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FFP

It seems like 'open season' if you believe all the click bait articles being published about other clubs's 'interest' in Hammers star players. Every 2nd article you read is about Liverpool want so and so, likewise City are apprently after virtually any Irons player who lives and breathes!

Well, gone are the days when 'big clubs' can come sniffing around West Ham expecting the club to 'drop its pants' the second they pull out their fat chequebooks. Admitedly the club did sell arguably its best player Declan Rice to local rivals Arsenal, but the player who gave his all for the club, wanted the move and turned down a huge wage to leave.

The club received decent money for their player in addition to insisting on a payment schedule that enabled them to bring in FOUR top class players with the money received, the fact that the payment tranches were so favourable enabled Hammers to 'blow other clubs out of the water' with the monies available instantly from the transfer.

The sale of Rice also enabled the club to balance its FFP books to satisfy UEFA's stringent policies, the domestic situation was NOT an issue. Once player 'amortisation' is factored in the club is in a strong position to move forward without the sceptre of FFP hanging over its head like the Sword of Damacles!

Speaking of all things 'Greeky', Konstanos Mavraponis, one of the four signings previously mentioned, showed just what a potentially brilliant acquisition he could be with a devastating display of his aerial prowess in his country's Euro qualifier last night. James Ward-Prowse to showcase 'Stan's prowess, you couldn't make it up could you?

So, back to the headline....Liverpool, City, Chelsea and other 'European Giants' have all 'expressed interest in Hammers players including Nayef Aguerd, Jarrod Bowen and several others. While the unwanted interest is possibly 'empowering' to some Hammers fans, the fact is that the club DOESN'T need to sell ANY of their players!

So we would suggest to Al 'fatty' Boom Boom, all the other Saudi League clubs, Chelsea, City and Liverpool, that they reappraise West Ham and realise that 'West Ham are massive' because they obviously 'Don't understand!' - Ed

Konstantinos Mavropanos is a bit of a mouth full to pronounce and on tonight's showing for Greece he is a bit of a hand full for defenders! The towering centre back scored an Andy 'Carrollesque goal' out jumping the keeper and two defenders before crashing the ball in to the net for his country in their drubbing of Gibraltar in the Euro qualifiers. Stan also scored a more 'normal' header just before the end of the 2nd half to put Greece 4-0 up in what was a very one sided game of which the home side were eventual 5-0 winners.

OK it may have been against the group's minnows but as they say, "you can only beat what's in front of you!"

'Stan' did go down for a minute or two early doors after a heavy tackle but thankfully he was up and about in no time. He is an absolute beast in the air and not too bad on the floor either, physically he is one hell of a unit, standing 6'5" and built like a proverbial he looks every inch a player who is more than capable of dealing with the rough and tumble of the Premier League.

What is surprising is the fact that he was supposed to be injured and not available for the game against City, well he looked pretty fit in Athens! Hopefully he will return to London unscathed and be available for what will be Hammers sternest teat of the season so far, but he DOES look like a 'proper' player and will add massively to the strength in depth of Hammers back line.

West Ham have missed having a 'dominant' player in the box for corners and dead ball situations since 'Les' Dawson left for Wolves, well they certainly have another one now! James Ward-Prowse will be licking his lips at the prospect of having such a battering ram on the end of his pin point deliveries.

Another fine recruit Mr Moyes and Mr Steidten! - LN

Mohammed Kudus helped ensure Ghana progressed to the finals of the African Nations Cup with a scintillating free kick after his team had gone one nil down in a crucial qualifier against Central African Republic. Hammers £38 Million summer signing from Ajax will most likely miss six domestic games as Ghana are one of the favourites to to do well in the tournament.

Kudus will miss Hammers FA Cup third round tie on the weekend of January the 6th, as well as the Premier League games against Sheffield United, Bournemouth, Manchester United, Arsenal and possibly Nottingham Forest depending on how far Ghana progress and whatever rest time the club give him after the competition.

Nayef Aguerd, Saïd Benrahma and Max Cornet will also be at the Africa Cup of Nations. Clubs are generally obligated to release players participating in the competition a week ahead of the tournament, this one starts on January the 13th.

Unfortunately the AFCON doesn't finish until February 11th, a full FIVE WEEKS which is an awful lot of time to be deprived of key players. However it is the same for every club that signs players from AFCON participants, the clubs knew that those players could be away for significant periods of time on International duty which is often reflected in the 'discounted'price that they pay.
The problem is of course NOT just about the time the players will be away, the biggest sceptre is that they may pick up injuries, especially if their team goes far into the competition. At least it means David Moyes will be able to give players game time who otherwise would have found their chances of featuring for the first team few and far between. - LN