Frank Nouble scored on his first outing in claret and blue as a West Ham XI including Gianfranco Zola's son beat Thurrock 3-2 on Friday night.
Nouble only signed from Chelsea in midweek, but he managed the full 90 minutes against the non-leaguers and capped off a good performance with a last-minute winner.
West Ham fell behind early on when Phil Anderson converted from close range in the 18th minute, but German trialist Sebastian Huke produced a cool 15-yard finish nine minutes later to level things up.
16-year-old Eoin Wearen headed the Irons in front on 79 but Thurrock looked to have earned a share of the spoils when David Knight fired home with just four minutes later.
It was not to be, however, and Nouble marked his first game of pre-season with a tidy finish into the bottom corner after Cristian Montano danced past two defenders.
Zola Jr played the first 45 minutes in midfield, with the second string boosted by the presence of Calum Davenport and Nigel Quashie, who both played the full 90 minutes for Alex Dyer's side.
7/25/2009
Tigers stand firm on Zamora offer
Hull boss Phil Brown has offered Bobby Zamora a take-it-or-leave-it deal, believed to be worth £40,000 a week, to move to the KC Stadium.
The Tigers have agreed a £5million fee with Fulham for the striker and Brown has held talks with the former West Ham player.
Zamora is considering his options before committing to a move to East Yorkshire, but Hull insist they will not be improving the personal terms on offer.
"We have put a contract on the table, a very lucrative one," said Brown in the Daily Mirror.
"We are standing firm on it. This is our evaluation of Bobby Zamora - end of story."
Reports suggest Zamora has been offered a £40,000-a-week deal to move to the KC Stadium.
The Tigers have agreed a £5million fee with Fulham for the striker and Brown has held talks with the former West Ham player.
Zamora is considering his options before committing to a move to East Yorkshire, but Hull insist they will not be improving the personal terms on offer.
"We have put a contract on the table, a very lucrative one," said Brown in the Daily Mirror.
"We are standing firm on it. This is our evaluation of Bobby Zamora - end of story."
Reports suggest Zamora has been offered a £40,000-a-week deal to move to the KC Stadium.
Foster is best by far, boasts Fergie
Sir Alex Ferguson is 100% certain Ben Foster will be England's first choice goalkeeper for the World Cup in South Africa next summer.
Foster has only played once for his country under Fabio Capello, coming on as a half-time substitute in the March friendly against Slovakia.
The Manchester United stopper would almost certainly have added another couple of caps to his tally last month, only for a thumb operation to prevent him facing Kazakhstan and Andorra as replacement for David James, who had undergone shoulder surgery.
It is a depressingly familiar story for Foster, who spent his first two years as a United player on loan at Watford and had his third wrecked by a cruciate injury.
Yet despite the catalogue of injury, Ferguson has never lost faith in the former Stoke man.
He has said often enough in the past that Foster will be England's number one at some point in the future. Now he has gone one step further by claiming the 26-year-old will oust James as Capello's first choice before the coming campaign is done.
"Ben Foster will be England's goalkeeper in South Africa, I have absolutely no doubts about that," he said.
"He is streets ahead of any other English goalkeeper.
"He has magnificent abilities. He is lightning quick, has excellent use of the ball and is exceedingly brave. He is a top drawer goalkeeper."
Ferguson does concede Foster needs his abysmal luck with injuries to end.
However, he has confirmed the Leamington Spa-born player, who is set to figure against Hangzhou Greentown in the final match of United's Far East tour on Sunday night after sitting out Friday's victory over FC Seoul, will get enough chances to impress Capello.
"I have to keep an eye on him," admitted Ferguson.
"Ben has an opportunity with England, so I have to give him chances with us.
"I would not want to deny him the chance to play in South Africa so he will play a lot of games this season
"If he stays fit, he will be number one in South Africa. That is my prediction."
Ferguson is effectively confirming he intends to wind down Edwin van der Sar's career, even though the veteran Dutchman will start his final Old Trafford season as first-choice.
It is however bad news for Tomasz Kuszczak, who signed a contract extension last season but now seems set to play third fiddle under Ferguson.
"Tomasz deserves some recognition," he said.
"He has never complained and trains like a beast all the time.
"It is a very difficult situation because I need to get him minutes on the clock as well.
"Unfortunately Tomasz seems to have been bombed out by Poland for some reason.
"I don't understand why because I have to think about these things in terms of their careers."
Foster has only played once for his country under Fabio Capello, coming on as a half-time substitute in the March friendly against Slovakia.
The Manchester United stopper would almost certainly have added another couple of caps to his tally last month, only for a thumb operation to prevent him facing Kazakhstan and Andorra as replacement for David James, who had undergone shoulder surgery.
It is a depressingly familiar story for Foster, who spent his first two years as a United player on loan at Watford and had his third wrecked by a cruciate injury.
Yet despite the catalogue of injury, Ferguson has never lost faith in the former Stoke man.
He has said often enough in the past that Foster will be England's number one at some point in the future. Now he has gone one step further by claiming the 26-year-old will oust James as Capello's first choice before the coming campaign is done.
"Ben Foster will be England's goalkeeper in South Africa, I have absolutely no doubts about that," he said.
"He is streets ahead of any other English goalkeeper.
"He has magnificent abilities. He is lightning quick, has excellent use of the ball and is exceedingly brave. He is a top drawer goalkeeper."
Ferguson does concede Foster needs his abysmal luck with injuries to end.
However, he has confirmed the Leamington Spa-born player, who is set to figure against Hangzhou Greentown in the final match of United's Far East tour on Sunday night after sitting out Friday's victory over FC Seoul, will get enough chances to impress Capello.
"I have to keep an eye on him," admitted Ferguson.
"Ben has an opportunity with England, so I have to give him chances with us.
"I would not want to deny him the chance to play in South Africa so he will play a lot of games this season
"If he stays fit, he will be number one in South Africa. That is my prediction."
Ferguson is effectively confirming he intends to wind down Edwin van der Sar's career, even though the veteran Dutchman will start his final Old Trafford season as first-choice.
It is however bad news for Tomasz Kuszczak, who signed a contract extension last season but now seems set to play third fiddle under Ferguson.
"Tomasz deserves some recognition," he said.
"He has never complained and trains like a beast all the time.
"It is a very difficult situation because I need to get him minutes on the clock as well.
"Unfortunately Tomasz seems to have been bombed out by Poland for some reason.
"I don't understand why because I have to think about these things in terms of their careers."
Arbeloa closes in on Real return
Alvaro Arbeloa's agent says the Liverpool defender is still wanted by Real Madrid and could complete a £4.5million return to Spain next week.
The Spaniard was first linked with a return to the Bernabeu at the start of the summer but rumours had recently died down.
However, Arbeloa's representative, Manuel Garcia Quilon, remains in discussions with the Primera Liga giants and expects a conclusion by the start of next week.
Quilon told The Sun: "Discussions with Real are not over and I expect a solution early next week."
Real sporting director Jorge Valdano has also confirmed that the 26-year-old, who played for the club in 2004-5, remains a transfer target.
Valdano said: "Arbeloa is a basic part of our plans."
Arbeloa has one year remaining on his contract at Anfield and faces a fight for a first-team place on Merseyside following the arrival of Glen Johnson.
The Spaniard was first linked with a return to the Bernabeu at the start of the summer but rumours had recently died down.
However, Arbeloa's representative, Manuel Garcia Quilon, remains in discussions with the Primera Liga giants and expects a conclusion by the start of next week.
Quilon told The Sun: "Discussions with Real are not over and I expect a solution early next week."
Real sporting director Jorge Valdano has also confirmed that the 26-year-old, who played for the club in 2004-5, remains a transfer target.
Valdano said: "Arbeloa is a basic part of our plans."
Arbeloa has one year remaining on his contract at Anfield and faces a fight for a first-team place on Merseyside following the arrival of Glen Johnson.
O'Neill: No wad of cash can grab Ash
Aston Villa boss Martin O'Neill has warned Ashley Young's suitors he would not even consider selling the England winger for £50million.
Young has been the subject of some frenzied transfer speculation in recent weeks with Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea linked as well as Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.
But O'Neill insists not even a bid of £50million would persuade him to sell the 24-year-old, who joined from Watford back in 2007 for a then club-record £9.65m.
The Villa boss told The Sun: "There has been no thought about selling him.
"If somebody came in with £50m, I would not do it. It would be up to the chairman but the last time I spoke to Randy Lerner he was not entertaining anything, at any price.
"There are loads of teams who want him but he's at the right club.
"I could not be more strong on this. He's not going anywhere."
Young has been the subject of some frenzied transfer speculation in recent weeks with Manchester United, Liverpool, Tottenham and Chelsea linked as well as Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid.
But O'Neill insists not even a bid of £50million would persuade him to sell the 24-year-old, who joined from Watford back in 2007 for a then club-record £9.65m.
The Villa boss told The Sun: "There has been no thought about selling him.
"If somebody came in with £50m, I would not do it. It would be up to the chairman but the last time I spoke to Randy Lerner he was not entertaining anything, at any price.
"There are loads of teams who want him but he's at the right club.
"I could not be more strong on this. He's not going anywhere."
De Zeeuw poised for Ajax switch
Ajax have signed AZ Alkmaar midfielder Demy de Zeeuw, subject to a medical, after agreeing an undisclosed fee with ther Eredivisie champions.
The 26-year-old began his senior career with the Go Ahead Eagles before joining AZ in 2005 for a fee of €100,000.
De Zeeuw made his debut for Holland in a Euro 2008 qualifier against Slovenia in March 2007 and has gone on to win 20 caps for his country.
AZ confirmed the transfer with a brief statement on their website on Friday night, saying: "Ajax have met our asking price."
Ajax presented their new signing at half-time of their meeting with Atletico Madrid in the Amsterdam Tournament.
The 26-year-old began his senior career with the Go Ahead Eagles before joining AZ in 2005 for a fee of €100,000.
De Zeeuw made his debut for Holland in a Euro 2008 qualifier against Slovenia in March 2007 and has gone on to win 20 caps for his country.
AZ confirmed the transfer with a brief statement on their website on Friday night, saying: "Ajax have met our asking price."
Ajax presented their new signing at half-time of their meeting with Atletico Madrid in the Amsterdam Tournament.
Dossena agent expects Napoli switch
Andrea Dossena's agent expects the Liverpool defender to join Napoli this summer with both the player and Serie A side willing to do business.
Dossena endured a tough time during his debut season with Liverpool despite scoring goals in the thumping wins over Real Madrid and Manchester United.
The left-back otherwise struggled to make an impact as the speed and physical nature of the Premier League at times overwhelmed the Italian international.
The £7 million signing from Udinese is thought to be seeking a move back to his homeland in order to re-establish himself as Marcelo Lippi's first choice left back for the Italian national side.
Dossena's agent Roberto La Florio is eager to finalise a deal and says a move to Napoli would suit all parties involved.
"There is the will to join Napoli. Napoli want Dossena, and should they follow him, it means they are ready to satisfy the player's exigencies," La Florio told Italian radio station Kiss Kiss.
"Now they must decide, because they may need Andrea due to Fabio Aurelio's injury. The two parts must meet to find an agreement."
Dossena endured a tough time during his debut season with Liverpool despite scoring goals in the thumping wins over Real Madrid and Manchester United.
The left-back otherwise struggled to make an impact as the speed and physical nature of the Premier League at times overwhelmed the Italian international.
The £7 million signing from Udinese is thought to be seeking a move back to his homeland in order to re-establish himself as Marcelo Lippi's first choice left back for the Italian national side.
Dossena's agent Roberto La Florio is eager to finalise a deal and says a move to Napoli would suit all parties involved.
"There is the will to join Napoli. Napoli want Dossena, and should they follow him, it means they are ready to satisfy the player's exigencies," La Florio told Italian radio station Kiss Kiss.
"Now they must decide, because they may need Andrea due to Fabio Aurelio's injury. The two parts must meet to find an agreement."
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