Ground Hog Day-Randolph Returns!

Despite their reservations, the Hammers hierarchy have sanctioned the re-signing of keeper Darren Randolph from Middlesbrough, even though as recently as yesterday morning they had decided Cardiff City's Neil Etheridge was the ideal back up to Lukasz Fabianski.

Apparently Cardiff were demanding £9 Million for their Phillipines born keeper, and they wanted the money all in one hit, as opposed to the 'HP' deal offered by the Irons. At £4 Million, Randolph is a far cheaper option, but possibly a short sighted one!

Etheridge will be 30 years old in February whereas Lukasz Fabianski will be 35 in April, and Darren Randolph will be 33 in May. Having a 'support' keeper who is five years younger would have made sense, but after having their initial bid of £7 Million turned down by Cardiff, Randolph was always going to be their choice, despite what Boro manager Jonathan Woodgate described as the 'longest medical in history'!

In a way the Iron's bosses can be slightly excused for not pushing the boat out for what will essentially be a back up keeper, because they already have the very promising Jason Anang playing with the U-23's, and England keeper, Nathan Trott, who is currently on loan at AFC Wimbledon, so to spend big was an unnecessary expense, in the long run. However in the short term that may not be the case.

Randolph could be between the sticks for the Everton game, as well as the FA Cup tie against his ex-manager's West Brom and the Leicester game in the Barclays Premier League, quite a baptism of fire, especially for a player with a dodgy thigh muscle and a predilection for, what shall we say, excess! If he has to twiddle his thumbs between being selected he might as well find online casinos, least ways he could make a few bob!

Hopefully Randolph will deputise so well that Fabianski has to earn his place back, rather than just walking straight back in, it would avoid rushing the Polish International back too soon, as was done previously.

Incidentally the other reason for signing Randolph was, that Boro still owed the last payment from their original £5 Million purchase of the keeper! - Ed