41 day's to go
TI-ED DOWN ... Titus Bramble
Bram stoker
TITUS BRAMBLE helped West Ham to a 6-2 friendly victory over Cork City.
The centre-back, 31, has been training with the Hammers after being released by Sunderland.
Bramble, who is not wanted by the fans, played 45 minutes in Ireland.
Alou Diarra, Joe Cole, Matt Taylor, Paul McCallum, Mark Noble and Ravel Morrison netted for the Irons.
Good start: Alou Diarra (left) celebrates scoring West Ham's first goal with Joe Cole (centre)
Strike: West Ham's Matt Taylor scores the Hammers' third from distance
in charge: West Ham manager Sam Allardyce before the game
Cork City 2 West Ham 6: Bramble starts as Hammers kick off pre-season in style with SIX different players getting on scoresheet
West Ham United kicked off their pre-season preparations in style with a 6-2 victory against League of Ireland Premier Division side Cork City as six different Hammers' players got themselves on the scoresheet.
New boys Razvan Rat, Adrian and Danny Whitehead all began the game on the bench for West Ham while boss Sam Allardyce handed a start to defender Titus Bramble as he continues to work on his fitness with the club.
West Ham have spent the last few days in Ireland but new record signing Andy Carroll didn't travel, instead he stayed in England to receive treatment for a heel injury.
Diarra and Cole
TEAMS
Cork City: Burns, D.Murphy, Duggan, Behan, Rundle, Furlong, Dunleavy, Spillane, Kenny, Buckley, Browne.
Second-half XI: Burns, J Kavanagh, Dunleavy, O’Connell, D Murphy, E Murphy, Morrissey, Turner, Horgan, D Kavanagh, Kilduff.
Goals: Rundle 38, Lehane 86.
West Ham United: Jaaskelainen, Demel, Collins, Bramble, Potts, Diarra, Collison, Nolan, Cole, Jarvis, Maiga.
Second-half XI: Adrian, Potts, Tomkins, Reid, Rat, Noble, Morrison, Whitehead, Vaz Te, Taylor, McCallum.
Goals: Diarra 5, Cole 18, Taylor 63, McCallum 73, Mark Noble 75, Morrison 85.
Attendance: 4,213.
The Hammers started brightly at Turners Cross and took an early lead through Alou Diarra as the Frenchman headed home a Joe Cole corner after just five minutes.
Dominating the opening stages, the Premier League side doubled their advantage on 18 minutes as Cole switched from provider to goalscorer, finishing past the onrushing Kevin Burns in the Cork net.
Mali international Modibo Maiga nearly made it three on the half-hour mark as his left-footed shot shaved the crossbar.
Having beaten reigning Champions Sligo Rovers 3-1 in a league match on Friday evening, Cork pulled a goal back on 38 minutes through former Rochdale frontman Adam Rundle.
Both sides made a host of changes at half-time and West Ham were awarded a penalty just a minute into the second-half after Ravel Morrison was fouled in the area. However Mark Noble failed to find the net as he saw his spot-kick saved.
Former Portsmouth and Bolton winger Matt Taylor scored the Hammers' third on 62 minutes as he drilled home a low shot from distance.
Young striker Paul McCallum extended West Ham's lead ten minutes later, rising highest to convert new signing Danny Whitehead's cross.
Sam Allardyce's men added a fifth just a minute later as Mark Noble was given a reprieve, making no mistake with his second penalty after the referee had deemed Cork defender John Kavanagh to have handled the ball in the box.
Morrison scored a sixth for West Ham on 85 minutes before Cork scored a consolation shortly after through Rob Lehane.
Hammers assistant Neil McDonald was pleased with the side's performance and told the Official West Ham United website: 'It was a fantastic workout.
'We've had a really, really good week and some superb training sessions and everybody has got through everything, so the base is there which is fantastic.'
On their return to England, West Ham will face Borehamwood and Bournemouth next week. The club kick off their 2013/14 Premier League campaign against Cardiff City at Upton Park on August 17.
official site
Big Sam happy to be back
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Where are West Ham getting their money from?
David Gold David Sullivan Karren BradyThis summer has already seen West Ham United smash their transfer record by £5m by signing Andy Carroll from Liverpool following his loan spell.
This follows on from last summer where we paid £10m for Matt Jarvis, again breaking the existing club transfer record at the time. Jarvis was a great signing, and I feel with Carroll knowing his future is secure, we will also see the best of him, following on from the end of last season. However, in the last week, we have apparently bid £10m for Wilfried Bony, had an interest in Demba Ba who would command high wages, and now a £6.5m for Duvan Zapata.
So where are West Ham getting their money from to buy these players? We all know that David Gold and David Sullivan have contributed a lot of their own personal wealth, something I think every supporter should appreciate. Sullivan has recently increased his shareholding within the club, which again, I’m very pleased about. But the Chairmen have also made it clear that they only have so much money to contribute.
I would like to think that we are through the worst of our money problems at the club. Since the owners have come in, they have reduced the debt from around £100-£110m to £70m. They have fulfilled the fine given to us for the Tevez farce, and have backed Allardyce in the transfer market. I have no doubt that the increased TV revenue this season will also help, and finishing 10th in the league boosted the coffers with prize money.
Have West Ham got investors on the horizon, with promises of lots of cash? With the Olympic Stadium move coming up, it’s the ideal time for Gold and Sullivan to start drumming up business. They have been very shrewd in their dealings with the club with the new shirt deal with Adidas, and the new sponsor generating more revenue than the one with SBOBet.
I for one appreciate the effort and money they have put into our club, to turn things around from the brink of extinction, to a flourishing football club with a bright future. One day they will probably sell up to better owners, but they will always be remembered by me for saving us from bankruptcy.
COME ON YOU IRONS!!
By Chelmo Hammer
official site
Macca pleased with Cork victory
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Arsenal have had a club record offer of £30 million for striker Luis Suarez, 26, rejected by Liverpool and have to decide whether or not to return with an increased bid for the controversial forward.
The Times
Barcelona striker David Villa, 31, could sign for Tottenham this week after reaching an agreement in principle with the club.
Daily Mirror
Man United and Chelsea miss out on Borussia Dortmund striker Robert Lewandowski, 24, as the Pole agrees to join Bayern Munich.
Daily Mail
Stoke City goalkeeper Jack Butland, 20, could be heading to Spain on loan to boost his England World Cup chances.
Daily Mirror
Hull City could complete the deal to sign Burnley striker Charlie Austin, 24, in the next 24 hours with the player due for a medical at the KC Stadium on Monday.
Hull Daily Mail
Swansea City chairman Huw Jenkins expects the record-breaking £12m move for Vitesse Arnhem striker Wilfried Bony, 24, to be completed within the next 24 hours.
Daily Mail
Former England striker Carlton Cole, 29, is a target for Crystal Palace as a free agent after being edged out of West Ham.
Daily Express
GLOBAL GOSSIP (from BBC Monitoring)
Paris St-Germain have confirmed the signing of Uruguayan striker Edison Cavani, 26, who had been coveted by Chelsea.
La Parisien
Italian side Parma have signed Brazilian defender Felipe del Belo, 29, from Fiorentina.
Corriere Della Serra
Borussia Dortmund's Robert Lewandowski, 24, has resumed training with his club amid continued speculation of a move to Bundesliga rivals Bayern Munich.
Die Welt
Former Crystal Palace winger Wilfried Zaha, 20, will walk straight into Manchester United's first team, predicts his old manager Ian Holloway.
Metro
Manchester United are about to inject some serious pace into their team with the signing of Jamaican sprinter Usain Bolt, 26, who will turn out for his heroes in Rio Ferdinand's testimonial match against Sevilla.
Metro
WEST BROM want Dynamo Kiev’s Goran Popov back on loan.
Kiev president Igor Surkis said: “We are in negotiations with the club that wants the one-year loan.”
Baggies boss Steve Clarke will also step up his bid to sign ex-Chelsea striker Salomon Kalou, 28, from Lille.
SOUTHAMPTON have been told they must stump up £21million for Brazil ace Leandro Damiao.
Brazilian club Internacional are hoping the huge price tag will put clubs off the 23-year-old striker.
Napoli and Spurs are also interested.
CRYSTAL Palace are keen on the Newcastle forgotten man, Dan Gosling.
The midfielder, 23, has dropped down the pecking order following a knee injury.
Eagles boss Ian Holloway managed him at Plymouth and may gamble on his fitness.
FULHAM look set to add American strike starlet Danny Barbir to their Academy.
The 15-year-old is also wanted by Spaniards Malaga.
BLACKBURN are taking a look at Yann Songo’o.
The 21-year-old Cameroon defender is available on a free from Sporting Kansas City.
FULHAM want Ajax to slash their £2million asking price for midfielder Eyong Enoh, who shone while on loan at Craven Cottage last season.
IPSWICH boss Mick McCarthy wants to raid his former club Wolves and make a move for Irish left-back Stephen Ward, 27.
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