Once upon a time West Ham were known as the entertainers, the Academy of football was famous the world over and the Irons were everybody's 2nd team irrespective of who they supported. Unfortunately years of neglect and 'capital out transfers' became the order of the day from the Cairns family who owned the club and ran it like their main business, static caravans!
Hope came and repeatedly went, but finally it seems as if the club IS going places! Selling your talisman is never a good thing, however Hammers sale of Declan Rice to Arsenal for a bargain basement £105 Million has helped release the financial logger head the club was facing.
The money banked helped alleviate the very real prospect of FFP sanctions, particularly in Europe, being instigated. Instead the club has managed to use the money wisely and bring in some spectacular talent!
West Ham have completed the signing of Ajax midfielder Mohammed Kudus in a deal worth at least £38m.
The latest recruit being Mohammed Kudus from Ajax, the 23-year-old scored a hat-trick in Ajax's Europa League play-off win over Ludogorets in Bulgaria on Thursday and said his goodbyes immediately after the match Make no mistake this boy is a very special talent and seems to posses the grit and guile needed to succeed in the Premier League.
"I've been dreaming to play in a league like this since I was a kid," said Kudus, as West Ham officially confirmed his Premier League arrival. "I'm so happy to be here. But it doesn't stop here, I want to keep going. I can't wait to get started."
He cost €44.5 Million plus add-ons and is relishing the prospect of elite level football in England."I try my best to entertain the fans as I think that's what football is all about," Kudus said.
Brighton thought they had a deal with Ajax for Kudus earlier this month, but they were unable to finalise personal terms. Kudus began his professional career at Danish side Nordsjaelland in 2018, before joining Ajax in 2020 where he has scored 27 goals in 87 appearances, helping his side to two Dutch league titles.
He scored 11 goals in 30 Eredivisie appearances last season as Ajax finished third. For Ghana, Kudus has scored seven goals in 24 games since making his debut in 2019 and started all three matches for his side at the 2022 World Cup in Qatar, scoring twice in a 3-2 win over South Korea.
He is Hammers' second signing from Ajax this summer following the arrival of fellow midfielder Edson Alvarez in a deal thought to be worth about £35m. West Ham also signed midfielder James Ward-Prowse from Southampton and defender Konstantinos Mavropanos from Stuttgart earlier this month.
Whisper it quietly but perhaps this season will be the one in which Hammers thrive, those doom mongers who said the side would struggle without Decla Rice might find themselves eating their own words, of course it is early days yet, but there is a feeling of quiet confidence as the team moves forward, fair play to Moyes for 'allowing' Tim Steidten the freedom he needed to get most of the deals over the line....so long as Moyes sits himself in isolation for a while until ALL THOUGHTS of signing Harry Maguire have left his head! - Ed
Comments
fingers crossed
like i put in my post Nev afer the hat trick he scored in europe this week moyes thinks he could be ready by January.....no nothing about the player other than what i have read....hope he is as good as is reported..COYI
Could be right there Mac
But it's gonna be one hell of a fight for places...How can you drop Ants especially,Coufal,Emerson,jNips,Jury is out on Souscef lol
You know what Nev
The respect is coming back...we are everyone's 2nd team again wtf is going on here...Westham top of the league,attracting Ajax players fgs,Uppers is massive & buzzing...I hold my hands up the board have delivered you CANNOT argue with that...Bowens on fire,I've sold my car & David Moyes claret & blue army...I didn't think I'd ever see the day...Stratford I'm coming for ya!!COY beautiful irons
I am not joking
We will run citeh close with these signings,let's all enjoy the ride it's gonna be one hell of a season peeps!!
If you want to know
How good Kudus is, get on YouTube and watch him. Whilst the clips never show the pony side of the player - this lad is a monster! He’s quick, agile and strong - can play anywhere in the middle and up top. Buckle up people this might be another special season!
Agree Sage
Watched some stuff on YouTube about Kudus.. he is going to be loved at West Ham. Real ball player, will enjoy playing with Lucas Paqueta and will be a Great supply line to Bowen, fingers crossed!!
Nice 1 Sage
Welcome btw...you've probably been on here longer than most of us!;) seriously the only time I ever watched A player we were interested in on utube was Anderson ( steady HG!) & he was quality,just got unnecessary stick imo recently I've watched Alvarez, & the Bubble,beasts...with this Kudos guy & the original Ants swinging his plumage,The pleasure Dome will be a fortress,I've got Frankie goes to Hospital on my playsuit as we speak,havevi got too much time on my hands? Am I waffling? You betcha now back to my painting,meed to finish me lioft room after 5 years
I still don't understand
Why these deals took so long. We knew last year that Rice was going and we could possibly have got some of these deals cheaper if we'd had them lined up before we came mega rich with the sale of Rice.
I know nothing about any of these players (JWP excepted) except a few YouTube clips. With Moyes in charge, I'm not holding my breath whether they will eclipse those showings here. Be interesting to see if they even get game time and in what position.
For me
We were all moaning about how defensive Moyes has been,I do believe he was given an ultimatum before/ after the W/ C....sort it out or the Spanish archer...Sully,Buttplug ( nice 1 boogers) & now David Golds daughter Vanessa have delivered....I'm eating a VERY LARGE SLICE OF HUMBLE PIE with my cup of Splosh!!
Ha Ha I'm sure lady buttplug
Ha Ha I'm sure lady buttplug will be asking who is the longest in the shower....!
As long as
The soap is on rope ( nice 1 HG) no need for us to worry!! Lol ;)
Wrong boogers
she asked for a golden shower
I might
Join you eating humble pie, but it won't be til the end of the season. I've seen nothing from these three games so far to see that Moyes is any different in his approach to games.
The only real difference that I have noticed (apart from finding the back of the net) is that the team does not revolve round Declan Rice anymore.
Thank god for that Del
But was it a plan all along,Agent Rice....the plot thickens....I reckon he will be back 3 seasons at the most,when we are the biggest club in the world iim that bold now to say it & you fellow Westham fans are bloody unreal even when we were pony 60 odd thousand sell out every game! Dartford,Essex I salute you sir! Oh suit you sir oh ;)
Why have we desended into
Why have we desended into this moaners and gloaters thing,? Its very childish ,the people who wernt happy with the way the club was being run , including my good self ,voiced their opinions and now the people who were firmly behind Moyes, the gloaters, seem to be force feeding humble pie .
Its better than watching shitty with their slow ,slow build from there own half ,now thats boring ,
For me it may be a new concept in football ,sitting back and hit them on the break ,its a bit of a risky strategy but we seem to be able to perfect it ,we've got the skill ,speed of pass ,agility, it makes your opponents over confident and so its easy to just go through them ,if we play this way we WILL build a reputation as a club that can not only hurt you but humiliate you ,Ant is key to this ,he's so strong on the ball and has a powerfull shot with Benny ,Ward- Proud and Bowan all there in force ,yeah ,i dond mind a little bit of humble pie ,as long as its puff pastry ,
Moaners and gloaters
Well, IMO - the noisy Moyes out gang have been very vocal for a long while, and even having won the first cup in however long, people still wanted him out. Due to this, the people who believed he deserved a chance have also been very vocal in response. For me, is Moyes the future, probably not, but did he deserve to start this season, IMO yes. People who criticise the board, we've had maybe the best window in my memory (starting with getting Steidten). Without the new stadium, would we be in this position to buy Kudus etc, IMO no. But this noise is all courtesy of the social media world we live in
Wait and see
Have we got the midfield and strikers, sorry lone striker, to play this “sit back and counter “ game? No doubt about it. My worry is the defence, all of whom are solid, albeit prone to the occasional howler. Another worry is the lack of an apparent plan B. As we saw against a mediocre Bournemouth once they equalised we were largely unable to threaten them. That’s two games where we have established a three goal lead and held on but can we do that for a full season? Time will tell, is still early days.
Agree JI
Moyesball is difficult to watch and other teams will have the creativity to break us down. The new arrivals look great potential so hopefully we will see improvements.
Its the same old argument, do you want pretty football or success? Ive never believed it was one or the other, I think you can have both. I have to admit that after years of under achieving I am loving a bit of success we have seen in the past 3 seasons and optimistic for more to come particularly in Europe!
I think even the Moyesin
I think even the Moyesin brigade would have wavered watching us last season and without the European success he surely would have gone. I was one of these and with the slow start in the transfer market you wondered what was up his sleeve to buy some currency with the detractors and the club seem to have delivered finally. Moyes this time around needs to avoid the long bedding in process for the new signings. Get em in the team and show your plan with the new talent.
Hope you're well M2 c
Look at us against Chelski & Brighton ( some team Brighton btw,first time we've ever beat them) we have the Bubble ( nice 1 Nev!) & kudos ( to everyone) to come,looking at Etike ( another brilliant player) it's off the fecking scale guys & gals, I just hope we keep Ants,Fornals,Cress we will need a big squad when we finish top 4 ,yes I predict champions league football next season & Europa final v Liverpool,not sure my old ticker can take it but who gives a shite I'll be there!! COYI
I bet you can't wait my friend Dartford
To get back to the B of M buddy!!And when you do ill be outside in the rain mate,Westham coffee in one hand,,3rd,3rd,3rd Scarf on,silk scarf round me wrist,selfie stick on the other hand,covered in beer embrace &;shake your hand,doff my new peaky blinder cap,we slip over & an old style rattle,newspaper from the 70s & a pringle jumper will lie next to discarded by other Hammers on the Lash...I can't wait Bruv
mate - Im sooo looking
mate - Im sooo looking forward to that!!! I will be at the Newcastle game, coming back for a couple of weeks, my lovely niece is getting married and the lovely Premier League have moved our game to a Sunday... Result!!!
Love it Dartford
Have fun mate
Spot on Barnie
Blimey new orgers or old hands? How do I know I've woken from a coma!!!
Love it Burkie
But I still feel this is the most balanced site out there,but it makes the world go round,opinions! Nev & Louis, very rarely have to step in to sort it Aht!!That's a credit to those top guys & all my fellow lovely orgers.xx
Agreed H65 it's the most
Agreed H65 it's the most balanced site. BTW this is sacrilege but I think JWP is a good Noble
JWP
He's a legend already Betty! What a breath of fresh air too mate,he seems really grounded,from a nice family & loves it here already
Im getting chelski fever,,,i
Im getting chelski fever,,,i want loads more signings,,still need 2 full backs ,and 2 forwards, and an attacking minded coach..never satisfied ask the missus.
Lol
Bibs your name isn't Ron or Jeremy is it btw!
ahhh i see what swung the deal
He'd suffered a nasty injury when he got to Ajax and that kept him out of the side for a long time....got to give our medical team something to hope for!....and Queue Romford Radiation
Got to say, she doesnt
Got to say, she doesnt exactly look over enthusiastic.
Not wrong Burkie
Looks like she's got more of the hump than quasi!
Might be after Buttplugs job?
Might be after Buttplugs job?