Forum | General Discussion

Perhaps we at the Org are getting old, but when Jack 'I can drive my Range Rooney Up Other People's exhausts' Grealish did a 'Salaesque' pirouette almost half a second after having been tackled in order to 'earn' his team a free kick from which they eventually scored, opinions about Villa's star man varied from preening ballerina to a lot worse.

Billy Bonds and others must look upon these modern day players will astonishment, there is no doubt that many of them are very talented, but the issue is that they are rewarded so well, at a young age, that they seem to lose all perspective. It is only human nature, if someone continuously tells another that they are special, the recipient of the praise will eventually believe it whole heartedly, and such is the case with Grealish and many others, his petulant 'chirping' to the referee during last night's victory over Villa was nauseating to say the least.

Apparently Big Mich Antonio was of the same opinion and made quite a determined effort at communicating that point to the perpetrator as well as to the match officials, in fact so incensed was the Hammers forward that his manager, David Moyes, took him off at half time! Yes the reason was also tactical, but Moyes knows his players well, and was of the opinion that Grealish, or one of his pals who's Lottery Winning life style is epitomised by their belief that they are above 'lesser mortals', would get Antonio sent off, and you know what? They probably would have!

Dean Smith, Villa's manager, is old school, however he does develop myopia when referring to his own team, inwardly he must cringe at some of his players' antics, but of course publicly he has to back them. Interestingly in his post match presser, Smith said how pleased he was that the team he manages came to the London Stadium and "should have won" to him that was THE achievement, not the result.

Having been the recipients of some appalling V.A.R decisions ever since it's introduction, Hammers were finally given the rub of the green in the dying minutes, and all the preening, posing, poncing and filibustering attempts by Villa to overturn the decision came to nothing, which is exactly what Jack and his pals left with, if you can't play football like a man, don't pretend you can! - Ed

PS: To criticise Declan Rice is taboo as we know, however he might want to reconsider some of his public praise for Grealish, who quite frankly is not worthy of his praise, Harry Kane, despite playing for Tottenham, does deserve Rice's praise, Grealish NOT.

Suggestions West Ham United will return with a substantial bid for Burnley's James Tarkowski are wide of the mark, since a purported move to the London Stadium didn't materialse during the last transfer window, the England midfielders form has dropped off a cliff. In and out of one of the Barclays Premier League's relegation candidates team, ostensibly through 'niggles' picked up in training, Tarkowski's stock has plummeted.

The £50 Million price tag Sean Dyche placed on Tarkowski was always going to be too excessive, but in the light of the continued financial crisis being experienced by ALL clubs, the price being demanded is looking increasingly ludicrous! Burnley will be ruing their turning down of West Ham's £35 Million offer, and West Ham will be realising that they have dodged yet another expensive bullet.

Fate, as is with many transfers, kicked in when Issa Diop tested positive for Covid-19 just before the League Cup game, his place was taken by 'the General' Fabian Balbuena, since then Balbuena has started all games in all competitions and has been puttting in performances that equal or surpass those of Tarkowski's.

Balbuena's contract is up at the end of the season, and it would be complete and total madness if the club don't renew it before the January transfer window. David Moyes would admit himself that he thought Balbuena's days at the London Stadium were numbered, however the Paraguayan's recent showing has led to the Hammers manager changing his mind, and got him thinking if Tarkowski is even as good as Balbuena.

Many fans thougt that several players would be on their way out once David Moyes took over as 'full time' manager, among those who seemed destined for the chopping block were Authur Masuaku, Aaron Cresswell and Fabian Balbuena, now each one is a starter in his prefered 3-5-1 line up.

Hammers dodged a bullet by not signing Tarkowski, and the funds ear marked for the deal can be used much more effectively throughout the team, the recent signing of Vladimir Coufal being a case in point, great player, inexpensively purchased and on wages that won't break the bank.

Cutting your clothes according to your cloth has been a mantra ignored by West Ham for ages, now it seems the penny has finally dropped, The Irons are not a top four team and probably will never be so, but that isn't to say the club can't become the best of the rest, however, not splashing out huge sums of money on individual players is a pre-requisite for moving forwards! - Ed