Kanoute Looking Forward To Everton

Last updated : 06 March 2002 By Mike Reich
Kanoute: Out for Revenge
Freddie describes the period at the beginning of the season where West Ham lost 7-1 to Blackburn and 5-0 to Everton as "very dark times". He sees tonight as a chance to get some revenge for the lowest point in his while West Ham career:

"The Everton game on Wednesday night will bring back many painful memories for us and the feeling of the need for revenge in the squad at the moment is high. Everton murdered us 5-0 at Goodison in September and, along with our 7-1 defeat at Blackburn a fortnight later, it was the lowest point of my whole West Ham career.

"They were very dark times back then and playing Everton is a disturbing reminder of a terrible time for the club. We had only won one Premiership game by that stage and people were already saying the boss was going to be sacked. Such a heavy defeat by Everton turned the screw even further and we now have a chance to set the record straight."

He clearly is convinced that those days are now a distant memories for West Ham, with the mental problems being a thing of the past. He may have a point to some extent, but our away form is still so different to our home form that maybe things are not as sorted as he might think.

"I think our problems then were all mental. We badly lacked focus, both individually and collectively, and the number of mistakes we were making reflected our mental turmoil. Looking back, we were like lambs to the slaughter and we let ourselves, the boss and the fans down. But things are different now and this will not happen again."

However, revenge is not the only reason that Freddie is relishing the prospect of playing Everton. One of his boyhood heroes is playing in David Ginola. A player that is to French kids what Gazza is to English kids apparently.

"I'm also looking forward to the game because, for me, Everton have had one very interesting change in personnel since our last meeting - namely the signing of David Ginola. For me, Ginola was what Paul Gascoigne was and is to English kids and I'd still pay to watch him play.

"Selfishly I hope he plays at Upton Park, but that may not be the best thing from a West Ham point of view. I think many people believe we have seen the best of Ginola but I am not so sure. If he gets a run of games in the team, I'm sure he will remind everyone of his amazing talent."

Here's hoping that if Ginola does step out onto the turf at the Boleyn tonight, he doesn't remind us of his talent then.