Catching up on daily life with Slaven Bilic’s squad during their pre-season training camp in Austria…
A well-earned rest
After double training sessions on both Tuesday and Wednesday, Slaven Bilic gave his squad a well-deserved and important rest on Thursday afternoon. Following intensive keep-ball drills and crossing and finishing work in the morning, the players were given the rest of the day off to enjoy at their leisure and recharge the batteries. Some relaxed around the hotel, while Michail Antonio, Sam Byram and Ashley Fletcher took a trip to Vienna, and Mark Noble, Andy Carroll and Aaron Cresswell headed for a spot of lake fishing.
Ginge happy to be below par…
James Collins and Winston Reid used the free time on Thursday to keep up a competitive edge to their pre-season preparations. The centre-back pairing took a relaxing stroll around the golf course situated next door to the team hotel, playing in a four-ball against Goalkeeper Coach Chris Woods and Physiotherapist Fraser Young. After 18 holes their match was all-square, before Collins showed his class with a birdie in the play-off hole to grab victory. There’s only one Ginger Pele...
Practise and progress
It was back to the hard graft on Friday, with another double session comprising of sprinting and circuit training in the morning, followed by high-tempo ball work and team shape in the afternoon. With the team’s opening pre-season warm-up match scheduled against Sturm Graz B on Monday evening, the intensity and rhythm is clearly increasing day by day…
Cress caps it off
Aaron Cresswell has a rather nice present waiting for him when he returns home from Austria next Friday. The 27-year-old left-back, who made his second appearance for the England national team in last month’s friendly against France in Paris, has been sent his international representative cap from the Football Association to mark his debut for the Three Lions, against Spain at Wembley in November 2016.
Janice St Fort
Everyone present with West Ham United in Austria was shocked and saddened when news reached the camp of the tragic passing of Rio and Anton Ferdinand’s mother Janice on Thursday. Janice was a popular and friendly figure around the Club when her two sons were progressing through the Youth Academy into the First Team, and could always be seen cheering them on at matches. Captain Mark Noble said: ‘Our thoughts and prayers are with Rio, Anton and their family at this very sad time. On behalf of all the players I would like to send them our sincere condolences.”