19/09/2007 16:17
Henri Camara is as pleased as punch over the two goals he scored for the
reserves against Portsmouth in what was his first match since joining West
Ham United. The Senegal striker showed great poise and technique to grab
both goals in the 2-1 win over Portsmouth and said he was delighted to be
able to play for his new club at last. "I was very pleased just to play, as
I joined the club and then had to go away with Senegal which meant that I
have not had much time to meet with everyone and be considered for games,"
he said. "To play in this match was important and very good for me and to
get two goals made it even better."
Henri's double strike came in the second half as West Ham showed a strong
foothold in the game against an experienced Pompey side. "There were some
good crosses coming into the box and I just tried to get on the end of
them," he said. "I was very happy to see the goals go in, it was my first
match and I hope to carry on and score more."
The former Wigan and Wolves forward is settling in well and is currently
finding himself a London base to call home. "I like London a lot already and
West Ham is a big club that I was only too happy to join. We have a lot of
good players and I am looking forward to playing with all of them and
helping the club have a good season."
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Keen pleased with win - WHUFC
19/09/2007 14:22
Kevin Keen was delighted to see his reserve side pick up the first win of
the season and praised the excellent attitude of both senior and youth
players. After watching the Hammers win 2-1 against Portsmouth at Upton Park
on Tuesday night, Kevin said the victory was just rewards for what have been
solid performances from the start of the campaign. "I was more than pleased
with the way we played and won the game. It was an excellent match, a good
game of football," he said. "They had a very strong side out, but so did we.
It was played very competitively and I don't think there was much in the
game, if any, that I was upset about." He added: "There was some good
midfield play, we were strong in defence and it was great to see Henri come
in and score two good goals on his home debut. "There was also another boost
in that Scotty Parker played the full 90 minutes and came through ok."
While first team regulars led the way, Kevin also had much praise for West
Ham's younger players such as Kyel Reid, Jack Collison and Tony Stokes, who
are all making their mark in the reserves. "The attitude of the senior boys
last night was just exceptional. You don't get that at every football club,
but we have this here and for me that's another sign the Club is going in
the right direction. "This attitude helps the younger boys, who are also
showing more of the promise they have and it all contributed to the win. I
still consider Kyel one of our younger players but he is starting to produce
and have a real effect on games now. "I had asked him to step up a level and
he is doing that. I think Jack (Collison) had one of his best ever games and
Stokesy works hard in midfield and keep's everyone going."
After a loss and a draw, Kevin said he was confident results would come
through sheer hard work. "All results have been fair reflections on our
performances and it was a case of just striving to get better in each match
and get a win under our belts."
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Camara ready to shine - SSN
On-loan striker bags brace on reserves debut
By Robin Hackett Last updated: 19th September 2007
Henri Camara has signalled his intention to continue to hit the back of the
net for West Ham after marking his debut for the reserves with two goals.
Camara moved to Upton Park on a season-long loan from Wigan at the end of
last month, but has yet to make a senior appearance for The Hammers due to
international commitments with Senegal. However, he was finally able to pull
on a West Ham shirt this week when he scored both his side's goals in the
2-1 reserves victory over Portsmouth. "I was very pleased just to play, as I
joined the club and then had to go away with Senegal which meant that I have
not had much time to meet with everyone and be considered for games," he
told the club's official website. "To play in this match was important and
very good for me and to get two goals made it even better. "I was very happy
to see the goals go in, it was my first match and I hope to carry on and
score more."
Camara feels he is already settling in well to life at the club. "I like
London a lot already and West Ham is a big club that I was only too happy to
join. We have a lot of good players and I am looking forward to playing with
all of them and helping the club have a good season."
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Hammers boosted by comeback kids - teamTalk
West Ham received a welcome boost after midfielder Scott Parker completed 90
minutes of the reserves' 2-1 win over Portsmouth. Recent loan signing Henri
Camara netted both goals to stake a claim for a first-team place against
Newcastle this weekend. Striker Bobby Zamora could also return from a knee
problem to bolster manager Alan Curbishley's attacking options following the
loss of Craig Bellamy, who has suffered a groin injury.
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West Ham: can Curbs improve his poor cup record? - Squarefootball
Alex Wolstenholme
West Ham United face a third round League Cup tie against Plymouth Argyle at
Upton Park next week and will be strongly fancied to reach the last 16 of
the competition after an encouraging start to the season stepped up a gear
with Saturday's win over Middlesbrough. Manager Alan Curbishley performed an
admirable task in establishing Charlton Athletic as Premiership regulars
during his time at the Valley but it often came at the expense of some poor
cup results. During the period from 2000/01 (Charlton's first season back in
the top-flight after relegation in 1998/99) and 2005/06, the Addicks only
reached one quarter-final in either of the major cup competitions, losing to
Middlesbrough after a replay in the last eight of the FA Cup during
Curbishley's final season in charge. Defeats by Walsall and Gillingham in
the FA Cup and Oxford in the League Cup also occured during this spell.
Safety in the top division was evidently Charlton's first priority but will
Curbs manage to improve on his record now he is at West Ham?
He certainly has the players at his disposal to make an impact in one-off
games and should be able to field a strong side next week despite the club's
injury problems. The all-powerful Premiership has forced managers such as
Curbishley to see finishing in mid-table as an even bigger achievement than
winning a cup competition but to the fans it those unforgettable days at
Wembley, in Cardiff or in Europe that often live longest in the memory and
it is the big cup games that attract the big away followings and the
old-style atmosphere at grounds. As a club the Hammers are renowned for
some of the great players to have graced the Upton Park pitch but also for
their exploits in cup competitions and at Wembley itself. Three times FA
Cup winners and participants in the first Wembley final, they also won the
old European Cup Winners' Cup at the national stadium in 1965. Having
reached the League Cup final twice without lifting the trophy, perhaps the
first final back at Wembley could be on the cards for Curbishley's side?
Icelandic owner Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson has recently been keen to point his
knowledge of the club's history, saying: 'I am aware of the greatest moments
in the club's history over the last 40 years. "I know how it's said that
West Ham won the World Cup for England in 1966 because of the goals from
Martin Peters and Geoff Hurst, and the immense contribution from Bobby
Moore. "And I have also met Billy Bonds, who was captain when the club won
the FA Cup."
Gudmundsson wants to see Champions League football at Upton Park (or the new
Upton Park if built) but a cup success at Wembley would certainly satisfy
him and chairman Eggert Magnusson for now.
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Camara hands selection dilemma to Hammers - Daily Mail
Last updated at 18:16pm on 19th September 2007
Henri Camara fired a reminder to boss Alan Curbishley after scoring twice in
his first appearance in a West Ham shirt. The Senegal striker made up for
lost time by grabbing both goals in the Hammers' reserves 2-1 win over
Portsmouth. "I was very pleased just to play, as I joined the club and then
had to go away with Senegal which meant that I have not had much time to
meet with everyone and be considered for games," he said. "To play in this
match was important and very good for me and to get two goals made it even
better." With the injury to Bellamy probably ruling him out for the journey
to Newcastle, an in-form striker with Camara's pace might be just what the
doctor ordered for Mr Curbishley.
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'Poor Little Hammers' Come Visiting - newcastleutd-mad.co.uk
By Nu Mad Thursday 20th September 2007
West Ham's last two visits to St James' Park ...
Saturday 20th January 2007
NEWCASTLE UTD 2 WEST HAM UTD 2
NEWCASTLE: Given (Harper 67), Solano, Ramage (Edgar 30),Huntington, Carr,
Milner, Butt, Parker, O'Brien, Dyer, Martins.
Subs Not Used: Luque, Pattison, Carroll.
WEST HAM: Carroll, Dailly, Ferdinand (Spector 86), Davenport,McCartney,
Benayoun, Quashie, Reo-Coker, Boa Morte, Harewood,Cole (Etherington 73).
Subs Not Used: Green, Sheringham, Mullins.
Att: 52,095
I don't know what instructions Glenn Roeder gave to the players before they
tackled Birmingham City in the FA Cup on Wednesday, or prior to this match
against West Ham, but the players certainly didn't respond. On both
occasions they came out of the tunnel looking like rabbits caught in the
headlights of a car. Rather than going for the juggular, they started on the
back foot and took the first half to come to terms with whatever formation
they were supposedly given to undertake.
West Ham, who hadn't won away all season, terrorised the Toon back-line from
the first second and goals from Carlton Cole and Marlon Harewood inside 22
disastrous minutes was the very least they deserved. First Cole was allowed
to appear unmarked to fire home the opener on 18 minutes after the similarly
unoccupied Calum Davenport had headed back Luis Boa Morte's corner. But the
Magpies did not learn their lesson and fell further behind four minutes
later when Ramage allowed himself to be turned by Harewood with the minimum
of fuss to collect George McCartney's pass and stab a shot past the helpless
Given.
Peter Ramage limped off with a hamstring injury and David Edgar joined
fellow 19-year-old Paul Huntington at the heart of a defence which looked
sadly unusual, to say the least. Right winger Nobby Solano was at
right-back; and right-back Stephen Carr was out on the left, with two kids
trying to hold it all together.
But, after Nicky Butt had seen a goal-bound header turned away by Carroll,
Newcastle grabbed an injury-time lifeline when James Milner's shot sped past
the keeper and into the bottom corner ... through the legs of Scott Parker.
It was obviously offside, but no Toon fan argued the case, but Carroll and
Anton Ferdinand were both booked for their protests.
Whatever Roeder said prior to the match, he must have said the opposite at
half-time as Newcastle took up the challenge and pegged the Hammers back.
And they were back on level terms within eight minutes when Boa Morte
needlessly blocked Milner's free-kick with his arm and Solano, who waved
away Martins offers, sent Carroll the wrong way.
Davenport saw a 65th-minute header ruled out for pushing, then Given's
departure through injury gave Steve Harper a chance of first team glory.
Martins saw a 72nd-minute header come back off the post but Matthew
Etherington passed up a glorious opportunity to win it on 76 minutes when
Harper did well to take him out wide and snuff out the threat.
Both keepers were in action again in the dying seconds, Carroll turning away
another Martins piledriver and Harper denying Harewood at point-blank range.
Saturday August 20th 2005
NEWCASTLE UNITED 0 WEST HAM UNITED 0
NEWCASTLE UTD: Given, Carr, Taylor, Boumsong, Babayaro, Jenas, Parker,
Bowyer, N'Zogbia (Clark 63), Milner, Shearer.
Subs Not Used: Elliott, Harper, Faye, Brittain.
WEST HAM UTD: Carroll, Repka, Ferdinand, Gabbidon, Konchesky, Benayoun
(Dailly 78), Mullins, Reo-Coker, Etherington, Harewood (Zamora 90),
Sheringham (Newton 48).
Subs Not Used: Noble, Hislop.
I, like many Toon fans, was shocked when last year Freddy Shepherd appointed
Graeme Souness as manager. And since that very day I still feel the Jock is
not the man to take us to glory.
But having sat through 90 minutes of nothingness at St James' Park watching
his toothless one-striker wonders let 10-man West Ham off the hook after
defender Paul Konchesky was controversially sent off ... I genuinely feel
sorry for the man.
Along with 50,000 Toon fans, Souness knows this side is crying out for a
striker to ease the burden on Alan Shearer, but he is banging his head
against a brick wall trying to bring one (or two) to this club.
He made his shopping list, and has seen Shepherd rip it up chunting to
himself "too much money", "too much money", etc.
Packing your midfield with five players ... at home ... and hoping your
veteran attacker (who admits himself lost his famous burst of speed six
years ago through injury) will win the day ... is banking on HOPE not good
management.
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Eggert still has part to play at West Ham - DailY Mail
Last updated at 15:54pm on 19th September 2007
West Ham insisted today club chairman Eggert Magnusson had not been pushed
aside as a result of changes at boardroom level. Magnusson is to step down
as executive chairman but is to stay on in a non-executive capacity as a new
management team is brought in to support the club's owner, Icelandic
businessman Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson. "The fans will still see Eggert in the
directors' box and he will remain as non-executive chairman," said club
spokesman Mike Lee, who could become a board member under the new plans. "It
was felt, though, that the club needed a new corporate structure to take it
on to the next level." Manager Alan Curbishley and his staff are not
affected by the changes. "I am so proud of what we have achieved," said
Gudmundsson. "We can be confident about the future." Meanwhile, Michael Owen
is set to face West Ham at St James' Park on Sunday after a groin injury
scare.
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West Ham owner benefits from Usmanov's Arsenal push
tribalfooball.com - September 19, 2007
An unexpected beneficiary of Alisher Usmanov's decision to increase his
stake in Arsenal to 21% is the billionaire Bjorgolfur Gudmundsson, the West
Ham owner whose bank Landsbanki acted as broker for Usmanov's investment
vehicle, Red & White Holdings, reports the Guardian. Gudmundsson, who owns
more than 90% of West Ham, became chairman of what was previously Iceland's
national bank in the 1990s, and its London subsidiary is understood to have
brokered Usmanov's purchase of an additional 6% of the club's stock for more
than £30m. The role played by Landsbanki has prompted speculation that
Gudmundsson was instrumental in introducing Usmanov to David Dein, whose
14.6% stake gave the Uzbek his initial foothold in the club.
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West Ham insist Magnusson still has role
tribalfooball.com - September 19, 2007
West Ham insist Eggert Magnusson is not being frozen out after he stepped
down as executive chairman this week. Magnusson remains at Upton Park in a
non-executive capacity. "The fans will still see Eggert in the directors'
box and he will remain as non-executive chairman," said club spokesman Mike
Lee, who could become a board member under the new plans. "It was felt,
though, that the club needed a new corporate structure to take it on to the
next level."
Manager Alan Curbishley and his staff are not affected by the changes. "I
am so proud of what we have achieved," said club owner
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Camara delighted with West Ham double
tribalfooball.com - September 19, 2007
Henri Camara was delighted to hit his first goals in a West Ham shirt for
the reserves this week. The Senegal striker made up for lost time by
grabbing both goals in the Hammers' reserves 2-1 win over Portsmouth. "I was
very pleased just to play, as I joined the club and then had to go away with
Senegal which meant that I have not had much time to meet with everyone and
be considered for games," he said. "To play in this match was important and
very good for me and to get two goals made it even better."
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Keen impressed by West Ham youngsters
tribalfooball.com - September 19, 2007
West Ham's younger players such as Kyel Reid, Jack Collison and Tony Stokes
are all beginning to impress for Kevin Keen's reserve-team. After victory
over Portsmouth this week, Keen told whufc.com: "The attitude of the senior
boys last night was just exceptional. You don't get that at every football
club, but we have this here and for me that's another sign the Club is going
in the right direction. "This attitude helps the younger boys, who are also
showing more of the promise they have and it all contributed to the win. I
still consider Kyel one of our younger players but he is starting to produce
and have a real effect on games now. "I had asked him to step up a level and
he is doing that. I think Jack (Collison) had one of his best ever games and
Stokesy works hard in midfield and keep's everyone going."
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