Signing Dawson Would Be Curtains For Reid!

Craig Dawson's elevation to first team starter came as a complete surprise to most fans who were underwhelmed at best by his arrival from relegated Watford on loan, known as the 'Relegator', Dawson had previously played for and got relegated with this evening's visitors to the London Stadium, West Brom, who he left to join Watford following the Baggies relegation!

Dawson has defied logic and slotted in as part of defence that has been tighter than a Duck's proverbial to breach, West Ham have not conceded a goal in four games since Dawson came into the team three weeks ago as a result of mainstay Fabian Balbuena's unavailability due to Covid, and he has impressed alongside Angelo Ogbonna at the heart of the defence.

Recent results against Southampton, Everton and Burnley have helped lift West Ham to within five points of the top four ahead of this evening's game, the club looked to have saved a basket load of money by going for Dawson as opposed to Burnley's James Tarkowski, the Clarets rejected a £30 Million bid from the Irons for the England Centre back in the Summer.

Activating the option to make Dawson's loan move permanent would cost around £2 Million, that action had been meant to happen in the summer but, if Dawson’s fine displays continue, it may be brought forward to this month if the Hammers need to free up a loan spot in the squad.
If Dawson IS signed on a permanent basis, his arrival will almost definitely signal the departure of the long serving Winston Reid who has now returned to the club following his loan spell in America. Reid still has two years left on his £70,000 per week contract and as such will prove rather difficult to move on unless the club supplement his wages. It's a real shame, because prior to his freak injury sustained nearly three years ago he was one of the first names on the team sheet, unfortunately it is highly unlikely that the Kiwi's national captain will not have enough 'zip' about him to be included in the 'Moyes Love Machine'.

In a similar way to Mark Noble, Reid's time has come and gone, at least he was rewarded admirably for his services, unlike many players before him. In a way it is testimony as to how far David Moyes has taken the club in what has essentially been very little time, that players of Noble and Reid's ilk are not part of the programme, now if they were both in their twenties that would be a different story, but time waits for no man, even warriors like Reid and Noble. - Ed