
to the Premier League in 2002-03. He left West Ham earlier this summer
following an injury-hit two-and-a-half-year spell with the Hammers in which
he scored three goals in 56 appearances. The former England Under-21
international has been training with QPR recently and described the
challenge at Loftus Road as an "exciting one". "Obviously I know Harry well
and he was a big factor in me coming here," O'Neil said. "He's played a
massive role in my development as a player and now I'm back playing for him
again and I want to repay him by helping this club get back into the Premier
League. "Having been in and around the squad for the last few weeks, I've
seen how united the squad are to achieve what we all want to do. "The
togetherness is there - it's a really happy camp and there's a real good
feel to the place."
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High hopes and dashed aspirations
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 6th August 2013
By: John Rolls
Every time I visit the Sky Sports transfer centre, I get bemused. We are
linked with so many players; surely a percentage of the stories must be
true?
However true to form I see players that would add greatly to our squad but
seem to sign for some nonentity of a team.
Take Wilfried Bony, for example. This seemed as if it was a done deal in
January, but he didn't come. This transfer window we're trying to usurp
Swansea (amongst others); where's he gone? To Swansea.
I know we spent a Club-record fee on the Andy Carroll deal, but this is
becoming repetitive. Martin Olsson from Blackburn another winter target,
signs for Norwich. Norwich, for f&%£'s sake.
Is there something dreadfully wrong with the club that puts players off from
coming here? What have Swansea and Norwich got that we have not? Could it be
they play a more attractive style of football? Are we underselling ourselves
to them?
We are West Ham United, the original Academy of football, where passing and
movement was introduced to the English game. If we are underselling
ourselves, why? Players like Bony and Olsson should be banging on the door
to come here, unless they have looked and wondered "where would I fit into
the team".
With Bony I can understand there may have been some doubt; where would he
play with Sam preferring one up top? I can't see him dropping Nolan to play
Bony behind AC. With Razvan Rat having arrived, at least the left back spot
seems sorted.
Whatever happened to the Ecuadorian winger we were linked with? Did he see
himself stuck on the bench, as it looks like Joe Cole is going to play wide
right? (Personally I think he would be better in Nolan's position.)
And how about Stuart Downing, who is said to be available for around
£5million? Yes, we rate him, but we are not really interested. Where would
he play? Left midfield? So Matt Jarvis plays where?
As with all things West Ham you have to learn to look at things totally
differently, believe none of the rumours and trust none of the transfer
speculation. Just accept that we will sign someone we don't know who, but
we'll sign him.
The trouble is, unless we invest in the squad we could well be going to the
Olympic Stadium with a team struggling to maintain its Premier League
status.
Adrian looks a good signing for the future, as does Danny Whitehead from
Stockport, although we have to consolidate our status this season. We have
to move the squad forward. We must enter the new home with a team that is at
least challenging for a Europa League position.
Recently we were once again linked with West Brom's Graham Dorrans. What,
it's taken three years of scouting to find out if he's good enough? Is
Dorrans really the calibre of player we should be looking to recruit? I mean
if a club like Swansea can afford to lash out on Bony and Shelvey (7 a big
West Ham fan) who are we kidding apart from ourselves that we are a big
club?
The two Daves have done a great job of stabilising the club, but why do we
always get beaten to players by minor clubs?
There are a dearth of players available who would be good if not excellent
signings, I know by mentioning these players several hackles will rise but
these three would add much to our team:
1. Darren Bent. He scores (against us particularly) but I think if you
paired him with Andy Carroll in a 4-4-2 we would have some excellent
goalscoring potential.
2. Jermaine Defoe. He's going to be on the fringe at Spurs this season. I
know there are a lot of reasons why he wouldn't want to comeback, but like
Bent he'd make a great foil for Carroll.
3. Tom Ince. Another who would have his reasons for not signing (but don't
put the sins of the father on the son) but with his pace and Jarvis on the
other flank, the crosses would be flying in.
There are a few others such as Scott Parker, on the fringe at Spurs and
linked with Fulham - or Zaha, if the Mancs can be persuaded to let him go on
loan.
So there we have it. West Ham yet again linked with lots of quality players.
Just as I'm dreaming of a Europa League spot with all these names coming, my
aspirations are dashed when they sign for clubs below our calibre.
Nothing ever changes at Upton Park; the circus and its acts are getting
repetitive and whilst new acts are coming on board, the show is still the
same.
Please Dave and Dave, break this circle, and sign three or four quality
players - or at least let's have a good shot at our targets and not be made
mugs of by Norwich City and co.
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An audience with Allardisi
KUMb.com
Filed: Tuesday, 6th August 2013
By: David Meagher
Ok, so lets be clear. It's fashionable to blame the entire ills of your club
on the manager and evil board (as well as the FA and a variety of
intergalactic conspiracies involving Manchester United, Sheffield United and
the Zorgians).
In all honesty, although this is pretty lazy logic, it usuallty rings true
as there are few areas of endeavour that are as blighted by the incompetence
of enthusiastic amateurs. For 'family club' one can usually read 'bumbling
myopia with limited business acumen'.
However, at camp Boleyn these days Hammers fans are having to find easier
dogs to kick as everywhere you look there is a sense of professionalism –
right from the careful planning of match tactics, patient building of a
sustainable business model and playing squad, determined progression towards
a larger theatre to both spread the love and gather enough income to finally
put an end to our status as a feeding club for bigger clubs with perennial
European responsibilities.
So, with all that in mind, at the beginning of July we headed off to meet
Big Sam for dinner at the Silver Springs hosted by Cork City FC. First up,
Corkonians are known for not holding back on the carping if circumstances so
permit – but right throughout the club and city folk were singing the
praises of the visiting Hammers contingent for their professionalism,
availability and plain good manners.
Having encountered the Davids in public it isn't hard to see how they infuse
their organisation with a sense of responsibility towards their supporting
constituency. Meeting Big Sam leaves one in no doubt that he also expects
his lads to conduct themselves in a manner commensurate with their status.
In Ireland we are privileged to have a sports media that operates with no
small amount of straight talking. Compare Giles, Brady and Dunphy with their
equivalents on Match of the Day, or even Sky Sports. We encourage true
opinion, even if it is provocative, and expect our sports people to roll
with the punches. It was a real surprise to note how candid Allardyce is –
politically astute but pretty direct all the same and he didn't mince his
words when asked for an opinion.
First up, Sam ain't no Northerner – actually he hails for the West Midlands
and is from Scottish stock. He supported Wolves as a boy (nobody felt
inclined to salt up the wounds by mentioning recent troubles at the
Wanderers who face third division footie next year). He retains a special
relationship with Bolton but is enjoying his time in London. Operationally,
he speaks on a daily basis with the board and it's pretty clear how the
responsibilities of business and football are divided!
Big Sam really goes for the 'science' around football and can readily cite
yards covered, crosses made, saves etc etc as evidence for the Allardyce
methodology. Hammers fans will be delighted to hear that with six to eight
more goals and a similar defensive record we can crack the top eight next
year. All possible if Andy Carroll gets the 15 goals that Big Sam expects
from him next year – and on the evidence of last season, if he stays fit why
not?
He recalled his time in Ireland with great fondness, describing the crazy
chaos of managing a club that financially stumbled from week to week after
the club bar (and it's principal source of income) was lost in a fire.
Driving around Limerick with Fr Joe Young collecting in order to keep the
team afloat was surely a hairy experience at times, but Sam was keen to see
it through until they were promoted before leaving for 'different'
footballing challenges.
As for Big Sam's aspirations over the coming years – at 62 he has a few good
years left and is keen to spend them progressing the project that he took on
with West Ham – it sounded like he considers this a bigger opportunity than
any temptations from other jobs – even England manager! - that might be
offered to him, but then that may have been what we heard rather than
precisely what he said!
Either way, it's clear that Allardyce sees bringing this club to the Olympic
Stadium as the major challenge for him over the next few years – we wish him
every success!
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Werder Bremen insist there have been no bids for Marko Arnautovic
By Thomas Zocher. Last Updated: August 7, 2013 10:03am
SSN
Werder Bremen general manager Thomas Eichin has denied that the club have
received any bids for Austria international Marko Arnautovic. The English
media had claimed in recent days that West Ham were keen on signing for the
former Inter Milan striker, whilst Real Sociedad and Dynamo Kiev have also
been linked. However, Werder have moved to deny that they have received any
bids for their controversial front-man. Eichin is quoted by Bild as saying:
"At this point in time we are in no (transfer) talks with any club regarding
the future of Marko Arnautovic. "Marko Arnautovic is part of the first-team
squad and has a contract at our club." Arnautovic, who has contract at
Werder until 2014, found himself banned from the first team towards the end
of last season for disciplinary reasons including a fight with team-mate
Sokratis Papastathopoulos.
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West Ham keeper Stephen Henderson added to Republic of Ireland squad
Last Updated: August 7, 2013 8:52pm
SSN
Stephen Henderson could earn his first Republic of Ireland cap after being
called into their squad for the friendly against Wales next week. The West
Ham keeper, who has eight U21 caps to his name, replaces David Forde in
Giovanni Trapattoni's squad after the Millwall player suffered a knee injury
that required surgery. Forde will be missing for around six weeks and
therefore miss the World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria next
month, leaving Henderson to compete with Sunderland's Keiren Westwood and
Darren Randolph of Birmingham for the No 1 jersey. Henderson has struggled
for opportunities at Upton Park, but he impressed in a loan spell with
Ipswich Town last season and could find himself in a similar predicament in
2013-14. There have been three other withdrawals from Trapattoni's squad for
the Cardiff City Stadium clash next Wednesday. Norwich midfielder Anthony
Pilkington, Nottingham Forest striker Simon Cox and Hull forward Stephen
Quinn have been ruled out. Pilkington has withdrawn from two other squads in
the last four months because of injury, and he now has a knee problem. Cox
suffered an ankle injury and was stretchered off playing for Forest against
Hartlepool in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night. Quinn has also been
added to the injury list, with Yeovil's Paddy Madden put on standby. Robbie
Keane will not take part, having been told he does not need to make the trip
over from Los Angeles, and Richard Dunne was also omitted as he builds up
his fitness with new club QPR.
Updated squad to face Wales (Cardiff, August 14)
Goalkeepers: Henderson (West Ham), Westwood (Sunderland), Randolph
(Birmingham)
Defenders: O'Shea (Sunderland), St Ledger (Leicester), Wilson (Stoke),
Coleman (Everton), Kelly (Reading), O'Dea (Metalurh Donetsk), Clark (Aston
Villa), McShane (Hull City)
Midfielders: Whelan (Stoke), McCarthy (Wigan), Green (Leeds), Hendrick
(Derby), McGeady (Spartak Moscow), McClean (Sunderland), Robbie Brady
(Hull), Meyler (Hull), Hoolahan (Norwich)
Forwards: Long (West Brom), Sammon (Derby), Walters (Stoke)
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West Ham captain Kevin Nolan hails Ravel Morrison turnaround
Last Updated: August 7, 2013 10:28am
SSN
West Ham captain Kevin Nolan has praised a more focused Ravel Morrison,
insisting he must maintain this new approach to succeed at the club. The
former Manchester United youngster has already had his character come into
question on several occasions, despite being very much in his footballing
infancy.
But, after the 20-year-old netted a double in the Hammers' pre-season
friendly victory over Sporting Lisbon on Monday, Nolan revealed Morrison has
returned from his loan spell with Birmingham with a renewed approach, and
has the potential to be a big player for Sam Allardyce's men. "The lad has
got ability," Nolan told the club's official website. "It was all the
off-field stuff and his mental attitude to the game and I think he has come
back with a renewed approach. "Speaking to Lee Clark when I've had the
chance to, he said he really worked hard with him and towards the end of
last season he really had him on board."
Nolan also admitted that he himself will have a key role to play in
Morrison's development, and is more than happy to take the youngster under
his stewardship. "Hopefully now this will be the start of what is going to
be a fantastic career for him, because as you can see he has great ability
and can score goals too," Nolan added. "I'm going to help him as much as I
can this season, talking to him on the pitch and off the pitch. "If he can
get it all right, he'll be a top player for years to come."
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West Ham target Manuel Fernandes transfer as the former Everton and Pompey
loanee plots Prem return
7 Aug 2013 22:30
The Mirrro
West Ham want Besiktas star Manuel Fernandes. The Portugal international has
had previous spells in England, on loan at Everton and Portsmouth while a
Benfica player. Fernandes is now keen on a return to the Premier League -
and Hammers boss Sam Allardyce would like to bring him back. Sunderland and
Everton - who took the player on loan a second time after he joined Valencia
- are also aware of the midfielder's availability, but the Hammers who are
favourites to sign him. Fernandes, 27, has enjoyed a renaissance at
Besiktas, who he joined in 2011, after being marked down as one of
Portugal's 'Golden Generation'.
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Not one of the greats, but still very memorable!
West Ham Till I Die
We Fans always remember the club's greats. The names of the great and the
excellent easily come to mind, Shea, Puddefoot, Watson, Ruffell, Barrett,
Goulden, Foxall, Keeble, Dick, Cantewell, Bond, Moore, Hurst, Peters, Boyce,
Brooking, Bonds, Pop Robson, Devonshire, Martin, Cross, Goddard, Cottee,
McAvennie, Dicks, Rio Ferdinand, Micheal Carrick, Joe Cole, Di Canio, Tevez,
et al. Similarly, we remember those players that do not belong in to the
above category, but who nevertheless played a significant role in our
history, such as Alan Sealey (ECWC 1965), Alan Taylor (FA Cup 1975), Bobby
Zamora (Championship play-off Final 2005) and Carlton Cole (Championship
play-off Final 2012). Of course, we also tend somewhat masochistically to
recall those players we love to hate, like Paul Ince, Frank Lampard Jnr and
Jermaine Defoe. We also sometimes take a perverse pleasure in listing those
we consider to be the worst players to wear the badge. The names commonly
offered up are all too familiar.
Yet there is also a class of player that would never be mentioned in the
same breadth as Moore, Hurst or Brooking, but who were nevertheless decent
players and memorable to those that saw them play. There are quite a number
that fall in to that category, but here are 10 (in order of era) that I
think are good examples:
Andy Malcolm
Eddie Bovington
Harry Redknapp
Patsy Holland
Mick McGiven
Bobby Gould
Geoff Pike
Neill Orr
Trevor Morley
Peter Butler
Malcolm and Bovington were two very similar players from adjacent eras. Both
were accomplished defensive midfielders, who effectively anchored the teams
in which they played and were proficient in stopping the opposition play,
Malcolm never got the credit that he deserved, but he was crucial to the
1957-58 2nd division winning team. He broke up the attacks, won the ball and
made the short pass. Ted Fenton, discussing his skills set, praised
Malcolm's defensive ability and observed that he was one player (from youth
to first team level) who always neutralised the considerable threat of the
great Jimmy Greaves. Similarly, Eddie Bovington probably saved our FA Cup
winning season in 1963-64. Veteran fans will remember that the team hit a
very sticky spot at Christmas and suffered a record home defeat to Blackburn
Rovers. Ron Greenwood made one key change for the return Christmas fixture
up at Blackburn a day or so later, dropping Martin Peters and bringing in
Bovington to tighten up the midfield. And we subsequently won 0-3, quite a
dramatic turn round in fortunes! Unfortunately for Peters, Greenwood
retained Bovington and he stayed ever present all the way to Wembley and the
club's first FA Cup win against Preston North End.
Geoff Pike and Neill Orr were two of the most unselfish and hard working
players ever to wear the claret and blue. Pike was a willing labourer, those
tense industry assisted the flair players, such as Brooking and Devonshire,
to excel. His greatest moment was undoubtedly the 1980 FA Cup Final, when he
shackled the talents of Liam Brady and put in a remarkable display of
tenacity and high work rate. Pike also played a significant later role in
1985-86, mostly as the deputy to the deceptive, but highly functional, Neil
Orr. When we remember the 'boys of 86,' we always tend to reference Parkes,
Martin, Devonshire, Ward, Cottee and McAvennie and rightly so. But the fact
is that Orr was the great unsung hero of that team. The vital cog in the
machine. In the noble tradition of Malcolm and Bovington, Orr played it
straightforward and effective that season. He basically won it and
distributed it to great but under-stated effect. Actually, when he joined us
in 1984-85, he initially played at centre back and was far from convincing,
but goodness did he find his feet and his best position in the following
memorable campaign! And his premature departure, back to Scotland the
following season, was one of the major reasons for the rapid decline of that
side.
Next, I would highlight two players, who never got the credit that their
ability and contributions deserved. Patsy Holland came through the youth
system and made his debut in 1969. A good player in his own right, he spent
much of his career in the massive shadow of Billy Bonds in central midfield.
However, he also had the ability to play out wide and featured in that
position many times over his years . It was in that wide role that Holland
starred in the 2-0 1975 FA Cup victory over Fulham, replacing the injured
Keith Robson in the starting line up. He also featured in the 1976 ECWC
Final defeat, in which he scored the opening goal. Patsy Holland was a great
servant to the club and the service that he gave deserves far more
recognition. My next choice is the human dynamo that was Peter Butler.
Butler was plucked from lower league obscurity, by then Assistant Manager,
Harry Redknapp. This was a far from heralded signing, but his importance to
our 2nd division promotion campaign that season was immeasurable. His
industry and all action style under-wrote promotion and steered us through
some tough mid-week fixtures. Many felt that Butler has served his purpose
in winning promotion and that he would prove surplus to requirements in the
top tier, but the player had other ideas. He surprisingly adapted to the
greater demands and played a major part in us staying up quite comfortable.
For me, his highlight was an outstanding personal performance at home to
Coventry City, in which he grabbed two excellent goals. And the final
validation of the performance? The great Hungarian midfield master Puskas
was present at the match and praised Butler's performance. That praise hit
the headlines of the Sunday papers. A great honour for a great warrior, who
gave us relatively brief, but sterling service.
Another player that is not particularly rated, but was very entertaining in
an erratic kind of way was the one and only Harry Redknapp. 'Arry boy' was
never in the same league as more illustrious predecessors like Brabrook and
Sissons. However, I always found him to be an exciting presence on the
right-wing. Fans of that era knew his limitations, but recognised him as a
trier and ultimately one of their own. Yes, they got exasperated and often
took the Michael, but he was also viewed with genuine fondness on the
terraces. My memory of him is as a winger, who ran at the full-back, got to
the bye-line and sought to cross the ball. And he could be quite exciting on
the ball, even if four out of five times the final cross sailed over the
heads of Hurst or Best. But on that magic fifth occasion he found them and
it invariably resulted in a goal. I also well remember the roar of
anticipation, the hearty chorus of 'Arry, Arry Redknapp, Arry Redknapp on
the wing.' As I said, he was far from the best to wear the badge, but had an
entertainment value that is probably difficult for those who were not there
to fully comprehend. Its just a pity Arry the player, is now so obscured by
Arry the former Spurs manager. But such is life!
My next choices are two players who are largely foot notes in the Hammers
history of the 1970s. Yet, I look back on them with great affection. The
departure of Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst c.1973 was a time of great
transition for all Hammers fans. Young fans like myself has grown up with
those players as a constant and reassuring presence. I found their departure
strange and disconcerting and wondered what the future held for us without
those two immortals. Yes, we had Bonds and Brooking and they would become
the new generation of heroes, but it was not seamless. Needless to say we
struggled that season. So, good old Ron Greenwood decided to go out and buy
two Sunderland reserves! Great we thought! Yet, both Keith Coleman and Mick
McGiven proved good purchases, solid servants and lights of hope in a pretty
dark transitional period. They came in to the team and performed well.
McGiven in particular, played like his life depended on the results and was
an inspiration in central defence. His reputation for me was cemented when
he suffered an horrific dental injury (i.e. his top teeth were pushed back
at a right angle by a boot in the mouth) in a match and he played on to help
us to a vital away point. He never emulated the heights reached in that
first season, but he was a squad member for a number of subsequent seasons,
deputising for Kevin Lock, and eventually graduated to John Lyall's coaching
staff. Very far from the greatest, but a hero all the same.
Next comes a journeyman, who reached improbable heights at West Ham, under
the greatest technical coach the English game has ever seen. Ron Greenwood
saw something in the former Arsenal centre-forward, who was then plying his
trade at Bristol City in the lower leagues. Again, we were in crisis and
started that season with a dire run of results, which led to the rapid
signing of a Watford striker, Newcastle Utd reserve and apparent Bristol
City 'as been.' Yet, Billy Jennings, Keith Robson and Bobby Gould
transformed our fortunes. Soon the defeats turned to resounding wins as
Tranmere Rovers, Leicester City, Middlesboro and Wolves were all overwhelmed
by wave after wave of fluent attacking football. And at the heart of it was
the improbable figure of Bobby Gould, a player who responded to Greenwood's
methods and found aspects to his game that few thought possible. Until, at
the end of one particular match, Greenwood handed Gould the ultimate prize,
the admission that 'today you looked like a West Ham player.' Gould later
stated that if he had joined West Ham as a youngster, he could have played
for England. And that pride and passion at being a Hammer still exists
within Gould it would seem. When Sam Allardyce made his unfortunate
statement questioning the value of the 'West Ham way,' it not Hurst,
Brooking or Peters who jumped to defend the sacred flame, it was Bobby
Gould. It was he who offered to go down to Chadwell Heath and show Allardyce
the playing style that Greenwood had belatedly taught him all those years
ago.
Finally, I nominate Trevor Morley, a striker brought in during the
inglorious Macari managerial reign, who became a stalwart. Again, he was not
the greatest of strikers, but his goals saw the club through some pretty
worrying times. He was also one of the most canny forwards that we have ever
had. He was a master of backing in to defenders, collapsing in a heap and
winning the free kick. How many decisions did he win like that, he really
must have been awkward for defenders to deal with. My greatest memories of
him are in two north London away victories, the first a really effective
performance (and two goals) in a clinical 1-4 slaughter of Spurs and the
opening goal in a 0-2 victory at Highbury. Another good servant, who
deserves more general recognition.
So, that it is it, my top ten of the underrated, the memorable and those
that hold a special place in my heart as a supporter. To many younger fans
some of these names will be obscure figures, but at the end of the day they
all played their part in the continuing story of West Ham Utd. They will
never have a Stand named after them or be the subject of a statue, but they
can take great pride in playing their part, often when the fate of the club
was decidedly uncertain. And they have my gratitude for being there, giving
their all and providing such great memories.
SJ. Chandos.
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http://vyperz.blogspot.com
WHUFC.com
Neil McDonald admitted West Ham United did not perform well in losing 1-0 to
SC Braga in Portugal
07.08.2013
Assistant manager Neil McDonald admitted West Ham United had not played well
in going down to a 1-0 Guadiana Tournament defeat by SC Braga. The
Portuguese side took the spoils in Portimao through Rafa's 63rd-minute
winner, while the Hammers struggled to create clear-cut chances to find the
net themselves. Just 24 hours on from a thrilling 3-2 victory over Sporting
Clube de Portugal in the same stadium, McDonald said the circumstances had
been very different on Tuesday evening. "We're very disappointed with the
performance," he told West Ham TV. "Some of the players played on Monday, of
course, but what a contrast from Monday when the whole place was buzzing. I
don't think Braga played exceptionally well and we didn't get into a flow of
play or passing and moving style. The creativity wasn't really there and it
was only from free-kicks and corners that we really caused them problems.
"Going from a high on Monday and being very, very pleased with the
performance and a cracking atmosphere to a quieter atmosphere, we
unfortunately produced a poor performance by everybody. "I think we try to
take positives from every game and it is difficult to try and take some from
this one. Our passing wasn't there, we didn't make space for ourselves and
we certainly didn't create as many chances as we did on Monday. "It's still
progress and there is still work to be done and we've still got nearly two
weeks to go until Cardiff City visit on 17 August in our Barclays Premier
League opener. We will need to sharpen everybody up over the next two
weeks."
Before then, West Ham complete their pre-season schedule with the visit of
another Portuguese club to the Boleyn Ground on Saturday in the shape of
Pacos de Ferreira. McDonald is expecting another testing 90 minutes against
a side which finished above both Braga and Sporting in the Primeira Liga
last term.
"The opposition have been quality - Sporting on Monday with their big crowd
and obviously Braga played in the Champions League last year. They were
quality opposition which was really good and we've learnt lots of things.
"Pacos finished third last season. Not many people have heard of them but
they play some good football and their attacking play is very, very sharp.
We'll have to be ready and hopefully our crowd will give us a lift with a
better atmosphere then we had on Tuesday night."
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Hammers duo in Wales squad
WHUFC.com
James Collins and Jack Collison are in the Wales squad to face Ireland next
week
07.08.2013
West Ham United pair James Collins and Jack Collison have been called up by
Wales for their friendly against the Republic of Ireland next week. Chris
Coleman's side will face Ireland in Cardiff on Wednesday 14 August., with
defender Collins looking to earn his 42nd cap. Collison, meanwhile, has
featured on 13 occasions for his country and the duo will hope to be
invovled as Wales warm up for their FIFA World Cup qualifiers against
Macedonia and Serbia in September. They could find themselves up against
Hammers goalkeeper Stephen Henderson, who has replaced the injured David
Forde in Giovanni Trapattoni's Ireland squad for the fixture. Ireland and
Wales last met in February 2011, when Trapattoni's men defeated their
visitors 3-0. Wales' last positive result against Ireland came in November
2007, when Jason Koumas' last minute penalty secured a 2-2 draw. Meanwhile,
Mohamed Diame has been included in Senegal's squad to face Zambia in Paris,
also next Wednesday.
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Gary O'Neil: QPR sign former West Ham midfielder
BBC.co.uk
Championship side QPR have completed the signing of midfielder Gary O'Neil
on a one-year deal. The 30-year-old, a free agent after failing to agree a
new deal with West Ham, previously worked under R's boss Harry Redknapp at
Portsmouth. Redknapp told the club website: "Gary's a good player and a
good pro. "He was offered a new deal at West Ham but he decided he fancied
coming here because he feels maybe he'll get more game time at QPR." He
added: "He can run all day long, he's good on the ball, a good passer, he
sees all the pictures in front of him and is a top professional.
Gary O'Neil career factfile
Portsmouth (trainee-August 2007): 192 appearances, 17 goals
Walsall (loan spell Sept-Oct 03): seven games, no goals
Cardiff City (loan spell Sept-Nov 04): nine games, one goal
Middlesbrough (Aug 07-Jan 2011): 120 games, nine goals
West Ham (Jan 11-Jun 13): 56 games, three goals
QPR (signed Aug 13)
"We've got plenty of options in that department now, but he'll certainly add
to what we've got - he's a good, good player and will be a fine acquisition
for us."
O'Neil spent eight seasons at Portsmouth after coming through the youth
ranks at Fratton Park and was part of the Pompey squad that sealed promotion
to the Premier League in 2002-03. He left West Ham earlier this summer
following an injury-hit two-and-a-half-year spell with the Hammers in which
he scored three goals in 56 appearances. The former England Under-21
international has been training with QPR recently and described the
challenge at Loftus Road as an "exciting one". "Obviously I know Harry well
and he was a big factor in me coming here," O'Neil said. "He's played a
massive role in my development as a player and now I'm back playing for him
again and I want to repay him by helping this club get back into the Premier
League. "Having been in and around the squad for the last few weeks, I've
seen how united the squad are to achieve what we all want to do. "The
togetherness is there - it's a really happy camp and there's a real good
feel to the place."
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High hopes and dashed aspirations
KUMB.com
Filed: Tuesday, 6th August 2013
By: John Rolls
Every time I visit the Sky Sports transfer centre, I get bemused. We are
linked with so many players; surely a percentage of the stories must be
true?
However true to form I see players that would add greatly to our squad but
seem to sign for some nonentity of a team.
Take Wilfried Bony, for example. This seemed as if it was a done deal in
January, but he didn't come. This transfer window we're trying to usurp
Swansea (amongst others); where's he gone? To Swansea.
I know we spent a Club-record fee on the Andy Carroll deal, but this is
becoming repetitive. Martin Olsson from Blackburn another winter target,
signs for Norwich. Norwich, for f&%£'s sake.
Is there something dreadfully wrong with the club that puts players off from
coming here? What have Swansea and Norwich got that we have not? Could it be
they play a more attractive style of football? Are we underselling ourselves
to them?
We are West Ham United, the original Academy of football, where passing and
movement was introduced to the English game. If we are underselling
ourselves, why? Players like Bony and Olsson should be banging on the door
to come here, unless they have looked and wondered "where would I fit into
the team".
With Bony I can understand there may have been some doubt; where would he
play with Sam preferring one up top? I can't see him dropping Nolan to play
Bony behind AC. With Razvan Rat having arrived, at least the left back spot
seems sorted.
Whatever happened to the Ecuadorian winger we were linked with? Did he see
himself stuck on the bench, as it looks like Joe Cole is going to play wide
right? (Personally I think he would be better in Nolan's position.)
And how about Stuart Downing, who is said to be available for around
£5million? Yes, we rate him, but we are not really interested. Where would
he play? Left midfield? So Matt Jarvis plays where?
As with all things West Ham you have to learn to look at things totally
differently, believe none of the rumours and trust none of the transfer
speculation. Just accept that we will sign someone we don't know who, but
we'll sign him.
The trouble is, unless we invest in the squad we could well be going to the
Olympic Stadium with a team struggling to maintain its Premier League
status.
Adrian looks a good signing for the future, as does Danny Whitehead from
Stockport, although we have to consolidate our status this season. We have
to move the squad forward. We must enter the new home with a team that is at
least challenging for a Europa League position.
Recently we were once again linked with West Brom's Graham Dorrans. What,
it's taken three years of scouting to find out if he's good enough? Is
Dorrans really the calibre of player we should be looking to recruit? I mean
if a club like Swansea can afford to lash out on Bony and Shelvey (7 a big
West Ham fan) who are we kidding apart from ourselves that we are a big
club?
The two Daves have done a great job of stabilising the club, but why do we
always get beaten to players by minor clubs?
There are a dearth of players available who would be good if not excellent
signings, I know by mentioning these players several hackles will rise but
these three would add much to our team:
1. Darren Bent. He scores (against us particularly) but I think if you
paired him with Andy Carroll in a 4-4-2 we would have some excellent
goalscoring potential.
2. Jermaine Defoe. He's going to be on the fringe at Spurs this season. I
know there are a lot of reasons why he wouldn't want to comeback, but like
Bent he'd make a great foil for Carroll.
3. Tom Ince. Another who would have his reasons for not signing (but don't
put the sins of the father on the son) but with his pace and Jarvis on the
other flank, the crosses would be flying in.
There are a few others such as Scott Parker, on the fringe at Spurs and
linked with Fulham - or Zaha, if the Mancs can be persuaded to let him go on
loan.
So there we have it. West Ham yet again linked with lots of quality players.
Just as I'm dreaming of a Europa League spot with all these names coming, my
aspirations are dashed when they sign for clubs below our calibre.
Nothing ever changes at Upton Park; the circus and its acts are getting
repetitive and whilst new acts are coming on board, the show is still the
same.
Please Dave and Dave, break this circle, and sign three or four quality
players - or at least let's have a good shot at our targets and not be made
mugs of by Norwich City and co.
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An audience with Allardisi
KUMb.com
Filed: Tuesday, 6th August 2013
By: David Meagher
Ok, so lets be clear. It's fashionable to blame the entire ills of your club
on the manager and evil board (as well as the FA and a variety of
intergalactic conspiracies involving Manchester United, Sheffield United and
the Zorgians).
In all honesty, although this is pretty lazy logic, it usuallty rings true
as there are few areas of endeavour that are as blighted by the incompetence
of enthusiastic amateurs. For 'family club' one can usually read 'bumbling
myopia with limited business acumen'.
However, at camp Boleyn these days Hammers fans are having to find easier
dogs to kick as everywhere you look there is a sense of professionalism –
right from the careful planning of match tactics, patient building of a
sustainable business model and playing squad, determined progression towards
a larger theatre to both spread the love and gather enough income to finally
put an end to our status as a feeding club for bigger clubs with perennial
European responsibilities.
So, with all that in mind, at the beginning of July we headed off to meet
Big Sam for dinner at the Silver Springs hosted by Cork City FC. First up,
Corkonians are known for not holding back on the carping if circumstances so
permit – but right throughout the club and city folk were singing the
praises of the visiting Hammers contingent for their professionalism,
availability and plain good manners.
Having encountered the Davids in public it isn't hard to see how they infuse
their organisation with a sense of responsibility towards their supporting
constituency. Meeting Big Sam leaves one in no doubt that he also expects
his lads to conduct themselves in a manner commensurate with their status.
In Ireland we are privileged to have a sports media that operates with no
small amount of straight talking. Compare Giles, Brady and Dunphy with their
equivalents on Match of the Day, or even Sky Sports. We encourage true
opinion, even if it is provocative, and expect our sports people to roll
with the punches. It was a real surprise to note how candid Allardyce is –
politically astute but pretty direct all the same and he didn't mince his
words when asked for an opinion.
First up, Sam ain't no Northerner – actually he hails for the West Midlands
and is from Scottish stock. He supported Wolves as a boy (nobody felt
inclined to salt up the wounds by mentioning recent troubles at the
Wanderers who face third division footie next year). He retains a special
relationship with Bolton but is enjoying his time in London. Operationally,
he speaks on a daily basis with the board and it's pretty clear how the
responsibilities of business and football are divided!
Big Sam really goes for the 'science' around football and can readily cite
yards covered, crosses made, saves etc etc as evidence for the Allardyce
methodology. Hammers fans will be delighted to hear that with six to eight
more goals and a similar defensive record we can crack the top eight next
year. All possible if Andy Carroll gets the 15 goals that Big Sam expects
from him next year – and on the evidence of last season, if he stays fit why
not?
He recalled his time in Ireland with great fondness, describing the crazy
chaos of managing a club that financially stumbled from week to week after
the club bar (and it's principal source of income) was lost in a fire.
Driving around Limerick with Fr Joe Young collecting in order to keep the
team afloat was surely a hairy experience at times, but Sam was keen to see
it through until they were promoted before leaving for 'different'
footballing challenges.
As for Big Sam's aspirations over the coming years – at 62 he has a few good
years left and is keen to spend them progressing the project that he took on
with West Ham – it sounded like he considers this a bigger opportunity than
any temptations from other jobs – even England manager! - that might be
offered to him, but then that may have been what we heard rather than
precisely what he said!
Either way, it's clear that Allardyce sees bringing this club to the Olympic
Stadium as the major challenge for him over the next few years – we wish him
every success!
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Werder Bremen insist there have been no bids for Marko Arnautovic
By Thomas Zocher. Last Updated: August 7, 2013 10:03am
SSN
Werder Bremen general manager Thomas Eichin has denied that the club have
received any bids for Austria international Marko Arnautovic. The English
media had claimed in recent days that West Ham were keen on signing for the
former Inter Milan striker, whilst Real Sociedad and Dynamo Kiev have also
been linked. However, Werder have moved to deny that they have received any
bids for their controversial front-man. Eichin is quoted by Bild as saying:
"At this point in time we are in no (transfer) talks with any club regarding
the future of Marko Arnautovic. "Marko Arnautovic is part of the first-team
squad and has a contract at our club." Arnautovic, who has contract at
Werder until 2014, found himself banned from the first team towards the end
of last season for disciplinary reasons including a fight with team-mate
Sokratis Papastathopoulos.
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West Ham keeper Stephen Henderson added to Republic of Ireland squad
Last Updated: August 7, 2013 8:52pm
SSN
Stephen Henderson could earn his first Republic of Ireland cap after being
called into their squad for the friendly against Wales next week. The West
Ham keeper, who has eight U21 caps to his name, replaces David Forde in
Giovanni Trapattoni's squad after the Millwall player suffered a knee injury
that required surgery. Forde will be missing for around six weeks and
therefore miss the World Cup qualifiers against Sweden and Austria next
month, leaving Henderson to compete with Sunderland's Keiren Westwood and
Darren Randolph of Birmingham for the No 1 jersey. Henderson has struggled
for opportunities at Upton Park, but he impressed in a loan spell with
Ipswich Town last season and could find himself in a similar predicament in
2013-14. There have been three other withdrawals from Trapattoni's squad for
the Cardiff City Stadium clash next Wednesday. Norwich midfielder Anthony
Pilkington, Nottingham Forest striker Simon Cox and Hull forward Stephen
Quinn have been ruled out. Pilkington has withdrawn from two other squads in
the last four months because of injury, and he now has a knee problem. Cox
suffered an ankle injury and was stretchered off playing for Forest against
Hartlepool in the Capital One Cup on Tuesday night. Quinn has also been
added to the injury list, with Yeovil's Paddy Madden put on standby. Robbie
Keane will not take part, having been told he does not need to make the trip
over from Los Angeles, and Richard Dunne was also omitted as he builds up
his fitness with new club QPR.
Updated squad to face Wales (Cardiff, August 14)
Goalkeepers: Henderson (West Ham), Westwood (Sunderland), Randolph
(Birmingham)
Defenders: O'Shea (Sunderland), St Ledger (Leicester), Wilson (Stoke),
Coleman (Everton), Kelly (Reading), O'Dea (Metalurh Donetsk), Clark (Aston
Villa), McShane (Hull City)
Midfielders: Whelan (Stoke), McCarthy (Wigan), Green (Leeds), Hendrick
(Derby), McGeady (Spartak Moscow), McClean (Sunderland), Robbie Brady
(Hull), Meyler (Hull), Hoolahan (Norwich)
Forwards: Long (West Brom), Sammon (Derby), Walters (Stoke)
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West Ham captain Kevin Nolan hails Ravel Morrison turnaround
Last Updated: August 7, 2013 10:28am
SSN
West Ham captain Kevin Nolan has praised a more focused Ravel Morrison,
insisting he must maintain this new approach to succeed at the club. The
former Manchester United youngster has already had his character come into
question on several occasions, despite being very much in his footballing
infancy.
But, after the 20-year-old netted a double in the Hammers' pre-season
friendly victory over Sporting Lisbon on Monday, Nolan revealed Morrison has
returned from his loan spell with Birmingham with a renewed approach, and
has the potential to be a big player for Sam Allardyce's men. "The lad has
got ability," Nolan told the club's official website. "It was all the
off-field stuff and his mental attitude to the game and I think he has come
back with a renewed approach. "Speaking to Lee Clark when I've had the
chance to, he said he really worked hard with him and towards the end of
last season he really had him on board."
Nolan also admitted that he himself will have a key role to play in
Morrison's development, and is more than happy to take the youngster under
his stewardship. "Hopefully now this will be the start of what is going to
be a fantastic career for him, because as you can see he has great ability
and can score goals too," Nolan added. "I'm going to help him as much as I
can this season, talking to him on the pitch and off the pitch. "If he can
get it all right, he'll be a top player for years to come."
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West Ham target Manuel Fernandes transfer as the former Everton and Pompey
loanee plots Prem return
7 Aug 2013 22:30
The Mirrro
West Ham want Besiktas star Manuel Fernandes. The Portugal international has
had previous spells in England, on loan at Everton and Portsmouth while a
Benfica player. Fernandes is now keen on a return to the Premier League -
and Hammers boss Sam Allardyce would like to bring him back. Sunderland and
Everton - who took the player on loan a second time after he joined Valencia
- are also aware of the midfielder's availability, but the Hammers who are
favourites to sign him. Fernandes, 27, has enjoyed a renaissance at
Besiktas, who he joined in 2011, after being marked down as one of
Portugal's 'Golden Generation'.
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Not one of the greats, but still very memorable!
West Ham Till I Die
We Fans always remember the club's greats. The names of the great and the
excellent easily come to mind, Shea, Puddefoot, Watson, Ruffell, Barrett,
Goulden, Foxall, Keeble, Dick, Cantewell, Bond, Moore, Hurst, Peters, Boyce,
Brooking, Bonds, Pop Robson, Devonshire, Martin, Cross, Goddard, Cottee,
McAvennie, Dicks, Rio Ferdinand, Micheal Carrick, Joe Cole, Di Canio, Tevez,
et al. Similarly, we remember those players that do not belong in to the
above category, but who nevertheless played a significant role in our
history, such as Alan Sealey (ECWC 1965), Alan Taylor (FA Cup 1975), Bobby
Zamora (Championship play-off Final 2005) and Carlton Cole (Championship
play-off Final 2012). Of course, we also tend somewhat masochistically to
recall those players we love to hate, like Paul Ince, Frank Lampard Jnr and
Jermaine Defoe. We also sometimes take a perverse pleasure in listing those
we consider to be the worst players to wear the badge. The names commonly
offered up are all too familiar.
Yet there is also a class of player that would never be mentioned in the
same breadth as Moore, Hurst or Brooking, but who were nevertheless decent
players and memorable to those that saw them play. There are quite a number
that fall in to that category, but here are 10 (in order of era) that I
think are good examples:
Andy Malcolm
Eddie Bovington
Harry Redknapp
Patsy Holland
Mick McGiven
Bobby Gould
Geoff Pike
Neill Orr
Trevor Morley
Peter Butler
Malcolm and Bovington were two very similar players from adjacent eras. Both
were accomplished defensive midfielders, who effectively anchored the teams
in which they played and were proficient in stopping the opposition play,
Malcolm never got the credit that he deserved, but he was crucial to the
1957-58 2nd division winning team. He broke up the attacks, won the ball and
made the short pass. Ted Fenton, discussing his skills set, praised
Malcolm's defensive ability and observed that he was one player (from youth
to first team level) who always neutralised the considerable threat of the
great Jimmy Greaves. Similarly, Eddie Bovington probably saved our FA Cup
winning season in 1963-64. Veteran fans will remember that the team hit a
very sticky spot at Christmas and suffered a record home defeat to Blackburn
Rovers. Ron Greenwood made one key change for the return Christmas fixture
up at Blackburn a day or so later, dropping Martin Peters and bringing in
Bovington to tighten up the midfield. And we subsequently won 0-3, quite a
dramatic turn round in fortunes! Unfortunately for Peters, Greenwood
retained Bovington and he stayed ever present all the way to Wembley and the
club's first FA Cup win against Preston North End.
Geoff Pike and Neill Orr were two of the most unselfish and hard working
players ever to wear the claret and blue. Pike was a willing labourer, those
tense industry assisted the flair players, such as Brooking and Devonshire,
to excel. His greatest moment was undoubtedly the 1980 FA Cup Final, when he
shackled the talents of Liam Brady and put in a remarkable display of
tenacity and high work rate. Pike also played a significant later role in
1985-86, mostly as the deputy to the deceptive, but highly functional, Neil
Orr. When we remember the 'boys of 86,' we always tend to reference Parkes,
Martin, Devonshire, Ward, Cottee and McAvennie and rightly so. But the fact
is that Orr was the great unsung hero of that team. The vital cog in the
machine. In the noble tradition of Malcolm and Bovington, Orr played it
straightforward and effective that season. He basically won it and
distributed it to great but under-stated effect. Actually, when he joined us
in 1984-85, he initially played at centre back and was far from convincing,
but goodness did he find his feet and his best position in the following
memorable campaign! And his premature departure, back to Scotland the
following season, was one of the major reasons for the rapid decline of that
side.
Next, I would highlight two players, who never got the credit that their
ability and contributions deserved. Patsy Holland came through the youth
system and made his debut in 1969. A good player in his own right, he spent
much of his career in the massive shadow of Billy Bonds in central midfield.
However, he also had the ability to play out wide and featured in that
position many times over his years . It was in that wide role that Holland
starred in the 2-0 1975 FA Cup victory over Fulham, replacing the injured
Keith Robson in the starting line up. He also featured in the 1976 ECWC
Final defeat, in which he scored the opening goal. Patsy Holland was a great
servant to the club and the service that he gave deserves far more
recognition. My next choice is the human dynamo that was Peter Butler.
Butler was plucked from lower league obscurity, by then Assistant Manager,
Harry Redknapp. This was a far from heralded signing, but his importance to
our 2nd division promotion campaign that season was immeasurable. His
industry and all action style under-wrote promotion and steered us through
some tough mid-week fixtures. Many felt that Butler has served his purpose
in winning promotion and that he would prove surplus to requirements in the
top tier, but the player had other ideas. He surprisingly adapted to the
greater demands and played a major part in us staying up quite comfortable.
For me, his highlight was an outstanding personal performance at home to
Coventry City, in which he grabbed two excellent goals. And the final
validation of the performance? The great Hungarian midfield master Puskas
was present at the match and praised Butler's performance. That praise hit
the headlines of the Sunday papers. A great honour for a great warrior, who
gave us relatively brief, but sterling service.
Another player that is not particularly rated, but was very entertaining in
an erratic kind of way was the one and only Harry Redknapp. 'Arry boy' was
never in the same league as more illustrious predecessors like Brabrook and
Sissons. However, I always found him to be an exciting presence on the
right-wing. Fans of that era knew his limitations, but recognised him as a
trier and ultimately one of their own. Yes, they got exasperated and often
took the Michael, but he was also viewed with genuine fondness on the
terraces. My memory of him is as a winger, who ran at the full-back, got to
the bye-line and sought to cross the ball. And he could be quite exciting on
the ball, even if four out of five times the final cross sailed over the
heads of Hurst or Best. But on that magic fifth occasion he found them and
it invariably resulted in a goal. I also well remember the roar of
anticipation, the hearty chorus of 'Arry, Arry Redknapp, Arry Redknapp on
the wing.' As I said, he was far from the best to wear the badge, but had an
entertainment value that is probably difficult for those who were not there
to fully comprehend. Its just a pity Arry the player, is now so obscured by
Arry the former Spurs manager. But such is life!
My next choices are two players who are largely foot notes in the Hammers
history of the 1970s. Yet, I look back on them with great affection. The
departure of Bobby Moore and Geoff Hurst c.1973 was a time of great
transition for all Hammers fans. Young fans like myself has grown up with
those players as a constant and reassuring presence. I found their departure
strange and disconcerting and wondered what the future held for us without
those two immortals. Yes, we had Bonds and Brooking and they would become
the new generation of heroes, but it was not seamless. Needless to say we
struggled that season. So, good old Ron Greenwood decided to go out and buy
two Sunderland reserves! Great we thought! Yet, both Keith Coleman and Mick
McGiven proved good purchases, solid servants and lights of hope in a pretty
dark transitional period. They came in to the team and performed well.
McGiven in particular, played like his life depended on the results and was
an inspiration in central defence. His reputation for me was cemented when
he suffered an horrific dental injury (i.e. his top teeth were pushed back
at a right angle by a boot in the mouth) in a match and he played on to help
us to a vital away point. He never emulated the heights reached in that
first season, but he was a squad member for a number of subsequent seasons,
deputising for Kevin Lock, and eventually graduated to John Lyall's coaching
staff. Very far from the greatest, but a hero all the same.
Next comes a journeyman, who reached improbable heights at West Ham, under
the greatest technical coach the English game has ever seen. Ron Greenwood
saw something in the former Arsenal centre-forward, who was then plying his
trade at Bristol City in the lower leagues. Again, we were in crisis and
started that season with a dire run of results, which led to the rapid
signing of a Watford striker, Newcastle Utd reserve and apparent Bristol
City 'as been.' Yet, Billy Jennings, Keith Robson and Bobby Gould
transformed our fortunes. Soon the defeats turned to resounding wins as
Tranmere Rovers, Leicester City, Middlesboro and Wolves were all overwhelmed
by wave after wave of fluent attacking football. And at the heart of it was
the improbable figure of Bobby Gould, a player who responded to Greenwood's
methods and found aspects to his game that few thought possible. Until, at
the end of one particular match, Greenwood handed Gould the ultimate prize,
the admission that 'today you looked like a West Ham player.' Gould later
stated that if he had joined West Ham as a youngster, he could have played
for England. And that pride and passion at being a Hammer still exists
within Gould it would seem. When Sam Allardyce made his unfortunate
statement questioning the value of the 'West Ham way,' it not Hurst,
Brooking or Peters who jumped to defend the sacred flame, it was Bobby
Gould. It was he who offered to go down to Chadwell Heath and show Allardyce
the playing style that Greenwood had belatedly taught him all those years
ago.
Finally, I nominate Trevor Morley, a striker brought in during the
inglorious Macari managerial reign, who became a stalwart. Again, he was not
the greatest of strikers, but his goals saw the club through some pretty
worrying times. He was also one of the most canny forwards that we have ever
had. He was a master of backing in to defenders, collapsing in a heap and
winning the free kick. How many decisions did he win like that, he really
must have been awkward for defenders to deal with. My greatest memories of
him are in two north London away victories, the first a really effective
performance (and two goals) in a clinical 1-4 slaughter of Spurs and the
opening goal in a 0-2 victory at Highbury. Another good servant, who
deserves more general recognition.
So, that it is it, my top ten of the underrated, the memorable and those
that hold a special place in my heart as a supporter. To many younger fans
some of these names will be obscure figures, but at the end of the day they
all played their part in the continuing story of West Ham Utd. They will
never have a Stand named after them or be the subject of a statue, but they
can take great pride in playing their part, often when the fate of the club
was decidedly uncertain. And they have my gratitude for being there, giving
their all and providing such great memories.
SJ. Chandos.
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