Daily WHUFC News - 11th August 2013

Hendo happy with final workout
WHUFC.com
West Ham United first team coach Ian Hendon was satisfied with Saturday's
win over Pacos de Ferreira
10.08.2013

Ian Hendon declared Saturday's win over Pacos de Ferreira as another
satisfactory workout for his side after West Ham United scored two first
half goals to defeat Portuguese Champions league qualifiers Pacos de
Ferreira 2-1. The Hammers rounded off their pre-season programme with
victory at the Boleyn Ground thanks to goals from Ravel Morrison and Modibo
Maiga, leaving first team coach Hendon content ahead of the big kick-off a
week away. West Ham host Cardiff City in their opening Barclays Premier
League fixture next Saturday and Hendon believes they are in a good place
ahead of that meeting with the Bluebirds. "It was a very good first half
performance," he told West Ham TV. "We got an early goal and it's easy to
sit back when you score early, but the lads didn't do that. They continued
to do what we wanted them to and got another goal just before half time.
"The game died a little bit in the second half, it got disrupted with the
amount of substitutes that came on which generally happens in pre-season
games. "Overall, it's a good performance, a good result and it leads us up
nicely for the Cardiff game next week. "Progressively, the teams we've
played have got better. They're a Champions League team we played on
Saturday. They are tough opposition, they keep the ball and we get a lot of
work off it."

Morrison's goal came just 16 seconds into the contest, and remarkably,
Hendon revealed the same thing had happened in training the day before. He
continued: "It was funny actually. We set up training yesterday and we did
exactly the same thing - within about 30 seconds the lads who started today
had scored! "It was deja vu to be honest, it settles you down and it was
nice to score early. Credit to the lads, they kept going and played well."

Morrison has now scored six goals in pre-season, with Maiga's strike also
taking him up to three, and Hendon was pleased for both of them. "Ravel has
done very well in pre-season," he added. "He's come back and looked focused
in what he's doing, and in his football. I think his performances have
showed that."
"Modibo, too, has performed well and scored a week before the season. He did
ever so well when the ball went up to him today, he held it up, won his
headers and flick-ons, so it was nice for him to get on the scoresheet."

There were also home debuts for Adrian and Razvan Rat, with Hendon saying it
was useful to give them a Boleyn Ground experience before the action starts
for real. "That's why we made the goalkeeping change, to give Adrian a taste
of playing at the Boleyn Ground before the start of the season," he
confirmed.
"It gets them in the environment to see what it's like in their surroundings
and prepare them. It was good that the lads made their home debuts and they
look comfortable."

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Under-18s see off Eagles
WHUFC.com
A goal in either half helped the Hammers to a comfortable 2-0 win over
Crystal Palace at Little Heath
10.08.2013

West Ham United Under-18s ended their hectic pre-season schedule with a
deserved 2-0 win over Crystal Palace at Little Heath on Saturday morning. An
outstanding first-half free-kick from Kieran Bywater set the Hammers on
their way, before Lewis Page popped up with a rare goal in the closing
minutes.
The Hammers have had a successful pre-season campaign to date, including
finishing runners up to Danish side Nordsjaelland in the prestigious Yale
Eurofoot Tournament in Belgium earlier this month. With an important fixture
against Manchester United to kick off the league season in mind, Steve Potts
named a strong starting line-up for this pre-season clash, including
Development Squad regular Kieran Bywater and Eurofoot player of the
tournament Moses Makasi.
It was the visitors who burst into life in the opening minute, when Javen
Palmer found space on the edge of the Hammers penalty area to fire a volley
at goal, bringing a brilliant low save out of 'keeper Gines Guzman Rosique.

But West Ham soon got a foothold in the game, dictating play with some
brilliant one touch football in the middle of the pitch. And they could have
been ahead just 15 minutes in, when Jordan Brown got on the end of Nathan
Mavila's left wing cross, but missed the target from less than six yards.
The home side upped the pressure and were rewarded with the opener on the
half-hour mark. After Brown was fouled 22 yards from goal by Palace
centre-back Jahmal Howlett-Mundle, Bywater stepped up to curl a perfect
free-kick into the top left hand corner of the goal. As Palace looked for an
equaliser before the break, Mandela Egbo crossed for the unmarked Will Hoare
at the back post, who sliced his effort straight into Guzman's hands. It was
much the same after the interval, as West Ham continued to do most of the
pressing. This time, Emmanual Onariase smashed one goalwards, forcing
Palace's Tom King to tip the ball over the crossbar. From the resulting
corner, Mavila's deep centre was turned back across the face of the goal by
Onariase, but Jerry Amoo, under pressure, fired high over the bar from close
range.

It was West Ham who looked the most likely to get the next goal and it very
nearly came from another set piece. After Djair Parfitt-Williams had been
fouled, Nathan Mavila stepped up to cross it towards the back post, but it
was just too quick for both Jamie Harney and Onariase who slid in vain to
try and apply a telling touch. No matter, as In the closing minutes, West
Ham did double their lead. Though Parfitt-Williams had been tripped, the
Hammers played on and Page, arriving from the left-back position, fired
across the goalkeeper into the far right hand corner.

The U18s' next outing is against Manchester United at Little Heath on
Saturday 17 August, as they open their Barclays U18 Premier League campaign.
West Ham United U18: Guzman, Knoyle, Burke (Harney), Onariase, Page, Bywater
(Pike), Makasi (Parfitt-Williams), Cullen (Nasha), Amoo (Gonzalez-Cabrera),
Brown (Martins), Mavila (Gogo).

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Hendon on pre-season...
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 10th August 2013
By: Staff Writer No.2

First team coach Ian Hendon attended the post-match press conference after
the 2-1 win over Pacos De Ferreira and shared his thoughts on Andy Carroll's
fitness, Ravel Morrison's form and how "Mr Rat" is settling in....

Is it possible that Andy (Carroll) will be fit for the start of the season?

We don't think he's going to make it, to be honest. The original injury was
8-12 weeks and he picked it up in the last game of the season. But you never
know with Andy, he's chomping at the bit to play. He wants to play but we've
got to do what's right by him medically.

That intensifies the search for a striker before September 2nd, I presume?

Well if Andy's back fit by then maybe that's not the case. The manager will
deal with that.
.
Ravel (Morrison)'s come back from Birmingham. He looks a different player to
the lad that went off 12 months ago?

When Ravel signed... We know his qualities. He's gone away and had a season
in the Championship. He's come back very focused and I think you are seeing
in his performances how he's matured since he's been away. That's credit to
him.

Is Kevin Nolan ok?

Yeah Kev's fine. He just had a little kick.

Can you tell us anything about the usual media transfer talk? There's been
some talk about Scott Parker and the club?

The manager deals with all the transfers. The players come in and that's
where I come in. I do the coaching!

I thought you might say that (laughter). Just coming back to Ravel. There
was a quote in the Standard from Kevin Nolan last night that the senior
players realise that they've got to work with him, nurture him, be more of a
father figure to him. Do you see a situation where he could stay a whole
season?

Ravel's in the squad. You've seen today that he's started the game. It's up
to Ravel now. He's had a good pre-season, he's in the mix. He's in the
squad. He's started today. He'll keep his head down, I'm sure.

As I said before, he's matured in the year he's been away. The senior lads
want him to do well. They encourage him every day and he's taken to that, I
think. He's responding to that. Us as a coaching staff, we see the potential
that he's got.

As I say he's come back so focused, it's shocking really how focused he is.
It's brilliant.

Is it fair to say he'll start next week if Andy doesn't make it?

Who? Ravel? No it's different, isn't it. You know the system we play
generally. Modibo (Maiga)'s up there as a replacement for Andy so Ravel
would be vying for a midfield spot, I would imagine.

What about Modibo [Maiga]? There was some talk of him going but he gets his
head down and he scored?

Today he's done very well. The ball's gone up. He's won his headers, he's
got hold of it and he's set us off up there. That was a good performance. I
can't see him going anywhere to be honest but again, that's something that
the manager will deal with.

The Cardiff manager [Malky Mackay] said that West Ham and Southampton were
an inspiration to their desire to stay up next season. Will it be easier
next season or is the "second season syndrome" more likely to kick in?

I think the second season is probably more difficult than the first. There's
a fear of what's coming and how you're going to adapt to it. But having done
that comfortably, you have to go back to basics and make sure we do what we
did at the start of last season and try to get off to a good atart.

Do yo think you overachieved last season? Some might say that mid-table is
where a club of this stature should be?

I wouldn't say that. Over the season we could possibly have done a little
better. We had a little dip around December time – probably due to a few
injuries. I'm not going to say we're going to finish higher than tenth – you
don't know how it's gonna pan out over the season. I think we finished where
we deserved to finish last season.

What are the qualities that Mr Rat brings to you?

He's been at Donetsk for what is it, ten years? Eight? He's been there a
long time. He'll take a bit of adapting to our style of play – he's been
playing with, what, eight Brazilians in the team so they've had a lot of
possession!

It's going to be a little bit different in the Premier League. Technically
he's very good. Time will tell with Raz.

I've noticed how many clubs have been buying overseas players rather than
English players. Do you think this is an indictment of the quality we have
here or is it just that they're too expensive?

You're looking at the Premier League – our manager has been there and has
stayed in the Premier League every time he's been in there. I'm sure he
knows what is needed first to keep the team up and secondly to improve on
what we've already done.

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Morrison in the frame, says Hendon
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 10th August 2013
By: Staff Writer

Ian Hendon has revealed that Ravel Morrison is very much part of Sam
Allardyce's first team plans - and that he could be set for a first Premier
League start next weekend. The young midfielder's only previous competitive
appearance for West Ham came in a 1-1 draw at Leeds during the 2011/12
season, when he appeared as a late substitute. Since then Morrison spent a
productive year under the watchful eye of Birmingham manager Lee Clarke, who
helped the former Manchester United youth star become more focused on his
football, before returning to east London at the start of the summer. In
pre-season Morrison has proved to be something of a revelation, scoring six
goals, making him the club's leading goalscorer heading into the 2013/14
Premier League campaign.

And first team coach Hendon revealed tonight that Morrison is very much
considered to be part of manager Allardyce's first team plans as he looks
ahead to next weekend's match. "When he signed [for West Ham] we knew his
qualities. He's gone away and had a season in the Championship and he's come
back very focused at the start of pre-season," revealed Hendon. "I think we
saw in his performance today that he's matured since he's been away and
that's credit to him. Ravel's in the squad, as you've seen today. He started
the game. It's up to Ravel now. "As I said before, he's had a good
pre-season and he's in the mix. He's in the squad, he started today and if
he can keep his head down I'm sure [he can be involved]."

Hendon also revealed that a number of the club's senior players - including
captain Kevin Nolan - had volunteered to help the youngster, who had never
lived outside his native Manchester prior to joining West Ham, fulfil his
obvious potential. "The senior lads want him to do well," he said. "They
encourage him every day and he's taken to that, he's responded to it. Us as
the coaching staff as well, we see the potential the lad's got. It's almost
shocking to see how focused he is. That's credit to him, it's brilliant."

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We won't sell Jørgensen, say FCK
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 10th August 2013
By: Staff Writer

FC Copenhagen have denied reports that young striker Nicolai Jørgensen is on
his way to the UK for talks with West Ham over a potential transfer. Danish
media outlet Tipsbladet claimed yesterday that the 22-year-old forward was
set for imminent discussions with representatives of West Ham. However those
rumours were well and truly squashed this evening when Copenhagen director
Anders Hørsholt scoffed reports of Jørgensen's departure. "It is our policy
that we do not comment one way or the other kind of guesswork about players
who could be on the way in or out of FC Copenhagen," he said. "But when a
rumour like this arises, it is important for us to make it clear that we are
going to strengthen our squad and not weaken it."

The Danish club are currently bottom of the Superliga, having lost all three
of their league matches so far this season. Jørgensen is yet to get off the
mark in the current campaign.

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West Ham Utd 2-1 Pacos de Ferreira
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 10th August 2013
By: Staff Writer

West Ham ended pre-season with a morale-boosting win against Portuguese
Champions League qualifiers Pacos de Ferreira at the Boleyn Ground this
afternoon. Sam Allardyce's side, featuring none of his three summer signings
got off to a flyer when Ravel Morrison, given a starting berth having
impressed in pre-season scored the game's opening goal - his sixth of
pre-season - with just 16 seconds on the clock. United's lead was doubled
five minutes ahead of the break when Modibo Maiga, who looks set to start
against Cardiff City next weekend in the absence of Andy Carroll, scored
from close range. The visitors grabbed a consolation just six minutes into
the second half when Manuel José's curling, dipping shot evaded the arms of
Jussi Jaaskelainen.

West Ham Utd 2-1 Pacos de Ferreira: match facts
West Ham Utd: 1 Jaaskelainen, 2 Reid, 3 O'Brien, 4 Nolan, 5 Tomkins, 7
Jarvis, 8 Noble, 9 Cole, 10 Morrison, 11 Maiga, 12 Demel.
Subs: 13 Adrian, 14 Taylor, 15 Collison, 16 Rat, 17 Diame, 18 Diarra, 19
Collins, 20 Vaz Te.
Goals: Morrison (1), Maiga (40).

Pacos de Ferreira: 45 António Filipe, 7 Rúben, 8 André Leão, 10 Rui Miguel,
11 Caetano, 15 Grégory, 17 Nuno Santos, 20 Sérgio Oliveira, 22 Hélder Lopes,
81 Manuel José, 96 Filipe Anunciação.
Subs: 1 Matias Degra, 4 Romeu, 9 Christian, 14 Jaime Poulson, 16 Hurtado, 19
Ricardo, 26 Fernando, 27 Rodrigo António.
Goals: Manuel José (53).

Referee: Kevin Friend.
Assistants: Mark Scholes and Dan Rovathan.
Fourth Official: Alan Young.
Attendance: tbc.

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The thin white Duke
KUMB.com
Filed: Saturday, 10th August 2013
By: Staff Writer

West Ham United are taking Australian forward Mitchell Duke on a week's
trial. The 22-year-old, who currently features in his country's A-League for
Central Coast Mariners is set to arrive in London this weekend before
training with Sam Allardyce's first team squad for the next five days. Duke,
who hails from Liverpool - that's New South Wales, Australia not Merseyside,
England - was first spotted playing football for the PCYC (Police Citizens
Youth Club) by Australian Academy Coach Tony Basha. A relatively late
arrival to the game, the 6'1" striker only signed his first professional
contract 18 months ago, at the age of 21. In his first season as a pro, Duke
made 20 appearances in the A-League for the Mariners, scoring on seven
occasions.

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Ravel Morrison on target as West Ham beat Pacos de Ferreira 2-1
Last Updated: August 10, 2013 6:25pm
SSN

West Ham ended their pre-season programme with a 2-1 victory over Pacos de
Ferreira. Ravel Morrison and Modibo Maiga scored the goals for the Hammers
in the first half, with Manuel Jose netting a consolation for the Portuguese
Champions League qualifiers. The home side scored with the first attack of
the game in the 16th minute when Joe Cole found Morrison in the box and the
former Manchester United midfielder held off his man and calmly slotted the
ball in. They doubled their lead five minutes before the break when Maiga
cut in from the right and fired past the visitors' keeper at the near post.
Manuel Jose gave the away side hope with a 30-yard strike that deflected in
off the head of James Collins, but the Hammers held on for the win. New
signing Razvan Rat played the second half but Andy Carroll missed the game
as he continues to make his way back from a heel injury.

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Mitchell Duke to train with West Ham this week
Last Updated: August 10, 2013 7:54am
SSN

Central Coast Mariners striker Mitchell Duke is to spend a week training
with Premier League side West Ham. The 22-year-old caught the eye of West
Ham's scouts playing for Australia at last month's East Asian Cup, where he
scored a couple of goals. Duke will spend next week with the Hammers before
returning to the A-League club next weekend.He scored six goals in 21
A-League appearances last season, although many of those saw him come off
the bench.

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Is Joey Barton set to join West Ham?
By S J Chandos
West Ham Till I Die

There is a piece in today's Sunday People, suggesting that Sam Allardyce is
lining up a swoop for Joey Barton. The rationale being that Allardyce
admires Barton and wishes to link him up once again with Nolan and Carroll.
And apparently the respect is mutual, with Barton rating Allardyce's
management. So, is this story a runner? It is doubtful, considering how much
strength we appear to have in midfield. Barton can play both in the centre
and on the right of midfield, but surely our priorities lay elsewhere?

Will the proposed move for Stuart Downing come off? Its possible, but if its
a choice between us an Newcastle Utd there is a strong probability that
Downing will opt for a return to his native north-east. I would welcome the
signing, because I feel that Downing can recapture his best form at West
Ham. And with him and Jarvis attacking down the flanks, we will have real
pace, skill and accuracy out wide. The reports are talking of Downing
leaving Liverpool in the c.£6-5m deal and that is potentially very good
value. But we still need another central striker, that is pretty obvious.
Any successful move for a striker is likely to be a loan deal. That is fine,
as long as the loanee is of sufficient quality to come straight in to the
team and make a positive impact.

One possible mooted target is Nicolai Jorgensen of FC Copenhagen. There were
even reports that Jorgensen was due to arrive in London to negotiate
personal terms. However, FC Copenhagen moved yesterday to pour a large
quantity of cold water on the speculation. They have publicly denied that a
sale has been agreed with any third party and declared their intention to
not only retain Jorgensen, but move to strengthen their squad. So, lets see
if that is actually their position or if it is a bargaining ploy to increase
the asking price. He certainly looks promising, but lets wait and see what
transpires one way or the other.

It has often been observed that goal keepers are a different breed and that
is true. I recently wrote a blog entitled 'Not one of the greats, but still
memorable' and concentrated exclusively on out field players. That was
because I fully intended to do a separate piece on the specialist custodian
position. In my opinion, the greatest West Ham keepers were: Ted Hufton,
Ernie Gregory, Jim Standen, Phil Parkes and Ludo Miklosko. The very good
keepers were: Lawrie Leslie, Mervyn Day (1973-76), Shaka Hislop (during his
first spell at the club) and Rob Green (as a reaction-reflex keeper). The
memorable keepers, in my book, were: Les Sealey (as a character, for the
outfield cameo against Arsenal and that 5 star performance vs Newcastle
Utd), Tom MacAllister (a very good deputy to Parkes), Jimmy Walker (an
underrated keeper and who can forget his one man defiance of Chelsea in that
League Cup tie), Craig Forrest (a good, solid performer) and Bernard Lama
(another great character).

I personally never rated Bobby Ferguson or David James that much, but no
doubt others will disagree. There are other earlier keepers like Herman
Conway or Harry Medhurst who could figure on the list, but unfortunately I
am not in a position to assess their claims. There were also the 'stand in
keepers,' particularly Bobby Moore vs Stoke City in the 1972 League Cup
Semi-Final, Martin Peters, who was a decent keeper in his own right, Julian
Dicks and Henri Lansbury. And the greatest keeper we never had? That was
Gordon Banks, who Ron Greenwood could have signed in 1967, if he had not
shaken hands on a prior deal for Bobby Ferguson!!!! Also, there was Peter
Shilton, who joined us very late in his career, as emergency cover, but did
not make a first team appearance.

So, pre-season is over. now its all about getting that first vital win vs
Cardiff City next week. Last season underlined just how important it is to
get off to a good start and the early fixtures have fallen fairly kindly for
us again in the forthcoming campaign. I fully expect a player to join us
this week and another to be added before the summer window closes. Lets hope
so anyway. We have a good squad and once those two strikers are added, we
will be nicely poised for another very good PL campaign. And the target
should be 9th or 8th (as an improvement on last season) and a cup run. That
would be tangible progression and very encouraging indeed. COYI !

SJ. Chandos.

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Is Ravel Morrison the Long Term Replacement For Kevin Nolan?
By Iain Dale
West Ham Till I Die

it's difficult to think how the pre-season games could have gone any better.
And the two stand-out players appear to have been Ravel Morrison and Modibo
Maiga. Ian Hendon has confirmed this evening that Morrison is in Sam
Allardyce's first team plans, and I should think so too. With six goals to
show in a series of friendlies he has had many of us licking our lips in
anticipation. However, here's the 'but'. Where does he fit in to a 4-5-1 or
4-3-3? It's tempting to say that in the long term he is an obvious successor
to Kevin Nolan, but nobody really believes Nolan will be displaced this
season. So that leaves Noble or Diame. Does anyone seriously think that
either of those deserve to be dropped for the first game of the season? Me
neither. What we have now are five quality central midfielders. Essentially,
Morrison replaces Gary O'Neil (the least said about him the better) in the
squad, and will play the role as joint deputy with Jack Collison. It's
possible he could play on the right against Cardiff, but surely Joe Cole and
Matt Jarvis will be the two players who complete the midfield five?

And a word about Modibo Maiga. He didn't get a proper chance last season.
There are rumours that he might yet be sold to St Etienne before the
deadline, but he too has scored goals in pre-season (three, I think). With
Andy Carroll injured he now has his chance. Will he take it? His main
drawback is his rather languid gait. He looks lazy, even though he isn't.
The goals he scored last season prove he can do it, but a few minutes on the
pitch here and there do him no favours. He needs to know he's going to start
for the first four games. I get the feeling that rather like Vaz Te, he is a
confidence player.

I think we should all look back on pre-season with some degree of confidence
for the future. I know I do.

PS Ravel Morrison is on Twitter @MorrisonRavel

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Downing gets to choose as Newcastle and West Ham show interest in Liverpool
winger
By JOE BERNSTEIN
PUBLISHED: 21:51, 10 August 2013 | UPDATED: 21:51, 10 August 2013
Daily Mail

Stewart Downing will be allowed to decide his own future by Liverpool after
interest from Newcastle and West Ham. Manager Brendan Rodgers is open to
the winger moving on because he cannot guarantee him first-team football.
Liverpool will listen to offers of about £6million for Downing, representing
a huge loss on a player signed for £20m by the club's former manager Kenny
Dalglish. Young winger Oussama Assaidi can join QPR but Raheem Sterling is
seen as an important part of the first-team squad at Anfield and will not go
out on loan.

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Karren Brady on why she needs a wife - and not an Apprentice one either!
THE STORY of Karren Brady's first press conference at Birmingham City
Football Club is well known.
By: Jane ClintonPublished: Sun, August 11, 2013
Express.co.uk

The sports executive and TV personality is one of the most recognisable
female faces in business yet she tells JANE CLINTON that getting the
work/life balance right is tough She had been appointed its managing
director aged 23 and was keen to make a good impression. "I wanted to look
at least 25," recalls the now vice-chairman of West Ham. "I had big hair,
big shoulder pads, big earrings and gave this very serious presentation of
all the things I was going to do with my football club to the baying press.
When I had finished there were questions and a little hand went up and a
journalist asked: 'What are your vital statistics?'" She laughs a hearty
laugh. "I knew what was coming."

That was back in the early Nineties but it would seem there is still room
for improvement when it comes to attitudes to women in sport, judging by
John Inverdale's comments about Marion Bartoli at Wimbledon this year.

"I thought it was most unfortunate and I applauded [Culture Secretary] Maria
Miller for the letter she wrote to the BBC about the general attitude that
shouldn't be allowed to develop any further," Brady says. "I think it is
important to use instances like that to remind people that it is not
acceptable."

Brady is a high-profile advocate of women, in particular of women succeeding
in business, and she is determined to see her efforts yield results.

She has said that in 10 years' time she would like to see a girl who takes
part in her work experience programme (the one that runs at West Ham of
which she is very proud) become a chief executive.

It is ambitious but 44-year-old Brady is known for her tenacity and nerves
of steel (this is after all the woman who sold her husband Paul Peschisolido
twice when he was a Birmingham City player).

"All we can do is keep reminding people: equality, women, business," she
says. "I want to live in a world where if a young woman says she wants to be
a painter/decorator there is no barrier, where their pay and respect are
equal to those people around them."

Married to Peschisolido since 1995, with whom she has two children,
17-year-old Sophia (after her birth she famously took three days' maternity
leave) and Paolo, 14, Brady works in London during the week and returns for
the weekend to the family's West Midlands home in Knowle, Solihull. Juggling
work and family life, however, means she could do with her very own Karren
Brady.

"When I was having my children years ago phrases like work/life balance and
flexible working, frankly, they just didn't exist," she says. "That balance,
however, is never the same between a male executive and female executive
because what a female executive needs is a wife and on the basis that many
of us are not going to get one..." she trails off into laughter.

"I sometimes pick my son up from school and his trousers are four inches
away from his ankles. My husband would not have even noticed. I'm sure the
parents at the gate are thinking, 'What a terrible mother'. If I don't buy
the new uniform and sort out the forms for school it doesn't happen."

Brady is an extreme over-achiever. The daughter of an Irish businessman
father and an Italian mother, she started her career aged 18 at advertising
firm Saatchi & Saatchi. She went on to London Broadcasting Company as a
sales executive. She joined Sport Newspapers Ltd in 1998 and became a
director within a year.

Brady is perhaps best-known, however, as the first woman in football. She
was managing director of Birmingham City Football Club from 1993 to 2009.
When in February 1997 she launched it on the Stock market she was the
youngest managing director of a plc in the UK. Since 2010 she has been
vice-chairman of West Ham and is looking forward to the club moving to the
Olympic Stadium in 2016.

She is well placed then to support Sky Sports's campaign to find the best
decision in sport. (For the record, Brady, who is thought to be worth
£82million, cites joining Birmingham City as one of her best decisions.)

She also has a string of non-executive directorships and has been recruited
by Maria Miller to join a task force encouraging more women in sport. In
addition there is her television career: in 2010 Brady replaced Margaret
Mountford as Lord Sugar's right-hand woman on The Apprentice.

been recruited by Maria Miller to join a task force encouraging more women
in sport. In addition there is her television career: in 2010 Brady replaced
Margaret Mountford as Lord Sugar's right-hand woman on The Apprentice.

How does she fit it all in?

Karen Brady, Apprentice, Birmingham City Football Club, Lord Alan SugarTeam
player: Brady with Birmingham City footballers

I want to live in a world where if a young woman says she wants to be a
painter/decorator there is no barrier
Karren Brady
She admits, with just an audible sigh: "Some days I don't know. In the past
three years I have been working in London and going home at the weekends and
it is not ideal. I have the constant guilt that working mothers carry around
with them. It's one of those horrible things really. My children do not want
to move down because they are where they are with regards their studies. My
son plays sport for the county and the district. I let my kids be the judge
of whether I have got the balance right. It is not easy and I wish there was
a formula. But there isn't."

Getting the balance right became even more important following a health
scare seven years ago. She had a cerebral aneurysm and underwent surgery.
She is now very disciplined about taking holidays and having time off.

Brady has also cultivated a dual personality of sorts so that she leaves the
boardroom well and truly out of the family home. "I do have my two
personalities: my home personality and my work personality," she says. "The
trick is not to allow one of those personalities to drain the life out of
the other."

In the past she has lamented that there are not more women breaking through
in business and that she sees the same faces at each function.

"I do get frustrated," she says. "I also genuinely believe that if people
like me, who have a relatively high profile of being a woman in a very
male-dominated world, don't employ more women and don't keep those doors
open and don't keep pushing then who is going to do it? It is our job to
help pave the way."

Karren Brady is supporting Sky Sports's campaign to find the best decision
in sport. To see the top 50 and vote for your favourite go to
skysports.com/decisions

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Sam Allardyce set to take chance on Joey Barton
WEST HAM boss Sam Allardyce is considering a shock move for controversial
QPR midfielder Joey Barton.
By: John RichardsonPublished: Sun, August 11, 2013
Express.co.uk

Allardyce, who is also attempting to bring Liverpool winger Stewart Downing
to Upton Park, would love to reunite Barton with his former Newcastle
team-mates Andy Carroll and Kevin Nolan. The trio were together when Big Sam
was in charge at St James' Park, Barton joining from Manchester City for
£5.8million. And misfit Barton, who spent last season on loan with Marseille
in France, would jump at the chance of a return to the Premier League. And
misfit Barton, who spent last season on loan with Marseille in France, would
jump at the chance of a return to the Premier League Although he has settled
in back at Loftus Road under manager Harry Redknapp, and played in
yesterday's draw at Huddersfield, the 30-year-old believes he can still
succeed in the top flight. On his last Premier League appearance in May
2012, Barton was sent off at Manchester City and earned a 12-match ban. West
Ham will offer Barton one more chance, under a manager he has played for and
admires.

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Injured Carroll loses race to be fit for Hammers' season opener against
Cardiff
By JOE BERNSTEIN
PUBLISHED: 21:18, 10 August 2013 | UPDATED: 21:18, 10 August 2013
Daily mail

Andy Carroll looks set to miss next Saturday's opener against Cardiff as he
continues to receive treatment on the heel injury picked up last season.
West Ham fans had hoped their £15million frontman, who has missed the entire
pre-season, was on course to make a recovery in time to face Cardiff. But
first-team coach Ian Hendon said: 'We don't think he's going to make it. The
original injury was eight to 12 weeks. He's chomping at the bit but we must
do what's right.'
West Ham beat Portuguese side Pacos de Ferreira 2-1 on Saturday through
goals from Ravel Morrison - after just 16 seconds - and Modibo Maiga.

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