Forum | General Discussion

News that David Martin, son of Hammers legend Alvin Martin, might be signed by West Ham as back up keeper has been greeted with 'shock horror' by a certain section of fans, why? Because he currently plays for Millwall, his contract is about to expire and he is available to make the move across the City to the London Stadium on a free transfer, so why on earth could there be an issue?

OK back in the day there have been some unsavoury incidents between both sets of fans, but most of those involved are pensioners now, their bodies might still be willing, but their arthritis rules the day! Anyway, what about Teddy Sheringham? did he not play for Millwall before embarking on a really great career which encompassed playing for West Ham United?

Why should there be a difference between Sheringham and Martin? God's sake's Sheringham played for Tottenham after all! The only reason for disrespecting Alvin Martin and his son in this way can surely be pure ignorance, allied to their lack of knowledge regarding Hammers history. If they look a few things up, or ask someone who has half a brain, they will find out that Alvin Martin played the latter half of his career at West Ham needing a cortisone before every fixture, which damn near crippled him and left him unable to be anywhere near as mobile than he would have been had he not taken the repeated doses of the pain killer for such a long period.

Keyboard warriors! - Ed

According to numerous news outlets West Ham United have been offered the chance to take Dutch midfielder Kevin Strootman on loan from Marseille next season, OK so the headline question might appear rhetorical because initially only a loan deal is mentioned, however it is not beyond imagination to suggest the french club want to put Strootman in the shop window and to replicate the high profile that Dimitri Payet was accorded while playing for the Irons.

Strootman signed for Marseille from Roma for £23 Million last summer and has been a mainstay in central midfield throughout the season, but profligate spending allied to FFP and a very poor showing in Ligue 1 this season means that Les Olympiens have to make drastic cost cuts ahead of next season.

Marseille, similarly to Manchester United have failed to qualify for the Champions league which has serious ramifications for the club and has also helped disillusion their new owners, ironically 29 year old Strootman, who has been offered to Manchester United and Everton as well, was linked with a move to the red devils when both David Moyes and Louis Van Gaal were in charge at Old Trafford.

At 29 years of age, Strootman hardly fits the Pellegrini and Husillos template of young players with sell on value, however his wages of around £80,000 per week are just about affordable as long as Marseille don't demand a loan fee as well, should he arrive at the London Stadium it would surely herald the departure of Pedro Obiang or Angelo Ogbonna, both of whom are sought after in Italy and Spain.

Releasing players for decent money and bringing in a couple of quality loans may well be the way forward, especially in what will be another transition season, but if they get their sums right the Hammers hierarchy might just get to square the circle by accumulating enough funds to have a real splurge for the 20-21 season. - Ed

You can always tell when there is a quiet week for the Barclays Premier League, especially at the beginning of the transfer window, writers desperate to provide column inches vie for readers by providing any news they can to fill the vacuum, some more than others never let the truth get in the way of a good story. However the premise of such articles require a modicum of truth, or at least a vague possibility that they may contain an element of truth, but when those bastions of honesty the Sun 'proclaim' West Ham United are preparing to offer Andrew Thomas Carroll a 'new' deal, but on reduced terms, even the most deluded of people smell a rat!

Why on earth would West Ham want to re-sign Andy Carroll? It would be a bit like going through a messy divorce that bankrupts you only to get remarried before the ink has dried on the divorce papers, people have done it, although usually while the balance of their minds are disturbed, but West Ham United is a football club. Having been so taken to the cleaners that it was forensic by Mark Curtis when he negotiated Carroll's deal, the club would lose all credibility, or what is left of it, were they to sign Carroll, even if he was paying to play!

With the benefit of hindsight West Ham would have stayed well clear of Andy Carroll, alas that was not to be, and even if he did miraculously manage to stay injury free, he is so far off the pace now of a game that has changed beyond recognition from the days when he was able to play. Some might say that the club has spent a fortune on him and why should another club benefit? To which we respond, 'maintaining' Andy is similar to owning a collectors car, you throw good money after bad knowing that you will never recover the money you have laid out, but at least with a classic car you will have a pretty vehicle to look at even if it doesn't start.

It is time West Ham moved forward and drew a line in the sand under the Carroll 'folly', with a note to self "avoid signing injury prone players, their acquisition rarely makes sense in the end. Perhaps Mr Curtis is pals with the Sun? Of course he is, their story about Andy Carroll doesn't have legs on it, does that remind you of something?! - Ed