Hammers announce key appointment
WHUFC.com
Angus Kinnear will be joining West Ham United from Arsenal in the New Year
13.11.2013
West Ham United are delighted to announce the appointment of Angus Kinnear
to lead the migration of the Club to the Olympic Stadium ahead of our move
to Stratford in 2016. As Managing Director, Angus will join the Board and be
responsible for the Club's current and future Commercial and Sponsorship
operations together with other specific areas relating to the Stadium
migration. Angus joins West Ham United from Arsenal, where, during a
nine-year stay, he held a number of senior commercial, partnership and
marketing positions. He will officially join the Club in the New Year and
will shortly be establishing a team to support this exciting new role.
Commenting on the appointment, West Ham United Vice-Chairman Karren Brady
said: "I am delighted to welcome Angus to West Ham United at an incredibly
exciting time for the Club. "He joins a strong, established team already
working on the Stadium project which includes my Marketing and
Communications Director, Tara Warren who continues to have oversight of this
function. "Angus' experience, having played an instrumental role in
Arsenal's highly successful move to the Emirates Stadium, will be an
invaluable addition as we prepare for the challenge of moving over a hundred
years of history and tradition to the iconic Olympic Stadium to help achieve
our footballing ambitions. "His primary task will be making sure we seek out
and maximise the new commercial opportunities provided by playing in the
Queen Elizabeth Olympic Park. "The fact we were able to secure the services
of someone so highly regarded is testament to the direction the Club is
heading. "This is a key appointment for my senior management team and I am
looking forward to working closely with Angus and the rest of my staff over
the coming years as we create a stunning new home for West Ham United."
Angus Kinnear added: "I am thrilled to be joining West Ham United.
Opportunities to help lead a world-famous Club into an iconic new home do
not come around often, so it was a challenge that was too good to turn down.
"I would like to thank everyone at Arsenal Football Club for the tremendous
nine years I spent there. I know the experience I have gained working on the
move to the Emirates Stadium and the subsequent step change in Arsenal's
commercial performance will be vital to me succeeding in my new role in East
London".
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The Big Interview - George McCartney
WHUFC.com
George McCartney is looking forward to a first-team return with West Ham
United in the near future
13.11.2013
George McCartney is making good progress on his way back towards the West
Ham United first team, after injury dealt him a frustrating start to the
season.
The left-back has appeared just twice for Sam Allardyce's team thus far,
with both of those appearances coming in the Capital One Cup. He was back in
the squad for Saturday's defeat by Norwich City and the former Northern
Ireland international played 60 minutes of Tuesday's 9-0 friendly win over
Gillingham.
McCartney is now looking to play his part in the Club's Barclays Premier
League campaign for the rest of the season.
George, it might not have been a Premier League game against Gillingham but
presumably you're just pleased to be back playing football?
GMc: "Yeah, it's all about fitness for me now. It's been a long time since I
played a league match and I've only played a couple of cup games. I haven't
played a game for four or five weeks so it's about building my fitness up.
In terms of opposition I think the scoreline says it all but, like I say, it
was nice to get the run-out. "It's been a long time since I've been part of
the first-team squad, apart from Saturday, so it would be nice to be back
training with the lads out on the pitch. I'm looking forward to having the
banter with the squad again and being a part of it."
Looking forward, with the injuries we've got in the squad you must
presumably look at it and think you've got a real part to play in there?
GMc: "It's a big squad and a strong squad but I think with the defenders,
with Reidy (Winston Reid) out, the manager is down to the bare bones. I
think that's why I was put in the squad on Saturday as a late replacement
for Reidy, who got injured in training. It was nice to be back on the bench
but I want to get back to somewhere near where I know I can be and get in
the team or on the bench on merit rather than through injuries. There's a
long way to go but I try and stay positive and I'm confident in my own
ability."
In the cup games you've featured in you've played at centre-half. Obviously
we've only got James Collins and James Tomkins in that position, so do you
think that's an area you can cover as well as left-back?
GMc: "Obviously I prefer playing at left-back but there were a couple of
times in cup games last season and the previous year in the Championship
that I played games at centre-half. If needs be and the manager has a few
injuries then I can do a job there. Hopefully I can fight my way back in.
It's going to be tough but we'll see what happens."
Everybody connected with the Club - the manager, the fans and the players -
know that you can do a job at this level so there's no doubting your quality
is there?
GMc: "No, I came back to the Club during the Championship season and had a
really good season. The first half of last year was going well, we had a
great start and were sitting nice in the league with plenty of points. Then
I got injured around Christmas and I was out for a long time. It was a long
time out, I missed quite a few months and as you get older it's the fitness
side and being sharp enough and that doesn't come back as quickly as when
you were a younger lad. "I've worked hard over the last few months and I
thought I would come back a lot quicker but I've had a few setbacks. I've
got to continue to be positive and believe I can get back on the pitch. It
hasn't been easy at times, but I'm willing to work hard over the next six or
seven months of my contract to give it my best shot and hopefully I can get
back to somewhere near the level I can play."
Regardless of fitness, I presume you want to be back in there to contribute
when we're going through a bit of a rough patch?
GMc: "It's funny really, you look at our scores and the team the manager
picks every week is, on paper, a really good team but things just haven't
happened in front of goal. The lads at the back, apart from Saturday, have
been keeping clean sheets. Last year we'd have probably scored a goal or two
and got the three points but it just hasn't happened this year but I'm sure
if we keep knocking on the door we're going to get the right results."
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Ludo backing Jussi Jaaskelainen
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 13th November 2013
By: Staff Writer
Former West Ham goalkeeper Ludek 'Ludo' Miklosko has backed Jussi
Jaaskelainen - despite the veteran stopper's error at Carrow Road last
weekend.
Jaaskelainen dropped the ball when coming to claim a cross against Norwich
and subsequently conceded a penalty as he scrambled to retain control of the
ball. At the time West Ham were 1-0 ahead and looking comfortable, but
eventually fell to a demoralising 3-1 defeat.
However despite Jaaskelainen's glaring mistake, he has the backing of former
great Ludo Miklosko, who told KUMB.com that he still has faith in the
veteran Finn. "I think he's a good goalkeeper," said Miklosko, "but maybe
after the Norwich game he needs another good game.
"I know people may say he's too old but it's up to the manager to decide
whether he may need a rest or can carry on. I didn't see the game itself,
but Jussi is a good goalkeeper."
Miklosko, who was speaking exclusively to Knees up Mother Brown about his
eight-year spell at West Ham United was signed by Lou Macari in 1990 and
went on to play under Billy Bonds and Harry Redknapp before joining fellow
London side Queens Park Rangers in 1998.
Speaking in the latest episode of the KUMB.com Podcast, which you may
download now, the 52-year-old - who is currently working for a sporting
investment agency charged with tracking the best young talent in the Czech
Republic - revealed that he will be back in London later this month to watch
the Hammers take on Chelsea.
"I don't really have too much time to watch games with the job I'm doing
now, concentrating on young players in the Czech Republic," he said. "But
I've been to London a few times this year.
"Mostly I've been over to watch Academy players but I'm planning to come and
watch the Chelsea game in two weeks' time. I'll be at the Under 18s match
with Fulham in the morning then in the afternoon I'll go to the West Ham
game with Chelsea."
Ludo on... the 1991 FA Cup Semi Final
"It didn't start well because we had a player sent off! Nothing went right
for us and it was a bad day from the beginning - but it was a great
atmosphere, that's all I remember. Even though we lost the game it was a
great day for the fans. They stayed behind us, which was fantastic."
Ludo on... the West Ham fans
"It was a special club for me. I don't know why but the fans took to me very
well and we always had a great relationship. Throughout games they would
shout my name and ask me what the score is - they wanted me to show them! I
didn't like that too much as I felt I was losing concentration, but it was
part of the game. Our relationship was always fantastic and I loved to play
for them."
Ludo on... Julian Dicks
"I had a routine before the game which I always did. We also had players
like Julian Dicks whose warm-up consisted of sitting in a warm bath for five
minutes before putting his socks on - and that was it! I think we were a
little bit different, but he was a fantastic player who did very well. He
didn't need to warm up."
Ludo on ... Manchester United 1995
"It was a great day and one from which I have good memories. It was the last
day of the season and we had nothing to lose. We just went out there to
enjoy our last game [of the season]. For me it was just like every other
game. Maybe I had a bit of luck - which you need all the time - but it was a
great day. For both us and Blackburn - but not for Manchester United!"
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Ladies round-up
KUMb.com
Filed: Wednesday, 13th November 2013
By: Staff Writer
Dave Maslen brings us the latest news from the West Ham United Ladies'
Camp...
Woodbridge FC 3-2 West Ham Utd Ladies FC
Under 15s
The Under 15s' unbeaten run finally came to an end today, with an
out-of-sorts display at Woodbridge. Perhaps suffering from several weeks of
inactivity, the girls showed great endeavour to get back into the game with
two fine goals having fallen 2-0 behind. At that point it looked like the
win was on but a last minute, well taken Woodbridge goal meant it was all
over.
Goals: Eleanor Landen, Hannah Humphreys.
West Ham Utd Ladies FC 3-0 Colchester Town
Under 13s
Our Under 13s kept their 100 per cent record intact but made hard work of
the game. Having bagged goal after goal in recent games an air of
complacency was the order of the day - but the Hammers picked the wrong game
and wrong team for that.
The Colchester girls rekindled the form that saw them finish runners-up in
their league last season, managing to play some excellent defensive football
and crowding out the Hammers from the off. West Ham's girls seemed to run
out of ideas with every attack failing in the final third. A lack of
communication between the Hammers' players, some poor passing and too many
individual efforts made it an uphill task to find the net.
It was a deflected shot from Amber Denton that finally put the Hammers in
front and with Colchester snuffing out all other attempts on goal, the
Hammers had to settle for a one goal lead at the break.
The second half saw a couple of changes in personnel with Maddie O'Connor
and Sophie Kelly - both on their way back from knee injuries - taking to the
field. Their creativity made a huge difference, with good passing coming
from both wide players. Colchester were finally being put under pressure
from all sides, but their goalkeeper was having a good day and made a string
of excellent stops kept Colchester in the game.
Hannah Landen entered the fray and made an instant impact, scoring two
well-struck goals and finally beating the Colchester keeper who, up until
then, had looked unbeatable. The final whistle confirmed a three-nil win,
but all credit should go to an outstanding performance from the Colchester
girls who proved that on their day they are more than capable of giving any
team a run for their money.
With a tough fixture coming up next week for the Hammers, who face a strong
Ramblers side, manager Dave Maslen and assistant Steve Kelly will be looking
for a vast improvement in team play and no more complacency.
West Ham Utd Ladies FC 5-0 Little Thurrock Dynamos
Under 11s
The Under 11s entertained Little Thurrock Dynamos at home on a pitch that
held up excellently after this week's heavy rainfall.
Following a tentative start, West Ham started to find their rhythm and began
to threaten the LTD goal. As the half progressed West Ham found themselves
homing in on their first goal of the game which duly arrived through Lucy
Brewster, who finally broke the deadlock with a nicely worked individual
goal.
Soon after Sienna Sherman-Botton, making her league debut was on hand to tap
home a second before Leigha Bradding-Butler was very unfortunate to see an
excellent team goal disallowed.
Despite a very strong defensive effort by LTD, West Ham added to their tally
in the second half with further goals from Holly Hutson and two more from
Sienna Sherman-Botton to complete an excellent hat-trick.
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Carlton's criticism
KUMB.com
Filed: Wednesday, 13th November 2013
By: Staff Writer
Carlton Cole has criticised West Ham United for publishing a video of a
behind-closed-doors friendly against Gillingham. West Ham ran out 9-0
winners in the friendly which was arranged to give match fitness to a number
of players not currently involved in Sam Allardyce's first XI. But Cole was
incensed when the Club released video highlights of the game to subscribers
of WHUFC TV, calling it "humiliating" for the young Gillingham players who
took part.
"Why oh why would you want to humiliate them poor young boys like that?" he
asked via his Twitter account. "It was a poor game behind closed doors." The
Tweet has since been removed.
Cole was one of several players who scored during the game and one of six
senior players involved with the match day squad; the others being Adrian,
George McCartney, Alou Diarra and Modibo Maiga.
Having celebrated his 30th birthday in October, Cole signed a three-month
contract with the Club last month - five months after initially leaving West
Ham having failed to agree terms on a new contract.
Cole's stance has received a mixed reaction from supporters, although KUMB
member Muddy could see both sides of the argument. "West Ham TV usually show
highlights from friendly games. Why should this be any different?" he asked.
"They've got to keep the subscribers happy, but I think the sentiments from
Carlton are nice. Big bloody softy that he is..."
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West Ham's George McCartney hopes to win back place
Last Updated: November 13, 2013 6:10pm
SSN
West Ham defender George McCartney is confident he can reclaim a place in
the starting XI after spending most of the season on the sidelines. After an
injury to centre-back Winston Reid, McCartney was drafted in as a substitute
for Saturday's game at Norwich and now hopes to be in a position to contend
for a first-team spot. The former Northern Ireland international has
appeared just twice this season for the Hammers and is keen to put his
injury-ravaged start to the term behind him. "It was nice to be back on the
bench but I want to get back to somewhere near where I know I can be and get
in the team on merit rather than through injuries," he told West Ham's
official website. "There's a long way to go but I try and stay positive and
I'm confident in my own ability.
"I've got to continue to be positive and believe I can get back on the
pitch. It hasn't been easy at times, but I'm willing to work hard and
hopefully I can get back to somewhere near the level I can play."
Now in the final year of his contract, McCartney is willing to play in any
position in order to help out Sam Allardyce's side, who are currently four
games without a win in the Premier League. "Obviously I prefer playing at
left back but there were a couple of times that I played games at
centre-half," he added. "If needs be and the manager has a few injuries then
I can do a job there. Hopefully I can fight my way back in. "It's going to
be tough but we'll see what happens."
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Carlton Cole slams West Ham decision to tweet link to 9-0 behind closed
doors hammering
13 Nov 2013 16:14
The Mirror
Carlton Cole has hit out at West Ham United, after the club's official
Twitter page posted a link to watch the Hammers 9-0 friendly win over
Gillingham. The match took place behind closed doors on Tuesday as a young
Gillingham side were put to the sword by an experienced Hammers XI, coached
by first-team coach Ian Hendon and featuring England internationals Cole and
Matt Jarvis. Also in the West Ham side were 44-cap Frenchman Alou Diarra,
Premier League veterans Matt Taylor and George McCartney and Malian
international striker Modibo Maiga. The East London club currently sit 16th
in the Premier League with just two wins to their name from their opening 11
matches, and with a number of first-team players not on international duty
decided to take in some extra practice. And the Hammers social media team
saw fit to post a link to the video, which led Cole to respond via his own
account, saying: "why oh why would you want to humiliate them poor young
boys like that? It was a poor game behind closed doors".
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Revealed! Ravel Morrison vs Wilfried Zaha on-pitch bust-up continued in the
tunnel
13 Nov 2013 22:31
The Mirror
Ravel Morrison clashed with Wilfried Zaha last month after being accused of
trying to steal the England Under-21 show against Lithuania. Boss Gareth
Southgate maintains the pair have patched things up after the bust-up that
stunned TV viewers during the 5-0 win. But all eyes will be on West Ham
playmaker Morrison and Manchester United starlet Zaha on Thursday night to
see whether the simmering tensions that exploded into a second-half bust-up
four weeks ago really have cooled. The Under-21s play Finland's rising stars
at MK Dons' ground in their first game since the flashpoint at Portman Road.
We can reveal that the spat erupted after Morrison had grabbed the headlines
with two goals, including a stunning individual effort similar to his
wondergoal against Spurs in the Premier League the week before.
Zaha, who had also impressed, is said to have accused the former Old
Trafford bad-boy of not passing to his team-mates and asked: "Any chance of
someone else having a touch?" It was then that the two players were seen by
TV viewers squaring up to each other, pushing and shoving. Morrison grabbed
former Crystal Palace forward Zaha around the neck before Norwich midfielder
Nathan Redmond came between them to act as peacemaker. Morrison then hit
Zaha with a withering verbal response, claiming there was little point
passing to him as he kept losing possession, causing England's build-up play
to break down.
The pair continued their row AFTER the match - when Morrison is said to have
suggested, "Me and you will have it out." Southgate then intervened,
ordering them to shake hands and make up, but Zaha refused, and instead
aimed a fresh verbal volley at Morrison. However, Southgate insisted this
week that the players HAD settled their differences. He said: "There are no
issues. I spoke to them and the lads when we got into the dressing room, and
before they left the ground they were hugging. "I think we have to have an
appreciation of each others' characters. We're a strong team because we've
got that diversity of character, we respond in different ways. "Those two
are the types of players they are because they live slightly on the edge in
terms of their responses and emotions. "We have to understand as a group
that we need all of those types of people to be a successful team. Those
guys will win us matches."
Mirrorsport understands, however, that there is still tension between the
two men.
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Ex-West Ham star Alessandro Diamanti reveals Upton Park regret as he targets
Italy World Cup place
13 Nov 2013 14:31
The Mirror
Italy star Alessandro Diamanti has revealed his the only regret of his
career: Leaving West Ham United. The Bologna forward spent one season at
Upton Park under Gianfranco Zola in 2009-10, scoring seven goals in 28
Premier League matches for the Hammers before returning home. Diamanti, 30,
has since moved from Brescia to Bologna and established himself as a regular
international and is set to go to the World Cup next summer. "I had a
wonderful experience in the Premier League and would recommend it to
anyone," he said. "You get to work seriously and as a professional, but you
are also free to live your own life. Perhaps the only regret of my career
was leaving London." Italy face Germany in Milan on Friday and then Nigeria
in London on Monday as they prepare for Brazil. Diamanti added: "We are
going there to win, otherwise what's the point? "Italy must always target
the ultimate goal."
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