WHUFC.com
Sam Allardyce was delighted to see the squad overcome a challenging contest at home to Barnsley
19.12.2011
In the lead up to Saturday's sold-out visit of Barnsley, Sam Allardyce had spoken of the need for his men to quickly make up for the misery of the previous weekend's experience at Reading. The injury and suspension-hit team that played at the Boleyn Ground did just that, grinding out a 1-0 victory that was far more significant than the scoreline suggested in front of the country's second biggest attendance of the day. "You can't afford to lose too many of your 46 games and we wanted to put things right after two disappointing results," the manager said. "We wanted to bounce back with a victory to get back on track and we have done just that. It was a very pleasing performance with all the things that we have had thrown at us."
The result was to prove even more precious come the close of play on Sunday with leaders Southampton seeing their advantage cut to just one point after being held at Portsmouth and Middlesbrough keeping up the pressure two points behind the Hammers in third with a big win at Cardiff City. Big Sam was rightly only concerned with what his men achieved in east London, and achieved against the odds. There were three changes from Reading in the back four alone, with 17-year-old left-back Dan Potts the most striking inclusion for his debut after Abdoulaye Faye's calf complaint saw him withdrawn after the warm-up. Julien Faubert was deployed at right-back, George McCartney moved in to the centre and even James Tomkins had to switch from left centre-half to right centre-half. The manager went with John Carew, Frederic Piquionne and Carlton Cole in attack but the heroes were Potts, the son of club great Steve, goalscorer Papa Bouba Diop and the magnificent Robert Green.
Potts typified the 'get on with it and get a result' attitude of the day, standing up manfully to the Barnsley forward line, with Nile Ranger, Craig Davies and Ricardo Vaz Te all trying their luck out on the right wing in the hope of testing the young defender's nerve. He saw them all off. "These lads have been scoring goals for fun for Barnsley," added Big Sam. "In the last five games they have won four and only lost one. Dan did his job defensively which was the main thing. "I knew he had a lot of quality on the ball because he has been training with the first-team squad for a considerable time now but to show the defensive qualities as well against those players who were much bigger and stronger than him physically and cope so masterfully was pleasing for me. "It was a great debut. His dad would have been more nervous today at a football match than he has ever been in his entire life."
While Allardyce summed up the youngster's bow as "encouraging", he admitted he should only get better especially with his father helping to guide the way. "It could be a great find from the West Ham Academy again. We spotted it early as a senior management group and said to Tony [Carr] 'forget about him training with you, we are going to have him training with us because we think he has good potential'."
The manager will wait to see what action might be taken after he was sent to the stands by the referee. "I wanted the victory so desperately," he said, when asked about his public show of frustration on the sidelines. It came after a strong challenge on Potts went unpunished and was quickly followed by a subsequent ignored claim for a foul on Freddie Sears. "I haven't been as upset as that for many years. I have always been a lot calmer but I just felt that, with the circumstances we were playing under, we didn't need the major decisions to go against us that may cost us the victory we were looking for."
Rather than criticise, the manager wanted to commend and he reserved most of his reflections for some outstanding individual performances, especially as the headaches kept coming with Faubert (hamstring) and John Carew (back) limping off - meaning Henri Lansbury finished the game at right-back on his return from two months out with a knee problem. "There were a lot of massive contributions from a squad that is being stretched to its very limit and still managed to come up with a victory. "Rob Green was very important. It would have been a difficult situation for us to have come back [if they had equalised]. I was uncomfortable they would get one chance and when that one chance came, he pulled off a worldy for us. It was as big a contribution as Papa's goal."
As for Diop, the manager felt his improving conditioning with every week was helping him to make more of a mark and not just with his sixth-minute headed winner, his first in the claret and blue. "He did very well. He has started to get better and better and his fitness is allowing his ability to come through more and more."
It was Potts who will remain the stand-out story of a match that in the short-term will have done so much good before Boxing Day's trip to Birmingham City and in the long-term could prove to be one of the defining moments of the Hammers' season as they push for promotion "It was a terrific day for Pottsy and his family. It is great to see a man of such young potential, a local boy who has had a massive trauma in his life with overcoming leukaemia. I am really pleased for them and all credit to him as a 17-year-old for withstanding the pressure in such an important game."
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Moncur and Montenegro on target
WHUFC.com
George Moncur, Brian Montenegro and Eoin Wearen are on target as the Hammers win in Essex
19.12.2011
COLCHESTER UNITED XI v WEST HAM UNITED XI
DEVELOPMENT SQUAD MATCH
MONDAY 19 DECEMBER 2011
KICK-OFF: 7PM
Final score - Colchester United XI 1-3 West Ham United XI
91 mins - Colchester win a corner. It's taken short but nothing comes of it as the final whistle is blown. Keep an eye on whufc.com and West Ham TV for exclusive reaction and highlights.
90 mins - Plenty of positives tonight. O'Neil has completed 80 minutes, Three goals. A come-from-behind victory. Welcome pitch-time for the likes of Ruddock and Moncur. Very good.
87 mins - Ladapo gets the better of Sanchez, but when he passes the ball inside, West Ham easily clear their lines.
85 mins - Another change from the Hammers sees Matt Fry come on for Jordan Brown at left-back.
84 mins - Moncur gets forward at pace and he's sent through on goal. Cousins comes out and makes another smart save. Without him, the Hammers could have scored six or seven goals tonight.
83 mins - Ladapo has replaced Gillespie and now Arnott is replaced too, with Redgrave on in his place.
81 mins - Colchester have also made a change and substitute Ladapo is involved immediately, testing Kurucz from 25 yards. The corner is cleared and West Ham break at speed. Brown overlaps and gets into the penalty area, but his cross-shot flies over the top.
80 mins - O'Neil goes off. He's had a good night. Leo Chambers replaces him and will play in midfield.
78 mins - O'Neil has gone back to the left of the midfield. Nouble is on the right, with Bunjaku joining Montenegro up front. The new system sees Nouble get in behind on to Driver's pass but his cross just eludes O'Neil.
77 mins - West Ham are playing with some real style now. They are zipping the ball around with confidence and Colchester are hardly getting a kick. One move must have been of at least 30 passes. Quality stuff.
74 mins - That could be 4-1! Driver is fouled by O'Toole and O'Neil nearly catches Cousins out with a viciously swerving effort that the goalkeeper does well to keep out. That was a Ronaldo-style strike from the West Ham midfielder.
72 mins - Bunjaku does well, collecting a pass down the line from Driver before beating his man and being fouled. O'Neil's free-kick is deep but collected by Nouble. He turns, runs and crosses, but it's way too strong.
67 mins - Ruddock ends his night by being booked for a lunging challenge. For a second, it looks like the new boy has been sent-off, but he's actually being replaced by substitute Alban Bunjaku.
64 mins - Driver is a real threat going forward. He cuts inside on to his left foot and shoots from about 20 yards. The ball thuds on to the front of the stand roof. Moments later, Colchester attack and Gillespie has the ball in the net, but he's been flagged offside.
62 mins - I have just spotted what I think is a 'Zumba' class going on in the sports hall next door! Or maybe it's line dancing? I can't quite tell from here! Whatever it is, there are dozens of people dancing from side to side! It's quite a sight! Meanwhile, Turgott is replace by Nouble.
61 mins - Gillespie smashes his free-kick straight into the wall.
59 mins - O'Neil certainly isn't playing like someone who is going to be replaced. He is haring around the pitch and fully involved in the play. Meanwhile, Sanchez is penalised for a push and Colchester have a free-kick 22 yards out. Dangerous.
55 mins - Sanderson's corner is to the near post and gets a flick, but thankfully the ball hits the side-netting. I assume O'Neil will play for 60 minutes tonight, but we shall see. Sanchez is back on again.
54 mins - Colchester finally show through Gillespie. Sanchez gets back in and slides the ball behind for a corner. He might have hurt himself in doing so as the physio is on. It might be his groin.
53 mins - Hendon will be even more delighted with that! West Ham have been dominant since the break, but the coach could never have dreamed of getting two goals inside six minutes!
51 mins - GOAL! They're like London buses! Ruddock does superbly again down the right to win a free-kick. O'Neil takes and whips the ball in with real pace. Wearen has the simple task of heading past Cousins from six yards.
51 mins - Hendon will be delighted with that. West Ham have started on the front foot and been rewarded.
49 mins - GOAL! That is a great goal! Abdulla passes square to Sanchez, who has got forward to halfway. He rolls the ball in for Ruddock, who dummies and allows Montenegro to collect in space. He takes a touch, turns, looks up and plants a low shot past Cousins into the bottom right-hand corner.
48 mins - No sign of any changes from Hendon, so O'Neil plays longer than 45 minutes for the first time since his return.s
46 mins - The second half is underway and West Ham immediately go on the offensive. Hendon won't want his side to start the second half slowly.
Half-time score - Colchester United XI 1-1 West Ham United XI
45 mins - Turgott is caught offside again from Sanchez's diagonal pass but before the free-kick can be taken, the half-time whistle is blown.
42 mins - Colchester have another corner as Sanchez does superbly to cut out a low cross from right-back White. The No2 had got in behind Brown from a nicely-weighted pass from Olufemi.
39 mins - West Ham lose the ball in midfield and Colchester threaten through Coker. Corner. Wearen clears before Ruddock shows his pace to make about 40 yards down the middle of the pitch. Just when it looks like he might go coast to coast, he is taken out inside the centre circle. Great pace from the No9.
37 mins - The Hammers are really threatening now. Ruddock crosses and Baldwin's header is up into the air. Montenegro sets himself and tries the overhead kick. The ball flies wide of the post with Cousins a spectator. Unlucky.
36 mins - West Ham have markedly improved since O'Neil went to right and they should lead. Montenegro's touch sends Turgott through and he's in on goal. He is inside the box when he shoots, but Cousins is out quickly to make the save.
34 mins - Controversy! A bouncing ball seems to be easy for Kurucz, but Gillespie thinks he's handled outside the box. Loud appeals but nothing given by assistant referee or the man in the middle. Moments later, Olufemi lets fly from all of 30 yards but his shot flies harmlessly over the crossbar and into the car park.
33 mins - Montenegro always makes things happen. Now he's rushing a defender into making a poor back pass and then he's charging down Cousins' clearance and forcing a throw. Brown collects the ball but his low cross is cut out.
31 mins - GOAL! West Ham equalise from the penalty spot through skipper Moncur. The initial corner had been cleared, but when the second cross came over, Montenegro went up to win the ball and could only head wide. I can only assume he was pushed as the referee pointed to the spot and nobody appeared to complain! Moncur stepped up and sent Cousins the wrong way with a well-struck spot-kick high into the top left-hand corner.
29 mins - Brown's cross causes havoc and Baldwin can only clear as far as O'Neil 20 yards out. The midfielder strikes with venom but Cousins tips over superbly.
27 mins - Ruddock is felled from behind about 30 yards out. O'Neil curls the ball across and Ruddock has a free header. He elects to try to nod back into the middle rather than go for goal, but can only pick out a blue and white shirt.
25 mins - Patient build-up nearly leads to an equaliser. Wearen's raking pass is made a mess of by two defenders and O'Neil benefits. He runs across the face of the penalty area before picking out the unmarked Turgott on the corner of the box. Turgott shoots first time and tries to curl the ball into the far top corner, but Cousins acrobatically tips the ball away to safety.
24 mins - Arnott is back on. I'd say there are a couple of hundred people here watching this evening.
22 mins - Turgott and O'Neil have switched flanks but Turgott's run is ended by the experienced Baldwin. Moments later, the same West Ham player collides with Arnott and the Colchester man needs the physio on.
19 mins - It could so easily be 2-0 as Arnott crosses from the right and Driver rushes in to put the ball behind for a corner. It is cleared.
18 mins - GOAL! The home side lead through Gillespie, who gets past Sanchez and drives a low left-foot shot past Kurucz. He hit that well and the net billows. Colchester go ahead.
17 mins - Turgott collects a pass from O'Neil and crosses but neither Montenegro nor Ruddock can get a touch.
16 mins - Better from West Ham. Moncur makes a good run and O'Neil feeds the ball through. While Moncur is held up, the Hammers sweep the ball across the field through Abdulla and Sanchez before Driver wins a throw.
15 mins - Montenegro and O'Neil, in particular, are running hard out there. Both have won the ball back in recent moments and put pressure on home goalkeeper Cousins. So far, the U's No1 has been up to the task and his kicking has been superb. O'Neil is playing on the left of the front three, with Turgott to the right.
11 mins - Abdulla tries an audacious crossfield ball following neat footwork from Ruddock on halfway. Unfortunately, he overhits it and the ball thuds into the corrugated fence at the side of the pitch. A big night for Ruddock, who was of course playing Conference South football for Boreham Wood until a few weeks ago.
8 mins - The conditions aren't easy but at least it is not windy. West Ham are slowly settling into their passing rhythm and appear to have weathered the early Colchester storm.
5 mins - West Ham's first real attack is snuffed out quickly as Baldwin challenges Montenegro near the corner flag. Colchester break and Gillespie runs into Wearen. He wants a free-kick, but nothing is given.
4 mins - A fair few families have braved the cold and rain and they nearly have an opening goal to celebrate - if they are Colchester fans. First, Gillespie sees his shot deflect just wide off Sanchez. From the resulting corner, the ball drops to a blue and white shirt and Kurucz has to be out lightning-fast to block the low shot from close-range. Good save from the Hungarian.
2 mins - After a period of possession on the left flank, the U's work the ball across to their right. It looks like O'Neil will clear, but Arnott wins the ball back and shoots from 25 yards. He scuffs his left-foot effort low and well wide of the near post.
7pm - Colchester get us under way...
6.59pm - West Ham are being captained by George Moncur this evening. He has favoured the short sleeve shirt, while a number of players are wearing gloves.
6.55pm - The two teams emerge through the gloom from the tunnel. Colchester's numbers are really hard to read when the weather is fine - red numbering on blue and white stripes - so tonight is going to present a real challenge! I'll try my best, though.
6.50pm - It is still drizzling here in Maldon. The pitch looks in good nick, though, to be fair to the Maldon and Tiptree groundstaff. The host club have a home game tomorrow evening, so they must be confident that the surface is up to scratch.
6.45pm - Colchester's lineup is fairly strong. Goalkeeper Mark Cousins has made nine League One appearances this season, while John White, Tom Eastman, Pat Baldwin, John O'Toole, Steven Gillespie and Ben Coker have all featured in the npower Football League this term.
6.20pm - Here are the two starting lineups and substitutes...
Colchester United XI: Cousins, White, Eastman, Baldwin, Griffiths, O'Toole, Gillespie, Coker, Arnott, Sanderson, Olufemi
Subs: Phillips, Ladapo, Hamilton, Redgrave
West Ham United XI: Kurucz, Driver, Brown, Wearen, Sanchez, Moncur, Abdulla, O'Neil, Turgott, Ruddock, Montenegro
Subs: Baxter, Chambers, K.Lee, Fry, Bunjaku, Nouble
6.10pm - It is decidedly wet down here in Maldon! It's been raining for most of the afternoon in Essex and I'm afraid the weather has not relented this evening. That said, the pitch will be nice and slick. The team news will be announced soon, but I can tell you that Gary O'Neil will make his first start since returning from the ankle injury he suffered in April. Meanwhile, Matt Fry is also in the squad for the first time since undergoing surgery on both calves.
Good evening and welcome to a cold Wallace Binder Ground for tonight's development squad match between Colchester United and West Ham United.
Ian Hendon's squad make their second visit to the home of Maldon and Tiptree FC this season, having taken on the U's at the same venue on 17 August. That game finished in a 2-2 draw.
This evening's match will see Gary O'Neil make his third appearance as he continues his comeback from a long-term ankle injury. Joining O'Neil in the squad will be Frank Nouble, who has returned from a loan spell at League Two side Gillingham, and Paraguay U20 forward Brian Montenegro.
Callum Driver will be involved after being called-in as a last-minute substitute for the first team on Saturday, while Peter Kurucz, Jordan Brown and Ahmed Abdulla also have senior experience. At the lower end of the age-scale, Academy scholars Blair Turgott, Kenzer Lee, Leo Chambers and new signing Pelly Ruddock will also be involved.
Two players not involved are Dan Potts, who excelled in the 1-0 npower Championship victory over Barnsley on Saturday, and Sebastian Lletget, who is at an eight-day training United States U23 training camp in Lakewood Ranch, Florida.
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Ladies beat the leaders
WHUFC.com
Danica Revel was part of a strong Hammers display that kept them firmly on course for promotion
19.12.2011
West Ham United Ladies are still firmly in the hunt for promotion after a 2-1 defeat of FA Women's Premier League Southern Division leaders Colchester United.
The Hammers are four points adrift of Colchester, who have finished their fixtures with Sunday's match at Thurrock. It means four points from the last two games would see West Ham overhaul their opponents, although Portsmouth have three games to play and are just a point behind in third place. With only a victory doing for Julia Setford's team, it was a nervy opening on a pitch that had been passed fit in the morning after midweek rain and then frost had threatened to cause a postponement. With several players nursing injuries and striker Gemma Shepherd ruled out, the Hammers may have cursed the thaw that allowed the game to go ahead but come the final whistle were delighted with the outcome. Chances were few and far between in the opening stages. Nikki Duncan showed good handling to save a shot from the left as Colchester's forwards rushed in and Lindsey Morgan saw her long-range volley gathered by the Colchester keeper as the match became very much a determined midfield battle. Duncan saved bravely as Kate Longhurst looked to get on the end of a through-ball which saw both players receive lengthy treatment before the deadlock was finally broken just after the half-hour mark. The Hammers had won a free-kick 30 yards out and Jess Barling's lofted delivery saw the ball glanced in off a defender's head. The second half saw an early onslaught from Colchester but the Hammers weathered the attack well with Danica Revel and Rosey Sullivan excelling at the back and Duncan again showing safe hands diving at her near post. A single-goal lead looked precarious and the Hammers pushed on for a second of their own, which duly arrived when Jess Barling overlapped on the left flank. Skilfully slipping past two tackles, she sent in a low left-footed cross that flew across the six-yard box and was again turned in by a retreating defender.
The Hammers midfield three worked tirelessly to protect the lead as Colchester pushed players forward to try and get back in the game but when they finally made the breakthrough with a low shot to the far corner there was little time remaining. With some sensible hold-up play from substitute Emma Harrison which almost created a late chance for April Bowers, the points were secured. The Hammers are next in action on 8 January away to Chichester United in the FA Cup before travelling to Queen's Park Rangers on 22 January. The league will then conclude with the 4 March visit of Brighton and Hove Albion, with other cup fixtures to be played in between.
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London 2012: Olympic Stadium not reliant on football club to survive
BBC.co.uk
Page last updated at 00:03 GMT, Tuesday, 20 December 2011
By David Bond
BBC sports editor
West Ham have been warned that the Olympic Stadium is not relying on a football club to guarantee a successful legacy after next year's Games. Andrew Altman, chief executive of the Olympic Park Legacy Company (OPLC), says his organisation is still keen to do a deal with the Championship side. But he believes the stadium can cover its running costs even if the Hammers do not secure a new rental deal. "We welcome football but it's not solely dependent on football," he said. "There are other combinations of other sports, concerts and activities that can also provide revenue. "What we are going out for provides maximum flexibility for the public sector to make sure we return value for money. We are just looking to see how we can populate the calendar with as many things as we can that can be compatible and work together."
OLYMPIC STADIUM TIMELINE
Continue reading the main story
Nov 2007 - Stadium design launched
May 2008 - Construction on stadium started
Nov 2010 - Two bids shortlisted to take over the stadium after the 2012 Games
Jan 2011 - Tottenham say they would demolish most of the stadium if their bid is successful
Feb 2011 - West Ham, who say they will keep the running track, win the backing of Olympic bosses for the stadium
Apr 2011 - Tottenham launch legal action over West Ham's bid
Oct 2011 - The deal to award West Ham the stadium collapses
The OPLC pulled the plug on the deal with West Ham and Newham Council in October after running into a series of legal challenges from Tottenham, whose own bid for the stadium was rejected in February. Under the terms of the new arrangement, the stadium will be retained in public ownership with the OPLC seeking a number of possible tenants. The running track will be retained after the Olympics and the venue will be showcased again in 2017 when London hosts the World Athletics Championships.
In addition it will set aside 21 days a year for athletics events, making good on London's promise to keep athletics at its core following the Games. Altman says there has been sporting interest from two Premiership rugby clubs, an American football team and cricket. He adds that concerts and other events will also help bring in revenue. But it is difficult to see how the OPLC can ensure the stadium does not become a major drain on the public purse without the regular use by a Championship or Premier League football club.
With Tottenham no longer interested and now looking to redevelop White Hart Lane, the only other club to express an interest in the past was League One side Leyton Orient. However, Orient chairman Barry Hearn has said he no longer has any intention of bidding and Altman's comments must be seen as an attempt to increase competition in the new tender process and avoid West Ham making a derisory bid, which would allow them to effectively secure a 99-year lease of the stadium on the cheap.
The deadline for bids is 23 March with a decision due to be made next May. Despite the collapse of the previous deal and the long wait to finally secure a long-term legacy plan for the £500m stadium, Altman says the OPLC remains confident it will be able to conclude the deal in time to re-open in the summer of 2014. Under the previous deal with West Ham, Newham Council were to borrow £40m to pay towards the £95m cost of converting the stadium, reducing the capacity from 80,000 to 60,000 and adding a full roof after the Games. The rest of the money was to come from £36m of the OPLC's £300m budget for converting venues with the remainder coming from the sale of West Ham's Upton Park ground. Altman says the costs will now be split between Newham and the OPLC, who will pump extra money into the project to replace the money from West Ham.
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Duxbury returns
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 19th December 2011
By: Staff Writer
Former West Ham United Chief Executive Officer Scott Duxbury is once again working in the legal profession having returned to the UK. Duxbury, who left West Ham United two years ago next month officially resigned from his position as CEO less than a fortnight after Davids Sullivan and Gold bought into West Ham United FC.
It is understood that he went to Australia for a brief period following the end of his tenure at West Ham from where he has now returned to take a partnership at the London office of Rix & Kay LLP, who are based in Mayfair. Duxbury's bio claims that he "is a specialist sports and commercial lawyer with over 10 years experience in the sports industry both as a lawyer and Chief Executive at a premier league football club,".
Additionally, he is described as being "able to demonstrate exceptional legal and commercial skills and an ability to create and present clear strategic legal advice".
Understandably perhaps there is no mention of his involvement in the Lord Griffiths/Sheffield United/Carlos Tevez case, which cost West Ham United upwards of £30million which the club are still paying to this day.
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Frank's back
KUMB.com
Filed: Monday, 19th December 2011
By: Staff Writer
Frank Nouble has returned to West Ham after his loan spell with Gillingham ended. The 20-year-old striker has made 14 appearances for the Gillis since moving to the Priestfield Stadium on loan back in September, scoring on five occasions. His final appearance for Gillingham came on Saturday in their League Two 4-1 win over Bristol Rovers. "I wanted to get a goal but I was just happy we won and we played well," he told Kent Online. "It was a good win."
And although he is back at Chadwell Heath this morning training with threst of the West Ham squad, Nouble says he would happily return to the club should the opportunity arise in the near future. "The loan has gone really well. I have enjoyed every minute, from minute one, where I scored on my debut. The boys have taken to me well. "This is the longest loan period I have been on and I am going to miss the players and I have made a few friends here which is good. If I went back to a League 2 side it would definitely be Gillingham. It is where I have enjoyed my time the most."
Ans that could happen as soon as January - if Gills boss Andy Hessenthaler, a big fan of the young Hammer, decides to act. "When the [transfer] window reopens again maybe we could revisit that," he said, "but we will wait and see."
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McCartney will never go back
On-loan Hammers defender rules out Black Cats return
Last Updated: December 19, 2011 5:31pm
SSN
George McCartney claims Martin O'Neill's arrival at Sunderland will have no impact on his future, with a loan deal set to keep him at West Ham. Following Steve Bruce's removal from the dugout at the Stadium of Light, a clean slate has been offered to all of those on the club's books. That includes McCartney, who joined West Ham on a season-long loan over the summer. It was suggested that the Northern Ireland international may decide to return to Wearside in an effort to force his way back into the Premier League picture. The 30-year-old has rubbished those rumours, though, by committing himself to the Hammers.
Decided
He says there is no chance of him heading back to Sunderland, with it his intention to see out the campaign at Upton Park and allow his contract with the Black Cats to run down. "I haven't spoken to the new manager," said McCartney. "To be honest, before I agreed to come to West Ham, it was decided that my contract would be left to run out in the summer and sorted out at the end of the season. "So there is no chance of a call back and no chance of me ever going back to Sunderland."
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Nouble keen on Gills return
Striker returns to West Ham after three-month loan comes to an end
Last Updated: December 19, 2011 10:06am
SSN
West Ham United striker Frank Nouble is hoping to return to Gillingham in the New Year after the end of his loan spell at the League Two club. Nouble has spent the past three months with the Gills and scored five goals in 14 appearances for Andy Hessenthaler's side. He played the last game of his loan stint on Saturday in the 4-1 win over Bristol Rovers and has now returned to West Ham for the festive period. However, the 20-year-old is keen to return to Priestfield when the January transfer window opens, if Hessenthaler wants to re-sign him. Nouble said: "If Gillingham make the call in January and West Ham agree I'm sure I'll be back here."
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George's Cat flap
By ANDY BAKER
Published: Today
The Sun
GEORGE McCARTNEY has declared he has no intention of helping Martin O'Neill revive Sunderland's fortunes. The Black Cats' Northern Ireland defender, 30, is on a season-long loan at West Ham and made it clear he planned to stay there until he becomes a free agent next year. He said: "I haven't spoken to the new manager.
"To be honest, before I agreed to come to West Ham, it was decided that my contract would be left to run out in the summer and sorted out at the end of the season.
"So there is no chance of a call back and no chance of me ever going back to Sunderland."
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West Ham fly to Dublin for Christmas bash
Published 10:27 19/12/11 By Maeve Quigley
The Mirror
West Ham jetted into Dublin for their Christmas party just hours after their win against Barnsley. Some of the team members including Carlton Cole, Robert Green, Joey O'Brien and Daniel Potts partied the night away in the city's best hotspots. An insider said: "The lads flew into Dublin on a private jet just hours after their match for some much-needed festive fun. "They were staying at the Morrison and were determined to get into the festive spirit and enjoy a break before their match against Birmingham on St Stephen's Day."
The footballers danced the night away at a number of clubs including Krystle and insiders said they had a bet on to see who could buy the most expensive drink.
One insider said: "The boys certainly turned heads when they walked into the club - people are used to celebrity spotting there but fans of football were really excited to see the likes of Carlton Cole. "They each put €1,000 in the kitty for the night and they were determined to enjoy some of Dublin's famous nightlife. "Everyone was in great form after the win on Saturday." The lads were flown back on a private jet again yesterday to get back into training for next Monday's match.
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West Ham defender extends Dons stay
Dec 8 2011 By Jacob Murtagh
HounslowChronicle.co.uk
AFC Wimbledon have extended Callum McNaughton's loan deal at Kingsmeadow by another month. The West Ham defender has made 14 appearances for the Dons since his switch to the League Two club back in September. Mat Mitchel-King is nearing a return to fitness after playing 90 minutes for the reserves in midweek, but boss Terry Brown has decided to keep McNaughton at the club until January 4. The 20-year-old was unavailable for Saturday's FA Cup defeat at Bradford, but is expected to go straight back into the starting XI against Accrington Stanley at the weekend.
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West Ham fans give mixed reception to new club mascot Hammerhead
Metro.co.uk
West Ham unveiled their new club mascot Hammerhead at Saturday's 1-0 win over Barnsley - to a mixed reaction from supporters. The story behind the semi-robotic character is that he came to be when a bolt of lightning struck the old Thames Iron Works, where West Ham were originally formed over 100 years ago. The club website describes him as being 'as strong as iron, as fast as [double FA Cup winning captain and club record appearance maker] Billy Bonds and blessed with the goalscoring prowess of [club record goalscorer] Vic Watson, some say he was a shipbuilder at the Thames Iron Works while others say he is a knight from the historic Bolyen Castle [on the club badge].' On the Knees Up Mother Brown fan forum, comments varied from 'rarely have I been so embarrassed at Upton Park' to 'I personally thought it was much more entertaining than the game'. On West Ham Online.net, opinion was similarly divided. 'Sure it was a bit cheesy and comical but unlike most pre-match or half time entertainment it did make people pay attention and the kids enjoyed it and surely that's what matters,' said one user. Another pointed out the mascot's commercial potential. 'It's great marketing too - how many mugs,t shirts etc with Hammerhead on will the club sell in the next week?', said the poster.
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West Ham debut rounds off amazing two years for former leukaemia sufferer Dan Potts
1:36pm Monday 19th December 2011 in News
Guardian Series
After being given the all-clear from a battle with leukaemia two years ago, 17-year-old Dan Potts made his West Ham debut on Saturday in the 1-0 win over Barnsley.
The son of Hammers great Steve Potts only signed his first professional contract the day before the game. Then following the withdrawal of Abdoulaye Faye in the warm-up, the youngster was fast-tracked into his debut. The Barnsley front line, consisting of Ricardo Vaz Te, Craig Davies and Nile Ranger, all tried their luck down the right side, but failed against the determined left-back. A delighted Sam Allardyce told the West Ham website: "These lads have been scoring goals for fun for Barnsley. Dan did his job defensively, which was the main thing. "I knew he had a lot of quality on the ball because he has been training with the first-team squad for a considerable time now but to show the defensive qualities as well, against those players who were much bigger and stronger than him physically and cope so masterfully, was pleasing for me."
Allardyce believes the famous West Ham academy may have found another star in Potts, He said: "We spotted it early as a senior management group and said to (Academy director) Tony (Carr) 'forget about him training with you, we are going to have him training with us because we think he has good potential."
The 1-0 victory came thanks to a headed goal from Papa Bouba Diop, his first in English football for exactly six years. But the day will mainly be remembered for the debut of Potts. With West Ham showing faith in the youngster, the future looks bright for Potts.
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Angry Sam Allardyce is facing touchline ban
Ken Dyer
19 Dec 2011
Evening Standard
Sam Allardyce will learn this week whether he will be hit with a touchline ban after referee Scott Mathieson banished him from the touchline during the 1-0 win over Barnsley. The West Ham boss, who kicked over water bottles when Freddy Sears was refused a penalty, admitted his frustration boiled over. It came a week after he warned his players about discipline after two of them had been sent off at Reading. "There is some irony in that and the players have let me know," said Allardyce. "It was an accumulation of things and I haven't been as upset as that for years." Allardyce, "stretched to the limit" by injuries, gave 17-year-old full-back Danny Potts his debut and said: "He has a lot of quality on the ball but he showed his defensive qualities as well." Potts, whose father Steve made more than 400 appearances for the club, was diagnosed with leukaemia in 2006. He said. "It was a hard time but, after my debut, I can well and truly put it to the back of my mind. "I was first diagnosed in October 2006 and finished treatment in February 2010. I have a check-up every four months now. "I was quite young when I was first ill and I think it hit my family more than me."
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