Forum | General Discussion

The signing of Angelo Ogbonna along with that of Dmitri Payet and Pedro Obiang by West Ham United represents a significant upping of the ante with regards to the club's aspirations and future recruitment frame work. Gone are the days of signing past it has beens looking for a final pay day, or of getting loan players who will never be played by the manager because their face or their agent doesn't fit! So, happy days, but hasn't the club overstretched itself a little? The financial commitment including transfer fees and wages to fund the new arrivals is quite staggering, but such is the price needed to get to that legendary 'next level' that fans have dreamed of for years! On closer analysis of the Ogbonna deal, it is interesting to read the quote from Juve's official website, particularly with reference to the fee being spread over three years. So essentially the player is being paid for in instalments, not a bad bit of business on the face of it.
"Juventus Football Club can today confirm that Angelo Ogbonna has completed a permanent transfer to English Premier League side West Ham United, who will pay a fee of €11 million to be spread over the next three financial years,"
Having Slaven Billic in place, and of course the eventual Olympic Stadium relocation, has made West Ham a much more attractive destination than it has been in the past, bringing the added advantage that European clubs are used to staging payments on an annual basis, whereas in the UK payments have to be made directly.
The two Davids, aided by their super sub, have been quick to exploit the Euro Card, and fair play to them! -Ed

West Ham starting XI: Randolph, O'Brien, Tomkins, Burke, Page, Amalfitano, Poyet, Cullen, Jarvis, Lee, Sakho. Subs: Spiegel, S Westley, Knoyle, Oxford, Nasha, Parfitt-Williams, Brown. Mauro Zarate probably would have played but picked up an injury in the first tie at the Boleyn, it is a pity for Zarate because he seemed to impress Salven Billic with his work rate, however his loss is Lee's gain. Elliot Lee has threatened to do well, tonight he has the start he so cherishes, this is not an FA or League Cup tie where he is being thrown in at the deep end, more a rigorous work out. Having said that, the Andorrans of Lusitans are very capable of leaving the boot in, they are even more capable of falling to the floor, watch out for the sniper in the crowd! There wa one at the Boleyn wasn't there? there must have been, because their players were collapsing all over the pitch!
This could still be a tricky tie, and playing Sakho is a risk, particularly as the surface is a half plastic/grass weave, very unforgiving. Expect Hammer's main man to be taken off as soon as possible, other wise the team will probably play through as is, with a couple of late subs coming on.
Kick off is at 18:30 UK time, as yet there is not stream available, nor is one likely, although there is a chance that a Spanish 'satelite' channel might get the rights. -Ed